As workers continue to return to the office, tenants are rethinking their priorities. To ensure their spaces are safe, tenants are demanding more robust health and wellness protocols. Air filtration, ventilation, and purification are some of the top drivers of tenant satisfaction.
An HVAC planning strategy will be a competitive differentiator for owners and operators as the commercial real estate (CRE) industry continues to evolve. Your HVAC planning strategy should include:
- A commercial HVAC maintenance plan
- A pulse on HVAC tenant compliance issues (both current and potential)
- A focus on energy efficient HVAC systems
Here are the three keys to HVAC planning that will empower property owners and operators to save time, money, and energy.
1. Save Time: Plan Ahead for HVAC Maintenance
HVAC systems can be one of the biggest expenses in a property’s annual maintenance budget. The time spent on routine checks and repairs quickly adds up. There’s no convenient time for unexpected HVAC issues to surface. It’s important to set up an HVAC maintenance strategy and schedule for routine maintenance as well as unforeseen events and their associated costs.
Building this strategy requires a comprehensive dataset that represents all HVAC units and is easily accessible. It’s easier to estimate which assets will require repair or replacement when operators have details for each unit, such as:
- Make
- Model
- Year
- Location
- Service history
However, no single maintenance plan would work across an entire portfolio. HVAC management software that stores comprehensive records and unit-specific data is essential. Property owners and operators can master their annual budgets when HVAC data is accessible and accurate. And it enables more strategic and intelligent HVAC capital planning.
2. Save Money: Avoid Costly HVAC Compliance Issues
Not only is accurate data essential for HVAC capital planning, but it is key in avoiding costly HVAC tenant compliance issues. Problems often arise when there is a misunderstanding between owners and tenants about where the responsibility lies for maintenance projects. That’s especially true regarding meeting regulatory standards.
Digitizing an HVAC inventory means all your HVAC information is in one place that teams can access anywhere, anytime. It simplifies the process of collecting tenant-side HVAC data. Tenants are more likely to keep up with their maintenance responsibilities when they know owners have this capability.
HVAC management software also enables automated maintenance reminders and notifications to hold tenants accountable. It protects owners and operators from regulatory risks since the records are on file. When owners oversee hundreds, or even thousands, of CRE HVAC units across properties these reminders become crucial.
Additionally, having tenant compliance information in the same platform as the detailed HVAC inventory information, repairs, scheduled maintenance, etc. Is more efficient. Connecting the data gives owners and operators the whole story in one, centralized place.
3. Save Energy: Meet Tenants’ Sustainability Demands
Commercial real estate professionals have seen a 40% increase in the demand for sustainability among tenants. Sustainable buildings are critical to staying competitive in today’s CRE landscape.
However, a commercial HVAC system can account for 20% of overall operating and energy costs and 50% of total energy usage. Energy efficiency can impact ROI and bottom lines. However, energy efficient HVAC systems can save money by increasing tenant retention and building value.
Energy efficiency in CRE buildings can increase rents by 10% or more. Higher rent, and higher quality tenants, can help property owners and operators meet their goals. By utilizing software built specifically for HVAC energy efficiency, property owners and operators have the capability to reduce energy consumption. And that’s all while exceeding indoor air quality standards and meeting tenants’ demands.
HVAC Management Software Helps Meet Goals
HVAC management software can help navigate the challenges of managing and maintaining HVAC systems. With more data comes greater transparency, which means greater opportunity to prepare for the future and increase efficiency. Property owners and operators need to adopt practices and solutions to thrive in this rapidly changing CRE industry and meet tenants’ demands.
An HVAC planning strategy is more important than ever today. Investing in HVAC management software can save time, money, and energy in the long term.
HVAC planning is one part of an overall building performance strategy to increase net operating income (NOI). Learn how smart CRE leaders are increasing NOI with these 5 quick steps.
