Architecture and engineering (A&E) firms are often celebrated for their forward-thinking design philosophies—but many of their own offices suffer from legacy energy inefficiencies. With dense computer setups, peripheral electronics, in-house servers, and extended working hours, these firms face disproportionately high plug load consumption.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, plug loads—defined as energy consumed by devices plugged into outlets—can account for up to 30% of electricity use in commercial buildings, and this figure climbs higher in design-heavy environments like A&E offices. Meanwhile, moderate but steady HVAC loads further compound consumption, especially in open-concept workspaces or buildings with outdated systems.
This blog explores how A&E firms can address their unique energy profile, focusing on strategies that deliver results without compromising the collaborative, creative environments at the heart of architectural innovation.
In typical A&E offices, energy consumption is dominated by the following:
Because this energy usage is distributed across many individual devices, it’s often invisible at the meter level, making plug load one of the hardest energy culprits to identify and control—unless firms have granular, equipment-level monitoring in place.
Device-Level Energy Monitoring and Analytics
Installing sub-meters or smart power strips with integrated monitoring can reveal usage patterns across individual workstations or device clusters. Combined with hourly usage analytics, firms can pinpoint idle devices or departments with outsized energy footprints.
Power Management Policies
Default power settings on many computers and monitors are not optimized for energy savings. Enabling aggressive sleep modes or scheduled shutdowns (especially for high-performance workstations) can yield savings of up to 40% per device annually.
Educating Staff on Smart Usage
Simple behavioral interventions—like reminding staff to power down peripherals or use centralized printing—can reduce plug load significantly. Many organizations find success with internal awareness campaigns backed by energy dashboards or comparative usage metrics between teams.
Shared Resource Optimization
Centralizing servers or transitioning to cloud infrastructure can eliminate the need for in-house server rooms, which not only draw power directly but also indirectly increase HVAC load due to heat dissipation.
Plug Load Scheduling via Automation
For larger firms, integrating energy controls into a central system allows for automated shutoffs during non-operational hours. This can apply to lighting, shared devices, and even HVAC zoning, preventing energy waste when spaces are unoccupied.
While plug load may dominate energy discussions, HVAC remains the second-largest contributor in most A&E offices. Often, these buildings operate HVAC systems continuously to support irregular work hours, even when only a handful of staff remain late.
Solutions include:
Platforms that provide hour-by-hour energy visibility by zone or system can support these improvements and inform building-level decisions that balance comfort with sustainability.
A&E firms pride themselves on elegant, high-performance design—and that same ethos can extend into how their own operations use energy. Reducing plug load and HVAC waste doesn’t require sacrificing performance or flexibility. It requires data-driven decision-making.
By embracing granular monitoring, intelligent controls, and behavioral awareness, architecture and engineering companies can drastically reduce energy waste, support their own climate goals, and demonstrate leadership to clients and staff alike. And with the help of energy management platforms capable of automated, site-level, hourly energy tracking, firms can continuously adapt their strategy to how they really work—day by day, zone by zone.
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With HVAC systems, elevators, lighting, and IT infrastructure running around the clock, large office buildings are among the most energy-intensive commercial properties. This article explores how data-driven energy management can optimize operations and reduce waste without compromising comfort or uptime.
