Ways to Keep a Commercial Space Cool Without a Commercial A/C Unit

Air conditioning in the summer is one of the most important things we need to endure the Arizona heat. It is just as essential to make sure we have A/C in our homes as it is for commercial space. During a hot day, a lack of A/C can cause problems for commercial areas such as a warehouse. The heat could damage or even destroy products being stored, which only leads to more issues such as customers complaining that the product is not in good condition or a delay in receiving their product. The summer heat is also a threat to any employees you have working in a commercial space. Here are some tips to help deliver cool air to your large spaces. 

Doors

An easy trick to helping cool the air without adding to your electricity bill is installing metal screen doors. Screen doors increase airflow and allow for breezes to come in. Screen doors are better than just leaving the door open. Additionally, screen doors help keep out unwanted visitors, as well as birds and bugs. These metal screen doors will improve the temperature of your commercial spaces and help provide cool air for employees. 

If you do not plan to install screen doors, avoid leaving doors open for prolonged periods, especially when the doors do not need to be open. Alternatives are to add strip doors or curtains which help keep the cold air inside and the hot air out. Utilizing strip doors allows for easy access to rooms and won’t interfere with the productivity of the commercial area.

Insulation

Cooling an office space is much different than trying to keep a commercial building cool. Just having a commercial air conditioner is not always enough to keep a large open space adequately cooled, especially in an Arizona summer. There is a lot more space in these buildings for heat to come in as well as cool air to escape. Make sure your commercial space is properly insulated, as this helps keep the cool air in, and during the colder, winter months it will help keep cold air out. Once you have correctly insulated your building, you can focus on airflow without losing cool air or money in the process. 

Fans

When your commercial A/C is not getting the job done on its own, ceiling fans can help produce more airflow. The higher the ceiling in your space is, the less effective ceiling fans become. If you have relatively high ceilings, the best ceiling fan to consider is one with high volume and low speed. These fans can help increase ventilation and provide coverage for up to 20,000 square feet. Transportable industrial fans are also a good option as you can put them where they are needed to help cool the area. An additional tip to help keep a commercial property cooled is turning off any machines that are not in use. Having large machinery running can significantly raise the temperature, and eliminating any extra heat makes cooling the area and lowering your electricity bill much easier.

Another method of using fans such as moveable industrial fans is by creating a cross breeze by positioning them across from an open window, door, or another fan. The winds will combine to create cool air. If you have enough fans and are feeling a bit on the wild side, you can set up multiple fans to create a significant airflow.

Dehumidify

High humidity levels, such as those that occur during monsoon season, can make it feel much hotter than it really is. Using a dehumidifier to take the moisture out of the air can have a significant cooling effect on your facility. If used with a commercial air conditioner, a dehumidifier can fight the heat at a higher cost efficiency than either unit working solo.

New Roof

A long term option to help keep your facility cool is taking a look at the building’s roof. Some roofing materials can reach up to 190 degrees Fahrenheit, and that heat will be transferred into your building. Installing a cooler roof means a cooler summer. This will reduce your air conditioning and electric bills. The best roof to help cool your building is a light colored and reflective roof. These roofs may seem pricey now, but they can save you a lot of money long term by keeping the heat out of your building.

Outside

There are plenty of ways to improve cooling your commercial space on the inside, but what about cooling from the outside? 

Trees are an excellent way to help cool your building as they provide shade and block the sunlight from warming the structure. Strategically plant the trees to cover the hottest parts of your building from the sun. The best type of tree to plant is one that will drop leaves in the winter. It may be messier, but when the weather is colder, you will want as much sunlight warming your building as possible.