Weekly Briefing

DC Power: A Holistic Approach to Energy Savings in Commercial Buildings

Listen to this article

In today's energy-conscious world, businesses constantly seek ways to reduce their carbon footprint and operational costs. While many focus on renewable energy sources, a fundamental shift in how we power our buildings can yield even more significant savings: transitioning from AC to DC power.

Our traditional AC-powered infrastructure inherently involves inefficiencies. From the moment electricity enters a building to the point it powers our devices, it undergoes multiple AC-to-DC conversions, resulting in energy loss.

A Case Study in Savings:

Imagine a typical commercial building consuming 10,000 kWh of energy. Currently, 50% of this power comes from the utility grid, and the other 50% is generated on-site through solar panels or other means. That's 5,000 kWh purchased from the grid.

Now, let's reimagine this building with a comprehensive DC power system. This includes:

• DC Energy Storage: Seamlessly integrates with on-site generation and provides stable power.
• Distributed DC Power with Fault-Managed Power: Minimizing transmission losses and enhancing safety.
• DC Endpoints: Power devices directly without unnecessary AC-to-DC conversions.

By adopting this holistic approach, we can conservatively achieve a 20% reduction in overall energy consumption. This translates to an 8,000 kWh total consumption, and most importantly, a 2,000 kWh reduction in grid-sourced power.

That's a 40% reduction in the energy purchased from the grid!

Why is this holistic view critical?

• Cumulative Savings: Concentrating only on one element, such as solar panels, overlooks the immense potential of optimizing the entire power distribution system. Each efficiency gained multiplies, resulting in significant overall savings.
• Reduced Grid Dependence: Lowering reliance on the grid strengthens energy resilience and decreases vulnerability to price fluctuations.
• Environmental Impact: Reduced energy consumption correlates with a smaller carbon footprint, fostering a more sustainable future.
• Cost Efficiency: Although the initial investment in a DC system may appear considerable, long-term energy cost savings and diminished maintenance will swiftly counterbalance the upfront expense.
• Enhanced Agile Workplaces: As we transition toward more flexible and adaptable workplaces, DC power lays the groundwork for seamlessly integrating smart technologies, sensors, and IoT devices, boosting workplace adaptability. This aligns directly with the Agile Workplace concept, promoting a more dynamic and responsive environment.

DC Power: A Promising Future

The transition to DC power isn't just about saving energy; it's building a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable future. By taking a holistic approach and considering the entire power ecosystem, we can unlock unprecedented savings and pave the way for a cleaner, more efficient world.

Robert Kroon, Founder and CEO, August Berres Bob Kroon is the CEO and Founder of August Berres. August Berres provides applications for DC-powered workplaces, eliminating the need to install 120V power at every workstation. Bob has a forty-year history in electro-mechanical durable goods and the furniture industry. His career began as an Industrial Engineer for Maytag. His furniture background began in manufacturing engineering with The Hon Company in 1979. In the next 18 years, he served in assignments in product engineering and general management. His subsequent experience includes contract manufacturing for low-volume, high-value, high-complexity electronic enclosures.

Read Next

3/27/2025
The Convergence of Edge Computing, Cloud, and AI in Building Automation and Smart Buildings In the built environment, we have seen the convergence of Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT), later expanding to include Workplace Technologies (WP).

3/13/2025
How to Achieve Eco-Friendly Facility Management Commercial real estate operators and facility managers are focusing on sustainable practices to minimize environmental impact, create healthier workplaces, improve productivity and lower operational costs.

1/23/2025
When It Comes To Managing Properties’ Parking, Technology Is Key It’s easy for developers and real estate owners to think of parking as a necessary evil. They know they have to provide it (often, because it’s mandated by code), they understand that prospective tenants and buyers expect to be provided parking, but they haven’t figured out how to maximize its value.

11/22/2024
Making Visitor Management a Welcome Experience If you’re in CRE, you already know the challenges of managing and tracking visitor access at your properties.