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As a property owner, you have a lot to worry about every day. Large or small, complaints or even simple requests keep us hopping to make sure every problem doesn’t escalate into something more.

And while you probably spend most of your time thinking about what is happening inside your building, occasionally you have to stop and think about what’s happening outside as well.

Did you know that half of the energy your property is consuming is being consumed by your HVAC system? The US Energy Information Administration estimates that commercial HVAC systems account for 40 to 60 percent of all fuel consumption. And while its easy to want to make changes to save money on your overall costs every year, there’s another area that can benefit from the savings as well: the environment.

At the top of the news every day are articles on climate change and greenhouse gases. Manufacturers of HVAC equipment take this into account as they develop new innovations to help control emissions overall. Today’s HVAC equipment require less energy than ever before, use more earth friendly materials, and use technology to monitor leaks and other inefficiencies that contribute to climate change.

One of the biggest areas of improvement in a commercial HVAC system is with the compressor. Compressors account for up to 60 percent of the energy usage of the system; its no wonder that regulations have been put into place to increase their efficiency. The latest compressors are being designed to use technology at its highest level, working with minimal amounts of refrigerants, while being more efficient in the process. Some compressors are also designed with fewer working parts, meaning less of a chance for cracks and leaks down the road.

With the latest options and features, you’ll find HVAC equipment that is more environmentally friendly, more energy efficient, and even more reliable than ever before. They can maintain temperatures and moderate humidity all while using less fuel. And because they are smaller and have fewer moving parts, they take up less space, are quieter, and have fewer chances of breaking down. Some even use technology at its optimal level, giving you on-board diagnostic centers that can detect problems and shut down systems the moment there is a problem.

With the ban on Freon (a chlorine based refrigerant), newer refrigerants are constantly being evaluated to be safer for the ozone layer. One of the most promising to date is R-410A, which contains fluorine and does not contribute to ozone depletion. It offers high energy efficiency, allows your air conditioner to run at a lower temperature, and reduces the load on the compressor, which means the compressor works less and has a decreased chance of burn-out.

According to EPA guidelines, you are responsible for the repair of any refrigeration leaks, even if you aren’t aware of a leak. You are responsible for having your system checked on a regular basis and to keep accurate records of service performed and any refrigerant added. Failure can result in very heavy fines.

While keeping up with these requirements can have a heavy burden with older systems, new technology makes it easy. Building automation technology has refrigeration leak detection that monitors your HVAC system for leaks and other problems, and warns you with any problems. Leaks are automatically detected and reported, allowing you to take immediate action. And making your job as a property manager that much easier.