Althoff Industries, Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Energy Efficiency’

Is Your Building’s Cooling Strategy Ready for Chicago’s Next Heat Wave (and the Cooling Ordinance)?

Tuesday, May 5th, 2026

If your building’s cooling strategy isn’t ready before Chicago’s next heat wave, you’re already a few steps behind. Chicago building owners need a proactive strategy that keeps tenants, residents, staff, or visitors comfortable and your property compliant.

Chicago’s cooling ordinance requires certain buildings to provide cooling and dehumidification in designated common spaces under specific conditions. Covered buildings may need accessible indoor cooling areas that can maintain safe temperature and humidity levels as outdoor temperatures rise.

With hotter summers and increasing expectations around occupant safety, commercial HVAC planning needs to cover more than basic comfort. Here’s how to prepare your building for sustained heat, humidity, and HVAC system performance under pressure.

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Smart Thermostats & Automation: Reducing Energy Waste Over the Holidays

Monday, December 1st, 2025

For commercial buildings, the holiday season often brings shifts in occupancy patterns, reduced staffing, and temporary closures. With fewer people in the building, heating and cooling needs change dramatically. Uet many facilities continue operating on their normal schedules, wasting energy and increasing operational costs. Smart thermostats and building automation systems offer an effective way to reduce unnecessary energy use during low-occupancy periods, especially throughout the holidays.

Commercial HVAC automation isn’t just a convenience. It’s a strategic way to optimize performance, protect equipment, and support more efficient operations during one of the most unpredictable times of the year.

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