As we enter the fourth quarter of 2023, many organizations are beginning to plan their budgets for 2024. With the numerous challenges that businesses have faced this year, it’s more important than ever to be proactive when it comes to planning investments for the upcoming year. Smart planning involves investments that have shown a positive impact on operations and enhance their outcomes. One of these is an HVLS fan.
RESEARCH SUPPORTS THE BENEFIT OF AN HVLS FAN
There are several ways in which it has been proven that an HVLS fan provides both short-term and long-term return on investment for manufacturing facilities. Research, ranging from NASA studies to records of employee injury claims, supports the potential costs that can be mitigated through the benefits of an HVLS fan. Here are four ways in which a proactive investment in HVLS fans can enhance your outcomes.
WORKPLACE SAFETY
It’s no secret that workplace safety is a key concern for all facilities. From food and beverages to distribution and storage, any uncontained spill can result in employee injuries. Even basic condensation can contribute to injuries like slips and falls. Additionally, maintaining machinery safety through accelerated cleaning can reduce employee injuries. With slips, trips, and falls being a major contributing factor to workplace injuries, simply reducing the likelihood of these accidents can impact your bottom line by avoiding potential workers’ compensation claims or legal repercussions that could arise from on-the-job injuries.
It has been demonstrated that an HVLS fan reduces downtime due to injuries by quickly clearing any spills that may occur. An EHSToday article cites that many dock owners are investing in HVLS fans. Because HVLS fans are designed to move larger volumes of air at lower speeds, they are capable of removing moisture at a faster rate. This video provides a visual example of how an HVLS fan aids in moisture control.
LEVELS OF PRODUCTIVITY AND ACCURACY
One of the most direct ways to enhance your outcomes is by increasing productivity and accuracy. Companies that have plans to measure and enhance their productivity levels improve quality, reduce downtime, and overall increase facility efficiency. One way to achieve this is by prioritizing a temperate working environment.
In a 2019 article published by the International Labour Organization, it’s projected that by 2030, over 2 percent of total working hours per year will be lost globally, partly due to decreased productivity caused by heat.
With temperature acting as a catalyst in worker productivity, finding the most cost-effective way to maintain a temperate climate in the workplace is a surefire method to boost your earnings. This NASA study found that if the effective temperature, achieved by moving air over the body, is kept below 85°F, productivity and accuracy increase by 18% and 40%, respectively. The volume at which an HVLS fan can consistently and slowly move air across the body is a cost-effective way to enhance your workers’ productivity.
EMPLOYEE MORALE
While workplace safety and a comfortable working environment are independent reasons to invest in an HVLS fan, they both come together to enhance employee morale. When an employee feels valued by their employer, their commitment to excellence for the facility’s benefit also increases. Productivity remains high due to reduced absenteeism and overall encourages better interaction among team members.
An additional benefit is reduced employee turnover. In a 2019 Gallup survey, it was found that the cost of replacing an employee can range from half to twice the employee’s annual salary. With an average turnover rate of 26 percent in 2017, it’s easy to see how an investment in HVLS for your employees can go a long way in providing a strong return on investment.
OVERALL COST EFFICIENCY
One final reason to proactively invest in an HVLS fan is the overall cost efficiency found in energy savings. For facilities utilizing HVAC systems, installing an HVLS fan can cut down energy costs in both summer and winter months through air circulation and ventilation. As ceiling fans, HVLS fans are capable of moving air throughout your facility, reducing the need to overwork your HVAC unit. This leads to decreased energy consumption and cost savings.
An additional benefit found in many states is the potential for energy reduction incentives. In Oregon, for instance, such energy incentives are crucial for facilities’ cost savings as well as for decreasing their environmental footprint. These energy efficiency options often can also aid in qualifying facilities for LEED certification.
PUTTING HVLS RESEARCH TO WORK FOR YOU
At Hunter Industrial, we strive to make HVLS cost-saving research as effortless as possible for you, aiding you in planning your 2024 HVLS investment now. With our first-cost lowest installation guarantee and maintenance-free platform, we can provide you with the real return on investment from an HVLS fan, directly impacting your bottom line.
