CHICAGO—The US Energy Information Administration recently released its Annual Energy Outlook 2012 report. There, on page 81, was the comment that the industrial property sector consumes a third of the nation's total delivered energy these days, and is anticipated to report the second-largest increase in total primary energy use between 2010 and 2035.

The report projects that the share of industrial-delivered energy consumption for heat and power in the manufacturing processes will grow from 64% in 2010 to 71% in 2035. Meanwhile, heat and power consumption in non-manufacturing areas will remain flat, accounting for about 16% of total industrial energy consumption from 2010 to 2035. These statistics point to a stark reality, namely that industrial property owners and managers can expect their energy use to increase.

Anyone who has deciphered an energy bill understands that an increase in consumption more often than not means an increase in costs. But Brenda Crisp, SVP and national industrial property management lead for Jones Lang LaSalle, notes that all is not lost for industrial owners. "Management teams with solid knowledge of energy efficiency can help find savings in a number of systems and areas throughout an industrial building, often for no or low cost."

The Chicago-based JLL recently released a white paper concerning energy consumption uses. Solutions focus on examining HVAC and lighting. With the former accounting for 70% of industrial energy usage, and lighting accounting for about 20%, these are two good places to start.

And what about use of renewable energies, such as solar or wind? Certainly rooftop solar panels and ground-source heat pumps can reduce existing greenhouse gases while supporting sustainability goals—and some of that solar energy can be sold back to the utility grid. But relying on renewable energy is only part of the equation. Furthermore, all the timed air conditioning, LED lights and earth-bound heat pumps are only as effective as their last maintenance check.

To that end, JLL's Robert Best, EVP of Chicago operations and project lead for the company's Energy and Sustainability Solutions Group, points out that preventive maintenance is important when it comes to maximizing energy efficiency and reducing waste. "By addressing equipment issues before they occur, clients save both time and money, as well as maximize efficiency, especially at sites so highly dependent on machinery," he comments.