Is Your Property Ready for Peak Cooling Season?

By Rick Love | July 22, 2026

With the hottest part of the year in full swing, we’re all feeling the heat…and not just people.

During prolonged heat waves, air conditioning systems become the single largest contributor to electricity demand. As millions of HVAC units cycle on simultaneously, utilities can experience significant strain on the electrical grid. In extreme cases, this increased demand can contribute to brownouts (temporary voltage reductions) or, if supply cannot meet demand, blackouts.

While today’s power grids are more resilient than in the past, aging infrastructure, rapid population growth, electrification, and increasingly frequent periods of extreme heat have made energy management a growing concern for commercial property owners.

The Importance for Commercial Buildings

Even brief power disturbances can impact building operations by:

• Reducing HVAC performance and occupant comfort
• Interrupting elevators, lighting, and building automation systems
• Causing unexpected equipment shutdowns
• Increasing wear on motors, compressors, and other electrical components
• Affecting tenant productivity and business continuity

For facilities operating critical systems or temperature-sensitive environments, even a short disruption can have significant operational consequences.

5 Quick Tips for Owners

Rather than reacting to extreme weather, proactive planning can help reduce risk and improve system reliability.

Schedule Preventive HVAC Maintenance. Clean coils, replace filters, inspect electrical connections, and verify refrigerant levels before peak cooling season begins.

Optimize Building Automation Systems. Adjust temperature setpoints during peak demand periods and schedule equipment to reduce unnecessary simultaneous loads.

Evaluate Backup Power Capabilities. Ensure backup generators and transfer switches are properly maintained and tested. Consider whether battery energy storage or additional redundancy could benefit your facility.

Improve Building Efficiency. LED lighting upgrades, improved insulation, window treatments, and high-efficiency HVAC equipment can reduce overall electrical demand while lowering operating costs.

Monitor Electrical Infrastructure. Routine inspections of switchgear, panels, transformers, and distribution equipment can identify issues before they become costly failures.

The Heat is On

Summer demand on the electrical grid isn’t going away. As temperatures continue to rise and buildings become increasingly electrified, proactive facility planning is becoming an essential part of long-term asset management. Preparing today can help ensure your building stays comfortable, resilient, and operational when electrical demand is at its highest.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

About NAI Hiffman:

NAI Hiffman is one of the largest independent commercial real estate services firms in the US, with a primary focus on metropolitan Chicago, and part of the NAI Global network. We provide institutional and private leasing, property management, tenant representation, capital markets, project services, research, and marketing services for owners and occupiers of commercial real estate. To meet our clients’ growing needs outside of our exclusive NAI Hiffman territory, we launched Hiffman National, our dedicated property solutions division, which provides property management, project services, and property accounting services across the country. NAI Hiffman | Hiffman National is an award winning company headquartered in suburban Chicago, with more than 275 employees strategically located throughout North America.

About Hiffman National:

Hiffman National is one of the US’s largest independent commercial real estate property management firms, providing institutional and private clients exceptional customized solutions for property management, project management, property accounting, lease administration, marketing, and research. The firm’s comprehensive property management platform and attentive approach to service contribute to successful life-long relationships and client satisfaction. As a nationally bestowed Top Workplace, and recognized CRE award winner, Hiffman National is headquartered in suburban Chicago, with more than 275 employees nationally and an additional six hub locations and 25 satellite offices across North America.