Does your heart skip a beat when you see your energy bill in the mail? Is it really that time again already?
As you write out yet another big check you wonder if you could lower these costs. A big part of your overhead goes into this check right here.
What if we told you that yes, you can! Read on for some informative tips about how to save energy in your commercial building.
Efficient Lighting
About 11% of energy use in your commercial building goes to lighting. It also is very easy to save energy when it comes to lighting.
Here are a few options:
- Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs
- Install new, more energy-efficient fixtures
- Turn lights off when not in use
- Add motion detectors to your lights to automate them
- Use natural sunlight where possible
Try a few of these ideas. It might surprise you how much energy a few lights can eat up.
Program the Thermostats
Space heating alone accounts for about 25% of the energy a commercial building uses. If you could cut energy use in this area you could shave a lot off your bill.
One of the best ways of doing this is by programming your thermostats effectively. Set them to a lower temperature at night or whenever the building is not in use.
A good schedule to follow is to start heating up about 30 minutes before people arrive. In the evening you can let it start cooling down 30 minutes to an hour before people leave.
Maintain Heating and Cooling Equipment
Heating and cooling equipment should be maintained regularly. Be sure to have a schedule for changing the air filters frequently. Also, make sure that the vents are always clear.
Dirty air filters and blocked vents cause the equipment to work harder. Thus, they burn more energy unnecessarily.
Buy Energy Efficient Office Equipment
Energy efficient office equipment can have a huge effect on your energy bill. Some products can use as much as 75% less energy! Not all changes will have such a dramatic effect but it’s a significant area where you can save.
We realize that buying equipment is costly and may not be in your budget. But, equipment will eventually break or need to be upgraded anyway. Put a plan in place to buy energy efficient equipment when the time comes.
Alternative Sources
Look into alternative sources of energy. Solar or wind power may be options for your building and are often less expensive. You can feel good about doing your part for the environment while saving money.
Learn How to Save Energy
Be smart and learn how to save energy the easy way. These are only some of the great ideas out there for saving energy in your building.
It may not be feasible for you to try out each of these tips right away. But put a plan in place to put energy savings practice into effect over the next few months. It may take a little effort but you might stop dreading that energy bill in the mail so much.
Feel free to reach out if you need help with energy management! If we all work together we can make the world a more environmentally-friendly place.