Another statement waiting to be paid… and that electricity bill sure is high.
But when it comes to powering your business, sometimes you just have to fork up the money, right? Wrong.
There’s been a steady trend over the last decade pushing towards more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly business practices, all of which could significantly improve your bottom line.
Let’s take a look at a few quick adjustments you can make to lower your business’ electricity bill, all without breaking the bank with costly improvements:
1. Invest in a programmable thermostat.
At one point or another, we’ve all experienced the person at work who thinks the thermostat is too low or too high. But when your staff starts cranking the air or turning it off completely (and you need to cool the whole place down again), it can really dip into your wallet.
To save on energy bills, business management should take control of the thermostat. The fewer people who can change the setting, the better chance it will stay on a steady temperature— saving energy costs.
Because of this, a programmable thermostat is a great purchase for businesses. You can automatically set it to choose a more energy-efficient temperature during the evenings and weekends when no one is in the office and a completely separate temperature throughout the week when employees are present.
As a general rule, try to keep the AC at 78 degrees during the summer months when employees are in the building. This may sound high, but coming in from Florida’s humidity and mid-80’s to mid-90’s temperatures, 78 degrees will seem sufficiently cool and refreshing.
2. Power down or “hibernate” equipment when not in use.
Ahh, the exhaustible debate of whether it’s more energy-efficient to shut down devices or to keep them on! What about a middle ground? Many computers and laptops offer hibernation modes for when they are not in use during the day. While you might not agree that it’s efficient to power computers off frequently, hibernation mode will allow for less energy to be consumed.
Another great best practice is to make sure that all employees are responsible for powering down equipment for the weekend. And don’t forget about the communal devices. Though printers and computers may not be used during the weekend, they will still draw power if they are turned on. The same goes for microwaves, coffee makers, and vending machines. If these can be turned off at night, on weekends, and during holidays, you can expect to see a big drop in your energy bills.
3. If you have the budget for it, swap out inefficient equipment for ENERGY STAR-approved products.
If you have a break room in your business with refrigerators or microwaves, consider switching to ENERGY STAR-rated appliances. Older appliances can draw a much greater amount of power than newer energy-efficient models and are worth the replacement costs in energy savings.
4. Reassess your corporate landscaping.
A great deal of money can be saved by strategically planting trees outside of your business. That’s because trees planted to shade windows can have a cooling effect in the summer. These same trees will help cut back on wind hitting your building in the winter, helping to keep your building warm during the cooler months. Check with local ordinances (and your landlord if you rent your building) before planting trees.
In addition to tree coverage, look for ways to make your property more energy-efficient. For instance, you may choose to install motion-activated lighting to save energy lighting your walkways after dark or invest in dimmable features instead of full floodlights. Read more about how to enhance your commercial landscape lighting here.
5. Swap out your light bulbs with LEDs.
We know that this suggestion is one many have heard time and time again, but have you actually made the switch to better bulbs? Consider using CFL and LED light bulbs instead of halogen for those bright, energy-sucking overhead lights. These energy-efficient bulbs use significantly less energy and last for much longer than other types of bulbs, saving you the cost of buying new light bulbs as well.
Don’t forget to look for efficient bulbs for lamps as well. The smallest changes can make the biggest difference when it comes to lowering your business’ energy bill.
Quick Commercial Electrical Help
These five quick fixes are low-lift, high-impact methods for reducing your electricity spending. Check out a few more ways to lower your energy bills here.
How can we help? Our team is here for assistance with parking lot lighting improvements, energy-efficient lighting controls, and more.
Explore our Commercial Electrical Services, today.
