Commercial buildings account for more than 20% of U.S. energy use according to researchers at MIT, and 30% of that energy use is completely unnecessary. The good news? There are simple things businesses like yours can do to help reduce their energy costs, and these changes will benefit both the planet and your bottom line.
Get a Free Energy Audit: Most energy companies offer a complimentary energy audit to their commercial clients, and they’ll help you figure out where you’re wasting energy and how you can cut costs. For example, you might be able to reduce your heating and A/C bills by replacing old weather stripping, and cleaning out blocked vents could reduce your energy costs by 25%.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg, of course. Contact local provider(s) to see if they offer this service, and check out 5 Clever Ways CFOs Can Cut Energy Costs to learn more about energy conservation.
Set Your Lights on a Motion Detector: Lighting is costly, and installing motion detectors in meeting rooms, storage rooms, and underused offices can reduce energy waste, even when forgetful employees leave the lights on after they exit the room.
Look for the Energy Star Logo: Office equipment and appliances with the Energy Star logo are certified energy efficient. Replacing older, less efficient refrigerators, monitors, heaters, A/C units, and other items with energy efficient models can help your company save big. In fact, many of those older models use twice as much energy as the newer models.
Maintain HVAC Equipment: Regular maintenance for HVAC equipment, which includes cleaning and replacing filters monthly during peak periods of heavy use, can improve indoor air quality while reducing energy output. How does that work? Much like a healthy heart, well-maintained HVACs are more energy efficient because they don’t have to work as hard.
Create a Culture of Conservation: Communicate with your employees and help them understand the value of conserving energy—not just to improve the company’s bottom line, but as a benefit to the planet as a whole. Energy is a limited resource, and the more we can conserve, the better off we’ll be.
Looking for more ways to save on energy costs? Visit the Energy Star website for a comprehensive list of simple changes your business can make to manage its energy consumption.
