Don’t think of energy as a budget item that’s out of your control. Instead, recognize it as one of the most important expenses you can manage for your business. It’s essential to manage your demand—especially at peak times in the workday. By auditing your energy use with a critical eye, you can control costs and maximize profitability. Here are a few of our favorite energy-management tips.
1. Unplug office equipment (or turn off power strips) when not in use. Phantom energy going to electronics that are not in use can account for up to 30% of electric bills.
2. Install occupancy sensors in little-used rooms such as storage areas, bathrooms and breakrooms. By turning on the lights only when someone enters, these sensors save energy and prolong the life of your bulbs.
3. Use a programmable thermostat to keep a set temperature during the day and reduce heating/cooling costs at night when the office is empty. Keeping well-meaning employees’ hands off the thermostat can make a big difference—every one-degree difference over an eight-hour period can mean as much as 1% savings on your electric bill.
4. Exchange incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent (CFL) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. These energy-efficient bulbs last longer (which means less maintenance) and save on energy costs.
5. As you’re switching out your incandescent bulbs for CFLs or LEDs, also watch out for over lighting—areas that are too bright. As you replace bulbs, try using ones with a lower wattage. Remove unneeded bulbs, and take advantage of natural light from windows.
6. Set the sleep mode on computers, printers and copiers. Sleep mode, which typically uses 15 watts or less, will save employees the time it takes to boot the computer after short intervals of inactivity. An easy trick is to set the power settings on computers to automatically go to sleep after 15 minutes of inactivity. Do watch out for animated screen savers – these don’t save energy.
7. Upgrade exit signs to LED fixtures. These high-efficiency fixtures can save up to $46 per year, per sign, in energy costs.
8. Keep doors closed during winter and summer months. How many times have you seen doors propped open as employees move equipment or accept deliveries? As that cool air (in the summer) or warm air (in the winter) escapes, so does your electricity budget.
9. Encourage a culture of conservation among your employees, and get their help in finding ways to save energy. Help them understand that everyone in the organization benefits from increased profitability.