For many businesses, gas and electricity bills are some of the biggest expenses they face. This makes it important for them to improve their energy efficiency for financial and environmental rewards. Read on to see ways in which you can save money on your commercial energy bills for a brighter future for your business.
Shut Equipment Down When It’s Not Being Used
It’s important to make sure that equipment like microwaves, printers, photocopiers, and computers are turned off every time they’re not in use. This is because leaving equipment on standby mode for a long time will cost you small amounts of energy, which will develop into considerable sums over time. Implement this in your business and enforce it, appointing an individual to do this if possible. Over time, you will realize savings as a result of this.
Service and Maintain Your Equipment Regularly
Equipment that is serviced regularly will generally perform better and be more efficient. Schedule regular intervals to have all your work’s equipment maintained. You will also have to deal with fewer instances of breakdowns, which could cost you a lot in terms of time and fees you will need to pay. You should also be motivated to do so by the fact that predictive maintenance can bring down the overall costs of industrial maintenance by up to 30%, reduce breakdowns by over 70%, and decrease downtime by up to 45%, according to the Department of Energy.
Improve Your Lighting
Lighting also uses up a significant amount of energy in your premises, so you should think about upgrading it. When you upgrade it from conventional lighting to LED technology, you will be able to make considerable savings. Installing automatic controls is another way in which you can make savings as they will take away the need for manual controls, which may be difficult to enforce. There are different options available, including occupancy sensors, daylight-linked controls, and even flexible manual controls. Work with a professional to make sure that your lighting is modern and efficient, and you will notice a difference in future bills.
Switch Your Tariff When a Contract Comes to an End
When your electricity or gas contract comes to an end, you’re usually rolled over automatically to a costlier tariff, which is called a rollover rate. When you’re almost at the renewal window of your current tariff, start shopping for your next one between one and six months before the end of your current one. Find out the best deal that your current supplier can offer you if you renew, and compare this with others from providers in your area. With energy use in America found to double every 20 years, this is an important step to take that is both helping your business and the U.S.’s energy usage. You’re sure to find new suppliers with amazing offers or veteran suppliers who can offer you the best. This will be worth your while, as you will make considerable savings with a little research.
Install Modern Thermostats and Timers
Finally, upgrade your thermostats and get timers to get the most out of your heating and cooling needs. You can get timers that align with occupancy at your business so that your team enjoys warmth while they’re in the offices but you’re not heating up an empty space. Also, check to see how your radiators are positioned and make sure that there’s nothing blocking them so you get heating efficiently. Set rules to guide air conditioning and thermostat settings so that you can maintain the settings that give your business the best savings.
Follow these tips to get the most out of your energy use and you will enjoy the results over time!
