Starting a small business is difficult enough as it is. You don’t need to add unnecessary financial and energy costs on top of it.
Thankfully, there are many simple ways that small businesses can reduce their energy consumption and save money in the process.
There are a host of tools that can help your business monitor its energy use and begin to decrease it, which will reduce your overhead costs and make your operations more sustainable in the long run.
Have a look through our energy saving guide for business owners to learn how you can cut down on costs today!
1. Change Your Lightbulbs.
Changing the light bulbs in your office can be a simple way to reduce energy use.
Simply replacing incandescent and fluorescent lights with more efficient lighting can reduce consumption by at least 25%.
If you’re looking for a new bulb, look for one with higher Kelvin ratings (6500K), lower wattage (60W or less), low lumens rating (1,200 lumens or less), and high CRI rating (80+).
That way, you will get the most efficient lights for your business.
2. Unplug Unused Electronics.
The average business has 30 electrical devices that are plugged in but not being used, and these appliances could be costing you a lot of money.
When electronics are on standby, they still consume power and can cost you in the long run.
Use a power timer for small appliances like coffee makers, lamps, or televisions that aren’t in use most of the day.
Plugging these types of items into an automatic switch will turn them off automatically after several hours if you don’t want them running constantly throughout the day or night when no one’s around to use them anyway!
3. Use Power Strips.
Power strips are a great way to turn off multiple devices at once, and they’re also an easy way to reduce the number of outlets in your office.
You can use them for anything from computers and printers, to monitors and clocks.
Just be sure that if you have any expensive equipment plugged into the strip that you unplug it before turning off the strip itself, this helps prevent unexpected damage to appliances and can save you even more money on repairs.
4. Install A Programmable Thermostat.
A programmable thermostat is a device that allows you to set your office temperature at certain times of the day and/or night.
A programmable model can be set to automatically adjust the temperature based on specific times without you needing to do a thing yourself.
This means that if you have a business in an area with extreme temperatures during certain months, a programmable model could help save energy by keeping the heat up during those cold days and turning it off at night when everyone leaves.
Programmable models also allow for greater efficiency because they allow users to easily turn off their heat or air conditioning unit whenever they’re not at the business.
Additionally, many models come equipped with features like extra battery backup power in case of power outages, backlit displays, large buttons, remote controls, customisable settings and more!
5. Clean/Replace Filters.
If you have a furnace, make sure the filter is clean and replaced once per year. This will ensure that it doesn’t get clogged with dust, which increases energy costs.
Use energy-efficient filters – Consider switching to an air filter that uses synthetic materials rather than paper or cotton ones; they can help save up to 20% in electricity costs!
6. Use Computers More Efficiently.
If you’re using a desktop computer, the first thing to do is turn it off when you’re not using it. This may sound like common sense, but many people leave their computers running when they’re away from their desks.
If you have an automatic power-down program configured on your computer, make sure that it’s set up properly—the last thing you want is for your computer to shut down while in the middle of a task and lose all of those precious documents!
Another tip is to unplug any peripherals that aren’t being used during times when no one will be at work: printers, monitors and other devices should be turned off as well.
Conclusion.
We hope that you found these tips helpful in your quest to reduce energy consumption and cut down on costs.
While we’ve provided some simple ways to save energy at your business, it’s important that you consider more long-term solutions as well.
The most effective strategy will be one that takes into account all six tips mentioned above but also considers other valuable strategies like renewable energy sources or installing solar panels on top of financial incentives from local organisations.
