small business electricity savings

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small business electricity savings

All business owners and managers know that there are some expenses like salaries, supplies and insurance that are just part of running a successful business. However, a huge business electricitybill coming every month and taking a big hit to your bottom line shouldn't be one of them. Whether you are looking for energy savings tips or to invest in more energy efficient solutions that will save money in the long term, we have some tips and suggestions that can help you and your employees save electricity and lower your operating costs.

Promote Energy Savings Practices to Your Employees

This may seem like a no-brainer but a lot of business owners never talk to their employees about energy savings techniques and the importance to the company’s bottom line. Make sure all the employees know that the last person to leave a room when closing up should turn off the lights, put their computer into sleep mode during lunch, turn off lights and appliances when leaving the break room and other energy savings best practices. All of these things are easy to do and add up over time. By promoting an eco-friendly business environment, you can help our planet and lower your monthly energy bill.

Put Someone in Charge of the Thermostat

We have all been there one person in the office is cold so they get up and change the temperature on the thermostat a little warmer. 10 minutes later, a different person is hot so they go over and turn it back down. It is nearly impossible to keep everyone happy and this temperature roller coaster will have a very expensive price for admission on your next electric bill. Try to find a happy medium for all employees and assign a responsible employee to monitor any temperature concerns. If worse comes to worse, consider locking the thermostat or adding a code to your smart thermostat tolimit access to just a few people.

No Need to Keep the Lights On

Lighting can be one of the biggest energy expenditures in any business. It's crucial for employees and customers to have adequate lighting when they come into your business. However, there are still ways to save on lighting costs without having to affect the workplace. Replacing burnt out lights with energy efficient LED bulbs that can save money and produce more light. Invest in a motion-senor for things like bathrooms, conference rooms and storage rooms so that lights automatically turn off when no one is in the area. Opening more windows to allow more natural light can save you money and also boost morale.

business energy savings

Don't Let the Supplies Catch You by Surprise

All of those electronic office supplies like printers, computers, modems, phones, etc. can really hike up your energy bill when they are left on. Try to find products Energy Star rated or products that can go into "sleep mode" when not being used for a while. Using a laptop instead of a desktop can save you up to 90% in electricity costs. If you have a break room, make sure the appliances are turned off when no one is using them or in "energy savings mode" at night.

Make Sure Your HVAC is RunningEfficient

Business HVAC systems typically get much more use than residential systems and that means more wear and tear. It's important to keep your HVAC system is running efficiently and have it serviced regularly. Things like clogged vents, dirty air filters and leaks in the unit or piping can cause the unit to be less efficient and increase your energy bill. Schedule regular maintenance and when parts do fail, try to replace them with more energy efficient parts

Get Out of the Office

If you can, try to schedule an off-site company meeting at least once a week. Not only can new surroundings spark new ideas but, by getting everyone out of the office, you won’tbe usingall the company resources to power the meeting. Try a working lunch at a nearby restaurant or a brainstorming session at a park or attraction. Get creative and think outside the box, your employees and monthly electricity bill will thank you for it.

Small business energy savings

Switch Your Energy Provider

If your business is in a deregulated energy state, you have the option to shop around and find the best rates. Depending on your current rate, you could save a ton on your bill just by switching providers. AtElectricityrates.com, we have an easy to use marketplace thatallows businesses to compare their electricity rate with many different provides or get a custom quote from one of our energy specialist. Want to compare rates? Simply go to our business electricity page and start shopping today!

Monitor Your Energy Usage

Hire a company to do an energy audit for your business. Many companies will do this for free and give you great tips and advice on where to cut back or invest in a more energy efficient solution. If you would rather monitor your energy consumption in real time, check out the wireless energy monitoring systems mentioned in the 5 New Technologies That Can Lower Your Energy Bill post.