How to Cut Energy Costs at your Business

• Posted by Pam Hoddinott
• On Fri Jan 10

Every organization understands the importance of making a profit. Saving money should be just as important.  According to ENERGY STAR, the average building wastes about a third of the energy it uses. The good news is that your organization may have significant energy savings potential and can easily start Making Energy an Asset^®.

Reducing the energy your organization uses does not have to be difficult or costly. It’s easy to get started on the path to energy efficiency by choosing from the energy optimization strategies below.

UPGRADE YOUR LIGHTING

Lighting can account for a large share of a building’s electricity — more than 35 percent.  Because of this, lighting upgrades and retrofits make a significant impact on the operating efficiency of a building. Not only does a lighting upgrade improve lighting quality, but also affects heating and cooling loads as well as power quality. An energy-efficient LED lighting upgrade is a simple and inexpensive way for you to reduce energy costs.

INSTALL SMART HVAC TECHNOLOGY

An HVAC system is often considered the backbone of a facility, yet HVAC units are typically run without much consideration – until there is a problem. It is not unusual for a building to waste upward of 10 percent of the energy consumed as a result of the inefficient operation of the HVAC system.

There are many reasons why these inefficiencies happen. It may start as early as the construction process, or it may come from multiple adjustments made over time. Whatever the case may be, the result is the same – an inefficient HVAC system where HVAC optimization is in great need.

To improve the efficiency of your HVAC, implement the latest smart technology with fan control systems. It is an easy-to-implement device for single-zone packaged rooftop units (RTUs) that will optimize HVAC performance.

INSTALL SMART THERMOSTATS

Installing smart thermostats can also improve the way your organization uses energy. A smart thermostat or a programmable thermostat provides you the ability to automatically adjust the temperature. There is no need to heat or cool a workspace if it is unoccupied (think nights, weekends, and holidays). Many smart thermostats provide mobile and web applications that allow you to track energy usage. This provides greater control of heating and cooling and ultimately, energy savings.

Beyond saving on your utility bill, installing smart thermostats also provide benefits you may not have considered:

• Extended Equipment Life: When HVAC units are run less, they will last longer
• Reduced Maintenance Costs: Similarly, when HVAC equipment is used less, there will be less maintenance and repair costs.

GET AN ENERGY AUDIT

If you are not sure where to start or what to do, an energy audit, also referred to as an energy assessment, is a great starting point to optimize your building to be more energy efficient. An energy audit will show you how your facility is currently performing. An energy audit will also show you where work can be done to make the biggest impact on becoming more energy efficient and cutting your energy costs. If you want to learn more about energy audits, check out these to articles What is the Difference between ASHRAE Level 1, 2, and 3 Audits and 5 Steps to Get the Most out of an Energy Audit.

There are many ways to cut your energy costs at work. By implementing any of the above, you will begin to start Making Energy an Asset^® and will see immediate changes in your energy bill.