We’ve talked about how to save energy (and money) for your homes all year round, but what about our businesses? Our offices use (and, conversely, waste) energy much differently from our homes, so the usual practices won’t always work here. However, that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing we can do to prevent energy loss in our office spaces.
Upgrade your appliances
Old appliances are a drain on our energy systems. Why? Because older appliances tend to be less efficient than newer ones. There are the typical office appliances such as computers, phones, and printers, but there are also the appliances that you don’t think of, such as refrigerators, air conditioners, and toilets, which could be draining your energy. While it will cost more upfront to replace them, it will save you plenty of money in the long run.
Use motion detectors or automatic dimmers
20% of the electricity your business uses is for lighting. As such, you’ll want to cut down on how much light you use as much as possible. You can do this by utilizing natural light to your advantage (see below), and you can also install motion detectors or automatic dimmers. This way, you won’t be wasting energy lighting a room that no one is using.
Install a programmable thermostat
A programmable thermostat will help you take control of how hot or cold your business stays throughout the entire day. During the summer, set your office to 78 degrees, and then change it to 70 degrees in the winter. During the night you can let it get colder (or warmer, if it’s summertime), just make sure that you turn on your heat or AC roughly thirty minutes before people start coming to the office.
Use natural light
Natural light can be used in one of two ways. The first is that it can be used as a literal source of light instead of the expensive, fluorescent lighting that you have on all day. The second is that it can be used for solar panels. Installing solar panels can reduce your business’ energy costs by up to 75%. In a world where every penny counts, these savings could be just what your business needs to stay afloat.
Ready to start saving? Empire Clean Energy Supply can help. With our photovoltaic solar panels, you’ll be able to save energy throughout the long summer months. Give us a call at 631-589-4340 to learn more!