Businesses are accountable for the environmental impact of their operations, so it makes sense to find new strategies to conserve energy. Most small businesses admit energy costs are major contributors to unpredictable expenses. Thankfully, there are several ways to improve energy efficiency in your enterprise, most of which can start with strategic decisions. Becoming more energy conscious can help you lower your operational expenses. Consider employing these top five energy-saving to maximize efficiency.
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Invest in energy-saving lighting
Keeping the lights running in the office isn’t that cheap, especially for businesses relying on outdated lighting systems. Studies show lighting up your premise can account for up to 40% of your energy consumption. One smart investment to save energy is to replace incandescent filament bulbs with ultramodern LED lights. The upfront cost should not be a big concern since LEDS use less energy and last much longer than regular incandescent bulbs. Start reminding your employees and staff to switch off the lights when no one is in the office. You may even want to install motion sensors in your corridors to ensure your lights only turn when needed.
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Tint your commercial windows
Energy-efficient window installation is a crucial consideration for businesses. Heat gain and loss through windows greatly impact your heating and cooling bills. It would help to replace or update your current windows to maximize energy efficiency. Understanding how to pick commercial window tinting for your business is important, especially when glasses feature office buildings more than ever. Glass windows notoriously waste energy, offering little protection from sunlight. Tinting your commercial windows can minimize heat by almost 80%, saving your business energy and protecting your team from harmful UV radiation, so keep this in mind.
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Set the right temperature and maintain your HVAC systems
Another strategy to save energy is to utilize climate control judiciously, so feel free to leverage this. If you leave your AC units running throughout the summer days, it can increase your energy expenses by 30%. And when you warm your offices in winter, a minor 1 degree Celsius of overheating can increase your energy costs by up to 8%. Set an optimum temperature for your thermostat and consider positioning it away from direct sunlight and draughts. You should also note that maintaining your HVAC units by cleaning the vents, fans, and filters can help reduce their workload. It helps to also remove workbenches and furniture pieces that may be blocking your radiators. These may absorb part of the heat and affect your energy efficiency., so feel free to consider this.
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Get an energy audit
It’s important to note that an energy audit will help you know your baseline energy consumption and how to save more energy. Most utility companies offer free energy audits at no cost, so find out from your local energy supplier if you can get professionals to visit your business and conduct a full inspection of your properties, checking for energy-efficiency issues such as air leaks and insulation problems.
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