Energy-saving tips for businesses

You can save on your annual energy bill by taking the following steps to make your office more energy-efficient. Many of these suggestions are inexpensive and can be initiated today for your business.

Office equipment

• Turn off copiers, computer printers, hard drives, monitors and task lights during non-business hours.
• When buying or replacing computers, copiers, printers and other office equipment, compare the energy consumption of various models. Even on machines with similar speeds and features, energy consumption can vary by as much as tenfold.

Climate control

• In summer, set the thermostat between 80 and 85 degrees. During non-business hours, raise the thermostat to a higher setting, but not more than five degrees.
• Where practical, use ceiling fans or portable fans to circulate and cool the air, rather than lowering your thermostat.
• In winter, set the thermostat between 65 and 68 degrees during the day or business hours, and 60 to 65 degrees at night during non-business hours.
• Install programmable thermostats. These units adjust the temperature up or down automatically -- you won't need to remember to change the settings every time you open or close your business. If you have two or more air-conditioning units, set them to return to "occupied" temperatures half an hour apart.
• In summer, close window blinds during the day to keep out the heat. In winter, open blinds to let in the sun.
• Install shading screens on south, east and west-facing windows that are not shaded.
• Reflective film applied directly to the inside of the window reduces solar heat by reflecting it away from the window.
• Awnings keep sun off windows in summer. Installed at the proper angle, awnings allow sun to enter in winter when extra heat is welcome.
• Plant mature desert-adapted trees to shade sun-struck windows and walls. For best results, plant two trees on the west side, and at least one tree on the southwest side, particularly in front of windows.
• Fix leaks and caulk cracks in walls, windows, doors, ceilings and floors. Even small holes can cause substantial cooling or heating losses. Install or repair weatherstripping and caulking to stop air leaks.
• Keep exterior doors and windows closed as much as possible when cooling with air-conditioning. No need to cool the outdoors.
• Encourage employees to be energy-conscious. Educate and encourage them to cooperate and show how their practices can affect your company's efforts to conserve energy and save money.
• Designate someone to be responsible for good energy practices. Such practices should be promoted by a key person. Remember, saving money on energy costs is equivalent to increasing your profits.
• Have a licensed contractor check and service your cooling and heating equipment annually. If the compressor is not in good shape or if the air filter is dirty, your electric bills will likely be higher. Clean vents, filters and motors regularly.

Lighting

• Turn off lights when not needed. It is not true that turning lights on and off uses more electricity than just leaving the lights on. Turning off fluorescent lights saves energy, extends overall lamp life and reduces replacement costs.
• Install lighting occupancy sensors. Like programmable thermostats, these sensors help optimize lighting use by automatically turning lights on or off, depending on occupancy. Such sensors work well in conference rooms, break rooms or individual offices that are not occupied continuously.
• Remove lamps and/or ballasts where you have more lighting than you really need, but be sure to maintain safe and adequate lighting conditions for work areas.
• Leave only minimal lighting turned on during non-business hours if necessary for safety.

Refrigerators

• If you have an office refrigerator or freezer at the work place, keep it full but not overcrowded. Use ice cubes and water containers to fill empty space.
• Set the refrigerator temperature between 36 and 42 degrees and the freezer between -5 and +6 degrees. If the dial reads only "High, Medium, Low," test the exact temperature by placing an outdoor or refrigerator thermometer on the middle shelf overnight.
• Clean condenser coils three to four times each year. Be sure to unplug the refrigerator first.
• Clean heat exchangers and perform routine maintenance on refrigerating equipment to ensure the most efficient operation.
• When shopping for an office refrigerator, compare operating costs listed on the yellow, federal Energy Guide label that shows the average yearly operating cost of that unit. Keep in mind, however, that it is a national average; your actual energy costs may vary.

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