Don't Waste Your Energy: Cutting Energy Costs for Small Businesses

Energy costs are likely to be a concern for everyone. For small businesses, the problem is sometimes even greater. Not only do small businesses want to help manage energy costs to help the planet, but they also want to do it to help lower their overhead. Here are a few tips to get started for small businesses looking to save on their overall energy costs.

Get an Energy Audit

Energy audits are a great way to determine your current energy usage and identify areas for potential improvement. Check with your local utility company, as some may offer this service for free. During the energy audit process, a professional performs a full inspection of your business to identify possible air leaks, problems with insulation, and areas where more efficiency might be possible.

Power Down at the End of the Day

Computers and other electronic equipment use a lot of energy and also produce a lot of heat. Consider shutting these items down during the hours that they are not in use. You may save money on monthly utility bills and may prolong the life of the equipment.

Use Programmable Thermostats

Replace old manual thermostats and instead utilize programmable thermostats throughout the business. Use programmable systems that lower energy use when people are away from the building and turn the heat or air up to ensure it is comfortable just before they arrive. This way, your employees will not have to remember to turn the thermostat up or down when they leave or come in for the day.

Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs

Swap out your incandescent light bulbs for LEDs or CFL to significantly lower the cost of your light bill. Upgrading is easy, and you may even qualify for an energy rebate from the utility company or your taxes.

Set Energy Goals

Make saving energy part of your business goals and get your employees involved as well. Set benchmarks and measure your progress to determine if you meet the objectives. Ask your employees to come up with some energy-saving ideas and incentivize them to help take part.

Important Disclosures:

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

This article was prepared by WriterAccess.

LPL Tracking # 1-05205821

Sources:

How to Lower Your Small Business Electricity Bill, Constellation, https://www.constellation.com/solutions/for-your-small-business/goals/19-business-energy-savings-tips.html

50 Energy Saving Tips for Small Business, Direct Energy, https://business.directenergy.com/50-energy-saving-tips