The United States is the world’s second largest producer of electricity. Our country alone consumes about 20% of the world’s total electricity supply. A great deal of this consumption is done by commercial and industrial customers, who often have larger spaces to power than homeowners do.
Do you get a headache each month when the electric bills comes in the office mail? Paying utilities for your workplace can be an additional financial strain for businesses. Learn how to conserve electricity, maximize energy efficiency, and save on costs for your company.
Energy-Saving Tips for Your Office or Business
- Turn off appliances when not using them.If possible, unplug office machines and/or turn off power strips at night or over the weekend. You can save tons of energy by applying this principle to your office computers, printers, fax machine, and paper shredders. Even when they’re not currently in use, these appliances still pull a small amount of electricity from the wall when they’re plugged in. It may sound trivial but when added together, these small steps add up to big electricity savings!
On a related note, have employees utilize the sleep setting on their computers if they use them for work. If you are planning to step away from your computer for several minutes but will return to it later that day, sleep mode will save power while it’s still on. It’s much quicker than shutting the machine down completely and restarting it when you need it again. However, it’s a good idea to completely turn off computers at night. Not only does it give your computer a break, but your electric bills will decrease as well.
- Install motion sensors.An easy way to save electricity is by turning off lights in rooms that aren’t being used. For example, do you really need the lights on in an empty conference room or in the offices of employees who are out on vacation? Understandably, sometimes when people are in a hurry they may forget to switch off a light before they leave. An easy way to remedy this is by installing motion sensors or timers on your lights. The lights will turn off when they no longer pick up movement in the room and will turn on as soon as someone walks in. You don’t necessarily need to install them in rooms that are frequently utilized, as they wouldn’t be turning off very much. You’ll experience the most energy savings if you have motion sensors in rooms that don’t require light all day.
- Switch to LED.We’ve discussed the advantages of LED lighting on our blog before, but its benefits can’t be understated. Not only are LED lights more durable and long-lasting, but their environmental impact is far smaller than both fluorescent and incandescent bulbs. LEDs use significantly less electricity and have an energy efficient rating of 80%, versus incandescents which operate at a mere 20%. While fluorescent lights are better than traditional incandescent bulbs, they still don’t compare to LEDs.
- Watch for dust.Keep air conditioner filters and office appliances clear of dust to ensure they don’t use excess energy or overheat. It’s also wise to make sure computers’ internal fans are dusted. Dust acts as an insulator, and when it gets into appliances it causes their temperatures to rise. Not only does this make them work slower and run the risk of frying them out, but it expends more energy and hikes up your electric bill. Dusting off the copier and spraying compressed air on your computer (make sure it’s turned off first!) are quick and easy ways to keep them running efficiently.
- Consider using your surroundings to maximize office lighting.Sometimes, saving electricity doesn’t even require you to change a lightbulb. You can utilize natural light to keep your workplace brighter without installing extra lights. Make the best use out of windows and skylights. This will allow you to rely less on artificial lighting throughout the day. Some studies have even shown that natural lighting makes employees happier and, as a result, more productive. Additionally, switching to a lighter paint color can be helpful. Lighter colors reflect more light, while darker colors absorb it. Darker colored rooms will require more bulbs to reach the same level of brightness as a light one.
Saving electricity doesn’t have to be difficult! For any other commercial electrical services in Austin, such as security lighting, surge protectors, and track and area lighting, call Bryant Electric Service today.
