Often the most effective changes your business can make
are just common sense. Many of them are also cost-free. Before you move on, put
these simple ideas into action. By faithfully following the steps below, you can
account for up to half of your total energy savings.
(If you rent or share your systems with other businesses,
work with your landlord or neighbors to accomplish reductions in energy use.)
In cooler weather, gradually reduce heat settings. (Your
employees and customers should feel comfortable at 68°F.)
In summer, raise air conditioner settings. (Move up 1°F
a week. 78°F is optimal.)
Turn off heat and air conditioning in unoccupied areas.
(Conditioning air in storage, basement or empty space is usually unnecessary)
Turn off heat and air conditioning at night, on weekends
or other times your business is closed. (With many systems, it's cheaper to
heat or recool at the start of each business day.)
Turn on heat and air conditioning later in the day. (Delaying
system startup by 30 minutes to an hour will really help.)*
Turn off systems earlier in the workday. (Your building
should remain comfortable for an hour or more.)*
Turn off lights whenever possible. (Just a few hours a
day over a year's time can really make a difference.)
Remove unneeded lighting. (Fixtures near doors and windows
often burn energy needlessly.)
Use lower wattage or higher efficiency lamps.
Lower hot water temperature. (Unless you wash clothes
or dishes, cooler water -- about 120°F -- will do the job.
*This may not be necessary during the winter months if your
business uses a heat pump, which maintains comfort most economically at a constant
temperature. See the section, "If You Have
Heat Pumps."
