Energy Saving Tips for Small Businesses

Starting and running a small business is undoubtedly a large undertaking. Every small business, even the most successful, should always look for ways to improve the finances of the business. Practicing energy saving at the office is one key to cutting costs and conserving energy. The tips below are easy to implement and can have a lasting impact on your small business finances.

Turn Off the Lights

Even though this may sound obvious, many employees forget to turn off the lights when they leave or pass by an empty office, lunch or conference room.  According to the Department of Energy, 44% of an office’s annual electricity use is from lighting.  Remind employees to turn off the lights by having signs next to the light switches. For more energy saving, also consider using motion activated lights in hallways or common areas that will turn off after a period of time and turn on only when someone enters the area.

Replace Incandescent Light Bulbs

Using compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs instead of regular incandescent ones is a better choice in energy saving for your small business.  Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs last up to 10 times longer, generate less heat than regular bulbs and use about 75% less energy.  Lighting is one of the most cost-efficient ways to reduce office energy consumption.

Turn Off Computer Monitors

Remember to power off your office computers when you leave for the day. Using screen savers will not cut your energy costs, instead use the recommended power management settings on your computer to shut them off or put them in hibernation mode when they are not in use. If you are using a power strip, remember to turn that off as well.

Energy Star Equipment

Replace or upgrade older office equipment such as printers, refrigerators and other equipment with more energy efficient equipment.  Look for the Energy Star symbol and rating on the equipment you want to purchase to know about how energy efficient the equipment is.

Unplug

Unplug unnecessary electronic equipment such as printers, scanners, coffee machines and radios when they are not being used.   This is especially important for devices like cell-phone chargers, as they can be a constant drain on power throughout the day.

When you maximize energy efficiency within your small business, you will improve your business’ financial performance by reducing energy costs and help the environment. You can also consider using a fixed electricity and natural gas rate to help budget your energy pricing. Santanna Energy Services offers online enrollment to enroll for our electricity and natural prices rates which helps budget your energy pricing.