5 Energy Saving Tips for Your Business

Saving energy, in general, is a good idea. It is better for the environment, and better for you personally. However, when thinking about energy saving, you might automatically think of the home and how to save energy there. Businesses also need to save energy, and here are some tips on how you can do that if you are a business owner yourself. 

Lower the Thermostat

Although it will depend on the kind of office space you are working in - whether it is shared or something you rent on an individual basis, for example - but if possible, you can look at lowering the thermostat. You don't want the heating to be so low that your employees are uncomfortable in the winter (and the same goes for your AC units in the summer), but by lowering the temperature by just 10 or 15 degrees, you can not only reduce your energy consumption, but you can save money too. 

Although the idea of saving energy isn't particularly to do with money, this bonus is certainly of interest to business owners. You can even go online to Utility Bidder to ensure you are paying the correct amount on your bills. 

Have Your Air Conditioner Serviced 

If you have an air conditioning unit, then you can keep your staff happy and content when the weather is warmer. However, the amount of energy that an air conditioning unit uses can be quite substantial. 

The best way to deal with this and still use the air conditioning unit is to ensure it is well maintained. If you arrange for an engineer to come in regularly and check over the unit to make sure it is working as it should, this will reduce your energy consumption considerably. 

Use Less Water

Water might be the one element of your energy usage that you don't think too much about. After all, turning on the faucet and letting the water run isn't going to hurt, is it? The truth is that it will hurt - wasting water in this way is bad for the environment. 

Speak to your employees and implement a rule that they always turn the faucet off instead of letting it run for too long. You can also install energy and water-efficient toilets and basins to help with using less water. 

Unplug 

Depending on the type of business that you run, then there might be some pieces of equipment that have to stay plugged in overnight when everyone has left the office. However, there will also be plenty of equipment that can be shut down each night and unplugged. This will save a significant amount of energy - leaving phone chargers always plugged in can add up to around 10 percent of your energy bills, for example. 

The rule is that if the item that is plugged in is not being used, it should be unplugged and shut down until it is needed. 

Get an Energy Audit 

If you're still unsure about how or why to save energy in your business, it is worth hiring an energy auditor to come in and inspect what you are doing. They will be able to go through everything you need to know and give you plenty of advice about how to reduce your energy usage throughout your business.