Small business owners around the world are taking big steps to combat climate change and create a more sustainable future. For example, Ubiquitous Energy—is an SBIR-STTR grantee based in Redwood City. California—has developed a transparent coating that allows window glass to generate solar energy, reducing a building’s carbon footprint. So, let us see Energy Saving Tips for Small Businesses.
Even if your company isn’t developing game-changing technology. There are simple steps you can take to save energy and money while reducing emissions. Here are some examples:
Lighting
By making simple adjustments to the lighting in your place of business. You can reduce emissions and help you save on your electricity bills. The first step is to turn off the lights when they are not needed. Next, upgrade your light bulbs to high-efficiency light-emitting diodes, or LEDs. LEDs are estimated to use 75% less energy and last 25 times longer compared to incandescent lighting. Finally, consider installing “passenger sensors” that automatically turn the lights on and off. You can also install timers on outdoor lights.
Energy Saving Tips for Small Businesses: Office equipment
Commonsense measures can make a significant contribution to increasing the energy efficiency of your business. It starts with turning off office equipment when not in use. If your computers are not being used for extended periods, consider using a power management feature that puts them into a low-power “sleep” mode. You can also use advanced extension cords to prevent your electronics and office equipment from drawing power when they don’t need it. Finally, printing double-sided pages to save paper and reduce printing energy in electronic format is not possible.
Energy Saving Tips for Small Businesses: Buildings
Did you know that buildings account for about 38% of total energy consumption? To make your small business facility more energy efficient, keep direct sunlight out of the windows in the summer—but let the sun in during the day in the winter and cover the windows at night. Sealing windows and doors with weatherstripping or caulking can help prevent air leaks and further save energy and money on heating and cooling. Installing insulation can also lower your electricity bills.
For example, grocery stores and convenience stores can adjust their refrigeration procedures by keeping the doors of all refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible and cleaning the cooling coils on the back of all units. As many businesses today operate on a hybrid model, some offices are not staffed at certain times of the week. In these situations, programmable thermostats can prove ideal, saving about $180 a year on energy costs.
In addition to helping the environment, increasing your small business’s energy efficiency can improve worker safety, reduce liability and improve your reputation in the community, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. For more easy ways to save energy and money, check out the Energy Saver Guide.
Install renewable energy systems
Once you’ve made improvements to your home’s energy efficiency, you can consider other measures, such as installing solar panels or a solar water heating system. An ENERGY STAR-certified solar water heating system can cut your annual hot water costs in half and is generally designed for use with an electric or gas backup water heater.
Windows
Replacing old windows with ENERGY STAR-certified windows can reduce home energy bills by 7-15 percent. Lower energy consumption also reduces greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and reduces the home’s carbon footprint. You can too:
Sealing and caulking around windows and doors. Check for signs of air leaks around windows and doors. Then use caulking and weather sealing to stop leaks.
Use curtains to make you feel comfortable. During cold weather, take advantage of the sun’s warmth by keeping curtains on south-facing windows during the day. To avoid the heat of the summer sun, close the window blinds and curtains in warm weather.
Make sure your windows and doors are closed when the air conditioner. Or the heater is on to keep warm or cool air in the house. Replace screens with storm windows. During the winter months, replace the shades with storm windows to create an additional barrier to the cold outside air. This will help you create a more comfortable living space inside your home. Source: Definitive Guide