12 ways to reduce electricity costs at work

Get an energy audit. An energy audit may assist assess your baseline energy use and provide a clear description of how to reduce energy consumption at work. Numerous electric utility providers provide audits at no cost. Then, a professional will do a thorough evaluation of your company to look for air leaks, insulation problems, and possibilities to install energy-efficient lighting.
Not your energy provider, but your local utility company should be contacted to request a free assessment. Here is a comparison between utilities and energy providers.

Purchase office equipment that is energy-efficient. Before purchasing or leasing office devices, verify that they are ENERGYSTAR-rated. An ENERGYSTAR-rated appliance has been examined and determined to be energy-efficient, which may help you save money and manage your small business’s energy bills, particularly over the long term.

Decrease peak demand Reducing your office’s peak consumption is one of the most effective strategies to conserve power. Peak demand refers to the hours of the day when energy use is at its maximum. Peak demand often occurs during traditional office hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). You may lower your demand at this period by staggering work hours and start times, operating heavy machinery and manufacturing equipment at night and early in the morning, and saving energy throughout the day.

Configure the thermostats. This is one of those energy-saving office recommendations that is particularly applicable to 9-to-5 workplaces. There is no need to heat or cool a workplace once everyone has left for the day. Using programmable or smart thermostats to control the temperature during “off” hours may make a significant impact even if your team’s hours fluctuate.
Want to find the optimum energy-efficient temperature setting for your thermostat? Consult our Thermostat Guide for the ideal temperatures for all events and seasons.

Turn off the lights when they are not in use. It may seem obvious, but in a normal workplace, the lights remain on in places such as break rooms, toilets, and conference rooms even when they are not in use. Sensor lights may assist keep the lights on when necessary and off when not.

Utilize energy-saving light bulbs. It’s one of the simplest and most straightforward ways to save energy in the workplace: replace your incandescent lights with CFL or LED bulbs. This will greatly reduce your power use.

Benefit from natural sunshine. If you are lucky enough to have an office with plentiful natural light, take use of it! On a bright day, you may not need to switch on any lights in locations where windows provide sufficient lighting. Passive solar heating may not seem to be one of the strategies to conserve energy at the office, but it does assist. The less kilowatt hours of energy you use, the lower your bill will be.

Start running fans. Utilizing fans in offices, warehouses, showrooms, and kitchens is a simple and effective way to cut energy use in the workplace. Fans keep air moving, allowing your HVAC system to operate more effectively.

At the end of the day, computers and other office equipment should be turned off. If computers are not being utilized during non-work hours, your team should be in the practice of turning them off before leaving. Ending the day by turning off and disconnecting as many gadgets as possible is a simple method to save energy. This includes coffee makers, toasters, and similar appliances that are energy efficient.

Avoid “phantom energy.” Phantom energy refers to the energy used by equipment that is plugged in but not in use. Connect your computer peripherals (printers, monitors, etc.) to power strips (also known as “surge protectors”) so that the flip of a single switch may turn off many devices simultaneously.

Think beyond the walls. Are you in charge of the landscape around your company? If so, you have an excellent chance to save energy for your small company by using energy-efficient landscaping. Planting trees strategically to block the wind or give shade on hot summer days may minimize your heating and cooling expenditures.

Engage workers in energy-efficient activities. If you, as a company owner, want to minimize your power expenses, that’s fantastic! However, it may only go you so far. Check out our article on Improving Employee’s Energy-Saving Practices for suggestions on how to boost morale while reducing energy expenditures for small businesses.
Also, be aware that there may be financial incentives for improving the energy management of your small company. Some municipal governments give small companies with tax incentives and refunds if they purchase energy-saving technology.