If you own a small business, you know that profits depend upon two things: income and expenses. Energy costs can be a significant expense and many business owners are taking a new approach to energy to both lower their costs and move to a more sustainable green approach. With the right information you can improve your company's financial performance by reducing energy costs and energy waste while protecting the earth's environment.
Businesses need energy. Whether you are a tenant or you own your building, you typically need lighting; heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC); power for office equipment; and other services to stay in business. How can you create an energy plan? Here are some ideas.
Contact your utility company. Ask if they offer free or inexpensive energy audits and/or rebates for energy-efficiency upgrades. Undertaking a comprehensive energy efficiency program, with the assistance of a professional if needed, can yield impressive savings. A useful website is Energy Crossroads, created by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), a member of the national laboratory system supported by the U.S. Department of Energy through its Office of Science. The site (http://eetd.lbl.gov/einfo-links.html) provides links to dozens of agencies that provide resources for energy conservation.
You can take action yourself. There are many reliable, high-return, low-risk, strategies that you can implement with little cost. Some are very simple, while others may take some investment.
LIGHTING
Turn off lights and other equipment when not in use. Even "vampire energy loss" from computers and equipment in passive or standby mode can account for significant energy loss.
Replace incandescent light bulbs with Energy Star compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), wherever appropriate. CFLs cost about 75% less to operate, and last about 10 times longer.
Adjust lighting to your actual needs and use free daylight.
Do not "over-light." Too much light can be counterproductive, and it costs a lot more.
Install switch plate occupancy sensors to automatically turn on lights when rooms are occupied, and off when people leave.
Upgrade fluorescent lamp units to T8 (1" diameter) tubes with solid-state electronic ballasts. These are more efficient than older T12 (1.5" diameter) tubes with magnetic ballasts.
Install Energy Star exit signs. These long-lasting exit signs can reduce lamp replacement and can save up to ten dollars per sign annually in electricity costs while saving up to 500 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.
Purchase Energy Star qualified products for your business. You'll have the most efficient computers, printers, copiers, thermostats, ceiling fans, refrigerators, televisions, windows, and other equipment and appliances.
WATER
Fix water leaks. Even small leaks add up to many gallons of water wasted each month.
Use water-saving faucets, showerheads, toilets, and urinals.
Install an insulation blanket on water heaters, and insulate at least the first three feet of the hot water "out" pipe.
If buying a new water heater, consider a "tankless" water heater to reduce standby costs and waste.
Set water temperature according to your local board of health code-usually between 110 and 120 degrees.
Landscape using plants native to your region that require minimal watering and possess better pest resistance. If local code allows, consider diverting gray water for watering.
HVAC
Maintain your HVAC system with an annual maintenance contract. Your system may last years longer and use less energy when properly serviced.
Regularly change or clean HVAC filters during peak cooling or heating season.
Control the amount of direct sun passing through windows according to the season and local climate. During cooling season, block direct heat gain from the sun shining through glass on the south side of the facility. Solar screens, solar films, and even old-fashioned awnings and vegetation can help. During heating season, these same south-facing windows can contribute solar heat gain during the day.
Install an Energy Star qualified programmable thermostat to automate your HVAC system. A programmable thermostat can optimize HVAC operation based on your schedule, and can be overridden for unscheduled events.
Use fans. Moving air can help delay or reduce the need for air conditioning, and a temperature setting of three to five degrees higher can feel as comfortable with fans. Fans can improve comfort and save energy year round.
Plug leaks with weather stripping and caulking. You don't need air-and heat-escaping through your leaky building.
THE NEXT STEP: GREEN POWER
Green power is electricity produced from renewable resources including solar, wind, low-impact biomass, geothermal, and low-impact hydro. If you want to be proactive about becoming a green facility, check out the Green Power Partnership, a voluntary program offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Green Power Partnership (http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/) supports the development of green power by offering expert advice, technical support, and resources.
For instance, do you know what fuel is used to generate the electricity used by your business? The EPA does. In just a few minutes you can enter your ZIP code and your power supplier and find out what mix of fuel is used by your supplier: non-hydro renewables, hydro, nuclear, gas, coal, or oil. The answer may surprise you.
Using EPA resources can help your business lower the costs of buying green power, reduce your carbon footprint, and demonstrate community leadership. Buying green power is one of the easiest and most effective ways to improve the environmental performance of your business.
Thomas Hauck Communications Services provides writing and editing solutions for businesses and nonprofits. Visit us at http://www.thomashauck.net/ for information on how THCS can impact your bottom line.
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