Today, as a small business owner, you are looking to save every penny you can. Electricity costs are going up all the time, so finding a cheap electricity supplier and reducing the amount of electricity you use are both great ways to squeeze costs. This guide will help you to get started...
Adjust your Thermostat
If you have electric heating and air conditioning, turn the thermostat up in the summer and back down in the winter, this will save the heating from coming on unnecessarily. Just one degree change can produce up to 10% energy savings, so it is definitely worth doing!
Also, think about your work patterns. If there’s no one in overnight, there is no point in keeping your business at the same temperature as during the day. You probably programme your thermostat at home based on the time of day, so why wouldn’t you do the same at work?
Office Equipment
Office equipment is a big culprit when it comes to energy, so turn off your copiers and computers overnight and when they are not in use. Don’t rely on screensavers; despite myths to the contrary, your monitor can still use nearly the same amount of electricity while the screensaver is on. Don’t worry about wearing out your hard drive by constantly rebooting your computer; this was an issue many years ago, but not with today’s modern computers.
Efficient Lighting
If you have incandescent bulbs anywhere, replace them with compact fluorescent bulbs. They use about one third the power of an equivalent incandescent bulb, and are compatible with existing light fittings.
Even if you have fluorescent tube lighting, you can still save energy. There is a new generation of fluorescent lighting, known as triphosphor tubes, which are about 12% more energy efficient than traditional tubes. They are compatible with existing fittings and last about twice as long, so you could save money that way too!
Motion Sensors
There is no point in lighting an office if there is nobody in it! You could ask people to turn out the lights when they leave a room, but if you really want to make sure, think about putting in motion sensors. These will turn out the lights when no one is in the room, and turn them back on automatically when people come back in. You can buy light switches with built-in sensors, which is an easy way to start saving money!
Shop Around for the Best Rates
The days of electricity monopolies are long gone, and there are many suppliers to choose from. There are comparison sites on the web to help you find the cheapest supplier, and switching is relatively easy. Check rates regularly and be prepared to switch again if your supplier is no longer competitive.
Bella Winterfold frequently writes around green energy and saving energy tips for business energy and within the home.
