Proven Energy Savings Tips for Small Business Owners

As a small business owner, you will look for ways to maximize your energy savings and reduce energy costs. You must first understand where and how you use energy to do this. That’s why it is important to conduct an energy audit.

An energy audit is the process of evaluating your existing systems’ efficiency and identifying improvement opportunities. A small business energy auditor or a commercial energy auditor can conduct it.

When it comes to managing your costs and optimizing profit margins, energy costs significantly impact your bottom line. That’s why ensuring that your business has the best possible energy efficiency is important.

The 10 Energy Savings Tips for your Business

Maximizing energy savings can make a huge difference for small businesses, whether you choose to implement an energy audit or simply make some minor adjustments to your building.

1. Conduct an Energy Audit

A professional energy audit can help you identify the areas in your business where you can save the most energy.

As a small business owner, perhaps you’re wondering what energy audits can do for your business.

• Cost Savings: A qualified energy auditor will examine your business’s energy usage and identify areas where you waste energy.
• Increased Energy Efficiency: The auditor will look for areas of inefficiency, such as outdated equipment or inefficient processes. They’ll then provide recommendations for upgrades and replacements that will improve your energy efficiency and lower your energy bills.
• Improved Comfort and Productivity: An energy audit can help improve the comfort levels in your workplace, leading to increased productivity and employee satisfaction.
• Compliance with Regulations: An energy audit can help you ensure that your business complies with all energy-related regulations. This can save you from costly penalties and legal fees that could result from non-compliance.
• Environmentally Friendly: Conducting an energy audit is an environmentally responsible act. By reducing your energy consumption, you’ll also reduce your carbon footprint, making your business more environmentally friendly.

2. Switch to Energy-Efficient Lighting

Energy-efficient lighting, such as LED lights, uses significantly less energy than traditional incandescent lighting and can last much longer, reducing the need for frequent replacements. LED lights also provide a more consistent and brighter light, creating a better work environment.

In addition, LED lights do not contain harmful chemicals, such as mercury, that can be released into the environment when incandescent lights are disposed of.

3. Invest in Energy-Efficient Equipment

Energy-efficient equipment is designed to use less energy while providing the same or better performance compared to traditional equipment.

Energy Star-certified appliances and equipment, such as refrigerators, air conditioners, and computers, can also provide energy savings.

4. Use Power Strips

Power strips allow multiple electronics to be plugged in and turned off with one switch, reducing standby power consumption. Standby power is the energy consumed by electronics when turned off but still plugged in. This type of energy consumption can account for up to 10% of a building’s energy usage.

Businesses like yours can install smart power strips that automatically turn off electronics when not in use, providing an added level of convenience and energy savings.

5. Optimize HVAC Systems

HVAC systems are often the largest consumers of energy in commercial buildings and optimizing their performance can result in significant cost savings.

Regular maintenance and upgrades are essential to ensure HVAC systems are running at their most efficient. Additionally, installing programmable thermostats can help automate the process.

6. Use Natural Light

Natural light provides an excellent source of illumination during daylight hours, reducing the need for artificial lighting. This not only reduces energy consumption but can also improve employee comfort and productivity.

To effectively use natural light, it is important to consider factors such as the orientation of the building, the placement of windows, and the use of skylights and light tubes.

In addition, occupancy sensors can be installed to control artificial lighting, turning it on only when necessary.

7. Implement a No-Idle Policy

This policy involves requiring vehicles or equipment to be turned off when not in use. For example, if an employee takes a break, they should turn off their computer, lights, and any other equipment before leaving their workspace. The same applies to vehicles. If a delivery truck or company vehicle is parked, the engine should be turned off to save fuel and reduce emissions.

Implementing a no-idle policy can help reduce wear and tear on engines, which can lead to fewer maintenance issues and lower maintenance costs. And reducing idling can improve air quality and create a safer, more pleasant working environment.

8. Implement a Paperless Office Policy

By reducing the use of paper and relying on digital tools, businesses can lower energy consumption in several ways. For example, paperless offices use less energy to run computers, printers, and other office equipment, compared to traditional paper-based offices.

Additionally, eliminating paper-based processes, such as printing and mailing, can reduce energy consumption and costs associated with transportation.

9. Install Solar Panels

A solar panel converts sunlight into electricity, which can be used to power a building or fed back into the grid for credit. The benefits of installing solar panels are numerous, including reduced energy costs, improved energy independence, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and enhanced sustainability.

Additionally, installing solar panels can increase the value of a building, enhance its aesthetic appeal, and improve the overall energy efficiency of the building.

And to make the process easier, EnergySage Marketplace helps small businesses compare quotes for energy-saving upgrades, such as solar panels, energy-efficient lighting, and more.

10. Encourage Employee Awareness

By educating employees about the benefits of reducing energy consumption and providing them with simple tips for reducing energy usage, such as turning off lights and electronics when not in use, businesses can engage employees and make them a crucial part of their energy efficiency efforts.

Involving your employees and making energy conservation a shared responsibility, you can foster a culture of sustainability and efficiency and achieve significant energy savings in the long term.

A certified commercial energy auditor can play a critical role in helping your business maximize its energy savings. Building energy audit services and commercial building energy assessments can identify areas where your business can improve energy efficiency, reduce energy consumption and costs, and create a more sustainable and eco-friendly workplace.

How to Find the Right Certified Commercial Energy Auditor for Small Businesses

Hiring a certified commercial building auditor can be a valuable investment for your small business. However, finding the right auditor for your business needs can be challenging.

Here’s how to find a qualified auditor for your Business:

Look for Industry Credentials:

A qualified auditor should have the Investment-Grade Energy Auditor (IGEA) certification. This certification training course from Sustainability Education Academy indicates that the auditor has the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience to perform a thorough energy audit.

Check for Experience:

Look for an auditor who has experience working with small businesses like yours and who has a proven track record of delivering results.

Ask for References:

Ask the auditor for references from past clients, and follow up with those references to learn about their experiences working with the auditor.

Consider the Auditor’s Approach:

Look for an auditor who takes a comprehensive approach to energy audits and who considers all aspects of your business, including lighting, HVAC, building envelope, and equipment.

Look for Communication Skills:

Choose an auditor who can communicate the results of the audit in a clear and concise manner and who can provide actionable recommendations for improvement.

Why Choose an IGEA Certified Auditor?

Choosing an auditor who is certified as an IGEA is important for several reasons.

First, the IGEA certification program is designed to ensure that auditors have the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience to perform a comprehensive energy audit.

Second, IGEA-certified auditors are trained to use the latest tools and techniques to identify energy-saving opportunities and provide actionable recommendations for improvement.

Finally, IGEA-certified auditors are committed to upholding high ethical standards and providing their clients with unbiased and impartial advice.

By choosing an IGEA-certified commercial building auditor, you can be confident that you are working with a qualified professional who has the knowledge and experience necessary to help your business save money on energy bills and create a more sustainable workplace.

To learn more about the IGEA certification program and how it can benefit your small business, be sure to check out the Comprehensive Investment Grade Energy Auditor Certification Training.

This comprehensive training will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to make a real impact in your organization and beyond.