Because energy costs are in the top three expenses for most small businesses, small business owners are always looking for ways to save money and conserve energy at the office. Follow these 5 tips to reduce your energy costs and lower your monthly bills without sacrificing the comfort of you, your employees, or your customers.

1. Power Down

Start saving money by doing the simple things such as keeping the power off as much as possible. When you leave a room such as the bathroom, a closet, the conference room, or the lunch area, turn the lights and (applicable) appliances off so things aren’t using energy when you don’t need them. When you’re leaving the office for the night or the weekend, turn off all lights, appliances, and electronics so they’re not using energy while you’re away. You should also set the thermostat lower at night to save money (discussed in more detail under #4). 

2. Upgrade

Upgrading your office with newer technology can make a big difference in the amount you’re seeing on your energy bills. If you’re currently using desktops, you’re wasting money! Laptops are more energy efficient and don’t need to be constantly plugged in. This could save energy efficiency and employee productivity. 

LED light bulbs are another great area where you can upgrade. It may not seem like a big difference at first, but the savings from LED light bulbs vs regular light bulbs really add up over time.

Lastly, if your place of business is heated and cooled by a comfort system that’s around 10-15 years old, replace it! Upgrading to a new, high-efficiency comfort system has tons of advantages. You’ll save money and be more comfortable with a system that can last even over 15 years! Upgrading can save you up to 50% depending on the system you’re currently using.

3. Go Paperless

Obviously it’s not practical to go completely paperless, but the less paper, the better! If your team can hop on an online company platform to communicate, share messages, and draft mockups, you can save on paper costs, postage, and energy. When possible, try to use your online calendar or a digital document to plan out your work schedule or make notes. This is a great way to be energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

4. Program the Thermostat

It’s likely your business isn’t open 24/7 as few businesses are, so why should your comfort system run 24/7? It shouldn’t! Invest in a programmable thermostat to schedule the temperature of your place of business while you’re there vs when you’re away. This will cut down on unnecessary energy costs you’re incurring when you’re not occupying the space. What’s even better is your thermostat can be scheduled to return to it’s normal temperature before you return to your business. That’s comfort AND efficiency!

5. Tweak the Heat

Lastly, while you are at the office, it’s okay to tweak the temperature a bit. In the winter, set the thermostat 1-3 degrees lower, and use sunlight from the windows to warm the office naturally. In the summer, raise the temperature 1-3 degrees and keep a small, energy-efficient fan nearby. Our bodies are made to regulate to the temperatures around us, so your employees should be used to these changes in no time!

What’s Next?

Interested in learning more about energy-saving solutions for your office? Contact the professionals at Swinson Air Conditioning. We offer the best in high-efficiency HVAC and can give you advice on what exactly your business needs. We are a Factory Authorized Carrier Dealer.

To learn more about our company or the services we offer, visit our website at https://swinsonac.com/. Feel free to call us at 251-990-0998 with any questions.