We can all admit that 2020 has been a wild ride so far. However, in the midst of uncertainty, there is still one thing you can control: your summer energy costs!
If you asked any business leader or CEO how they viewed their fiscal year at the end of 2019, none would tell you that they were prepared for the wild ride that would be 2020. While navigating the difficulties of a warming climate and increasingly violent natural disasters, nobody expected a global pandemic to come knocking. When companies began to close down to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, one priority shot to the top of every leader’s list: save money to weather the uncertain storm.
If you are looking to cut costs while protecting your employees, products, and customers, one way to start saving money may be a surprising one – your energy costs. While there may seem to be much larger fish to fry, your energy usage continues to rack up big bills – especially in the hot summer months. Do you need to recapture a bit of control in 2020 and find a win financially? Consider these cost-saving tips for energy use in 2020.
1. Check Your Air Conditioning
When it comes to saving on your summer energy costs, one of the first steps you should take is to check on your HVAC system. In particular, you should schedule a professional audit of your air conditioning system. If you neglect the routine maintenance of your commercial air conditioner units, the summer months will not be kind to your energy costs. Make sure that your HVAC works for you as hard as you do by taking the time to schedule and complete the necessary maintenance and repairs for all installed units.
2. Consider Installing LED Bulbs
This one is a no-brainer. Most research has shown that LED lights are leagues more efficient than their incandescent big brothers. If you are ready for a quick and easy way to start saving on your energy bill, take the time to replace your incandescent bulbs with LED alternatives.
With incandescent bulbs, a shocking 10-15% of the energy produced is actually light. The rest of the energy produced is wasted heat. With LED bulbs, you can use nearly 75% less energy with each bulb. Not only will you save on costs, but you can also save on supply replacement – LED bulbs last almost 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs. This means big savings on two budgets at once!
3. Take Advantage Of Work-From-Home
As companies were forced to shut down their brick-and-mortar locations due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, many workplaces migrated from the boardroom to the bedroom. As the weeks passed, many companies were surprised to learn that their employees worked just as well at home as they did in their offices. The result? More individuals becoming permanent remote workers.
One way to save on your energy bill is to cut back on the number of personnel that you require to be on-site. This will not only help lower the amount of energy used by team members through equipment, but you can also adjust the amount of work your HVAC system has to do to keep fewer employees cool and comfortable.
4. Unplug & Turn Off Unused Technology
Even when your equipment is turned off, many electronics in your building suck a small amount of energy to maintain vital functions. This can mean a slow leak of energy from your business that can add up to big bills over time. If you are not using any electronic equipment on your property, and shutdown doesn’t risk the loss of valuable data – consider completely unplugging as many items as possible. This will help cut down bit by bit the number on your energy bill at the end of the month.
5. Install Occupancy Sensors
Another option that is an easy change for many companies is to install switch-plate occupancy sensors or motion detectors to control lighting in offices, conference rooms, and even whole floors while not in use. Keep in mind, having an occupancy sensor in a heavy-traffic area may not be ideal. The sensors, however, are perfect for bathrooms, offices, storage areas, and basements, where lights are constantly left on in unoccupied rooms.
Installing occupancy sensors in your business or building is a great way to become more energy efficient. Reducing energy waste is a smart way to save on utility costs.
Start Saving Today With Broker Online Exchange
While the above list is a great way to get started saving money and energy, there are many more options available. One way to discover tips and tricks on saving energy year-round is to partner with a team that has years of experience in helping brokers save companies money on their energy costs year after year.
