Many of us fear the dark. It’s but instinct. But you may have to flip the switch off when you hear how much we’re actually wasting energy daily. Statistics show Americans spend at least $130 billion on energy that nobody is using. In short, wastage energy.
Findings by McKinsey and Company research in 2009 that businesses and American homes together pay as much as $130 billion yearly for energy used on standby appliances and produce heat that goes out of the wall. Needless to say, America gets a failing grade in energy efficiency.
Chances are when we talk about energy efficiency, we’re bound to think about our bills at home. Certainly, that’s a logical step in cutting back our monthly responsibilities. But as a business leader, making energy efficiency a goal is a must. Ways to make your enterprise as lean and mean as possible makes you better positioned to expand. It makes no sense to focus on profit when your boat has holes and is throwing dollars.
Luckily, energy efficiency in your enterprise is never mission impossible. Check out four key areas where you can start.
HVAC
Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning or HVAC can take a major pie of your monthly energy bill. America’s DOE or Department of Energy details about 40% of the total energy consumption of a commercial building is a direct consumption of HVAC on average. That’s a lot of energy gobbled up. Imagine how much you can save in minimizing all that.
Now, there are a lot of ways to go about it. One immediate method you can use to lower your HVAC bill is to make the most natural ventilation. When you let natural air in (assuming the weather is fine outside), you not only give your office a timely boost in oxygen, but you also put to a minimum the need to condition your internal weather.
Further, a study by the DOE itself shows that you can potentially save as much as 38% of the cost in heating and cooling of your office when you utilize an energy-efficient HVAC control system. Of course, this depends on each office’s specifications (e.g., size, number of workers).
In this regard, keeping a close watch on your electricity provider’s rate structures can give you immediate results. Know that these rates could vary depending on the time of use. Making sure you shift your energy use lower when business operations are not at a peak could give you substantial cost savings over time.
Moreover, shopping for electricity plans that best fit your needs should be wise. A cost-effective plan ensures you’re getting the cheapest rates for your consumption range.
Another key aspect you should not forget is to ensure your HVAC systems are regularly maintained. When you do, you minimize downtime and energy loss due to cracks in your system.
Lighting
The rationale is similar for lighting. As much as possible, explore ways wherein you can make the most of natural light. In doing so, you boost your health as sunlight is filled with lots of vitamin D and other antioxidants. Even better, you save on your energy bill.
Also, inspect your floor plan. You may have deployed excessive lighting in places where illumination is not that needed. Better yet, use LED for all your lights. For one, ENERGY STAR-rated LED products use far lesser power but give a better lighting output than traditional ones.
Refrigeration
Right from the onset, make use of refrigeration equipment that is energy-efficient. Again, looking for ENERGY STAR products should be wise. Several brands are certified that you can utilize.
This is especially true if your business is heavy into industrial cold-storage and ice-makers. Investing upfront in more energy-efficient products is the way to go.
Then again, if you can’t invest in a new one, make sure you’re using a piece of well-maintained equipment. If not, call a professional to get the job done. And fast. Suspicious sounds and faulty seals can be telltale signs energy is slipping through your fingers.
Heated Water
When it’s cold outside, we need all the heat we can get. Unfortunately, heating systems are another major source of energy waste. In domestic settings, water heater bills can account for up to 12 percent of the total energy bill. Take note that even if you’re not inclined to acquire a new water heater, there are still ways you can cut excessive water heater bills.
Of course, you may have to do a little math. If you’ve been using a water heater for some time now, that would mean you may have been wasting energy all along. A new one should be in order. To this end, choose a water heater that’s meant to optimize your productivity by improving your business efficiency.
Again, a well-maintained machine is a more energy-efficient one. It’s true. Energy efficiency isn’t much of an uphill climb when you put your mind to it. Rather, it’s a matter of putting first things first.