As a business owner or manager, you’re likely always looking for ways to cut costs and improve your bottom line. One of the most significant monthly expenses for businesses is utility expenses, particularly electricity bills. Whether heating, cooling, lighting, operating equipment, or all of your day-to-day operations, your energy usage ultimately adds up and reflects on your business energy bills.
But what if you could significantly reduce these expenses by making strategic changes?
In this blog, we will guide you through several practical steps to help you reduce your energy expenses. Now, you might wonder whether you can implement these strategies without the help of a professional. But you have nothing to worry about because we have your back. While some of the techniques we discuss here may work only in deregulated states like Texas, they are all applicable to energy consumers everywhere, in one way or another.
Thanks to deregulation and the availability of numerous energy providers, electricity rates in Texas are highly competitive. Nonetheless, the strategies we discuss here are designed to be actionable and straightforward for energy consumers everywhere, in one way or another.
Conduct an Energy Audit
The first crucial step in managing and reducing your energy costs is understanding where those costs come from. An energy audit can provide this insight.
Step 1: Hire a Professional Energy Auditor
Seek the help of a professional energy auditor to analyze your current energy usage and identify inefficiencies and areas of improvement.
Step 2: Analyze the Audit Results
Review the detailed report from your energy auditor to identify significant energy losses in your business facility or building.
Step 3: Implement Audit Recommendations
Prioritize the suggested changes by their cost-effectiveness. Simple fixes like sealing leaks or insulating pipes and walls can often lead to substantial energy-cost savings.
Upgrade to Energy-efficient Equipment
Old or inefficient equipment can consume disproportionate energy, leading to significantly high electricity bills, especially among energy-intensive businesses. Hence, upgrading to energy-efficient equipment can lead to significant long-term savings.
Step 1: Identify Critical Offenders
Look at your audit results to identify outdated equipment that consumes excessive energy, such as HVAC systems, refrigeration units, or industrial machinery.
Step 2: Select Energy-efficient Replacements
Invest in Energy Star rated or equivalent equipment known for better energy efficiency, which can drastically reduce your energy usage.
Step 3: Calculate Potential Savings
Evaluate the cost of new equipment against the energy savings over time to determine your return on investment or ROI. Doing so ensures replacing equipment aligns with your business’s financial goals.
Optimize Heating and Cooling
Heating and cooling typically account for a significant portion of a business’s energy usage. Hence, optimizing these systems can yield substantial savings for businesses. Moreover, peak summers and winters often see a spike in energy bills due to extensive heating and cooling system use.
Step 1: Install Programmable Thermostats
Programmable or smart thermostats can automatically adjust the temperatures in your business facility. The adjustments are based on the time of day and whether the space is occupied. As a result, smart thermostats help your business cut unnecessary energy usage.
Step 2: Regular Maintenance
Ensure you regularly service your business’s heating and cooling systems to maintain their peak efficiency. It includes cleaning, timely repairs, and proper adjustments of the HVAC systems.
Step 3: Explore Eco-friendly Options
Consider alternative heating and cooling methods, such as geothermal heat pumps. Although these eco-friendly options are initially costly, they offer long-term savings and environmental benefits.
Improve Lighting Efficiency
Lighting is yet another essential aspect to consider when trying to implement measures to minimize your business’s energy costs. Optimizing lighting efficiency for your business has the upside of being less of a financial burden than optimizing HVAC systems.
Step 1: Switch to Full LED
Replace all your incandescent and fluorescent lights with LED bulbs. They are more energy-efficient and last longer, reducing replacement costs and providing long-term savings.
Step 2: Maximize the use of Natural Light
It is worth considering (re)designing your workspace to utilize as much natural light as possible. For instance, redesigning layouts to bring workspaces closer to windows can minimize the need for artificial lighting.
Step 3: Install Smart Lighting Controls
Use timers, dimmers, and motion sensors to control lighting more efficiently. This will ensure that light is used only when necessary and minimize energy wastage.
Encourage Energy-responsible Behavior
The best and most effective way to maximize energy-cost savings in your business is fostering an energy-conscious culture within your organization. It can amplify your energy-saving efforts and establish green practices in the workplace.
Step 1: Educate Your Employees
Provide training and resources highlighting the importance of energy conservation and practical ways at your workplace. Teach your employees how to contribute to energy-efficiency efforts, such as shutting down computers and turning off lights when not in use.
Step 2: Set Clear Energy Conservation Policies
Develop and enforce policies that promote energy conservation, such as mandating the shutdown of all non-essential equipment during non-business hours.
Step 3: Reward Improvements and Efforts
Implement a rewards program to recognize and incentivize departments or employees who achieve significant energy reductions.
Choose a New Electricity Provider and Plan
If you live in a deregulated state like Texas, consider switching to a more cost-effective electricity provider, which can lead to substantial savings. Here’s how to find a better deal:
Step 1: Evaluate Your Current Electricity Usage and Costs
Examine your past electricity bills to understand your average consumption and the rates you’re currently paying. Use this as a baseline to help you compare other options effectively.
Step 2: Research and Compare Electricity Providers
Investigate other electricity providers in your area by ZIP code or state using Energy Pricing’s advanced search and compare tool. Pay special attention to plans that align with your energy usage patterns and consider green energy options if they meet your business’s sustainability goals.
Step 3: Switch to a New Plan
You can initiate the switch after selecting a provider that offers better rates or more suitable terms. This process is usually straightforward and involves minimal disruption to your service.
Conclusion
Taking proactive steps and making informed decisions can significantly lower your energy expenses and enhance your company’s profitability while boosting sustainability. Start with the most manageable changes and gradually adopt more complex strategies as your capability and energy savings grow. Remember, every step to energy efficiency is a step toward a more profitable and responsible business.
