Ways to Save Energy and Reduce the Energy Costs for Your Small Business

There are a number of ways to save energy and reduce the energy costs for your small business.

Here are 10 things you can do at little or no cost to you!

Low Cost:

Use natural light

Take advantage of the free light and heat provided by the sun. Turn off lights in areas that have access to natural

light. Adjusting the blinds on windows can help heat a room for free or it can keep it cool when needed.

⇒ Potential Savings: This is difficult to measure as each building is unique. As lighting accounts for 25-45 percent

of energy consumption, the financial savings can be considerable.

Turn off office equipment during non-business hours

This includes computers, printers, copiers, coffee makers, etc. Take a walk around the building or office and

make a list of everything plugged into the wall. Then create a checklist of all equipment that can be shut off at

night. Even better, unplug all unused equipment to prevent phantom energy consumption (see tip #10).

⇒ Potential Savings: According to a study done by APS (Arizona's largest supplier of electricity), powering off a

desktop computer, a 15" monitor, a laser printer and a small copier can save a business about $155 annually.1

Put your computer to sleep

Screen savers do NOT save energy, so take advantage of power saving features by going into the System

Preferences of your computer. Customizing it to sleep after 5 or ten minutes of no use is easy. This is so

convenient as it only takes a second for the computer to "wake up" and you can start your work right from

where you left off without losing any information.

⇒ Potential Savings: The EPA & DEP say that using sleep mode during working hours can save $25-$75 per

desktop computer.2 Check out the following link to calculate your computer's energy savings:

http://pmdb.cadmusdev.com/powermanagement/quickCalc.html

Locate your thermostats

Give yourself easy access to controlling the temperature in your business space. Find your thermostats and be

sure they are not hidden behind bulky furniture or other items. This will make