Temperature Control

• Install smart thermostats.  A smart thermostat allows you to set your facility’s temperature from your smart phone or tablet, so you’re not paying for heating when it’s not needed. Some even learn your habits and adjust accordingly, saving you even more.
• Adjust thermostats further during times that the building is unoccupied, such as weekends and holidays. For every one degree of temperature change, you could save 1-3 % on cooling and heating costs.
• Heat pumps can keep you warm efficiently.  Heat pumps work by efficiently concentrating and moving heat into your business from the outdoors, keeping you comfortable while reducing your greenhouse gas emissions. 

Lighting and Electronics

• Use ENERGY STAR^® certified LED light bulbs. Traditional incandescent bulbs release 90% of the energy they use as heat. LEDs are much more efficient, emit very little heat and last 25 times longer than incandescent lighting.
• Turn off electronic lighted displays and signs when your business is closed. We know you may have these signs to let your customers you are closed, but this is a significant amount of energy usage that is running for hours at a time.
• Clean or dust fixtures and light bulbs regularly to ensure that they continue to operate efficiently. This will ensure you are getting the most usage out of your bulbs before switching them with new ones.
• Install a dimming system in areas where natural daylight reduces the need for artificial light. “Daylighting” some call it, reduces cooling and heating costs, and increase energy bill savings by the number of hours you need to use artificial lights.
• Turn off computers, monitors, copiers, and printers at the end of the day. This can save from $50 to $150 per year, per device, depending on the type of device and its energy consumption.
• Turn off lights when not in use. It might seem like a no-brainer, but in a typical office, lights stay on in areas like break rooms, bathrooms, or conference rooms, even when those spaces aren’t being used. Sensor lights can help to keep the lights on when needed, but off when they’re not. 

Equipment and Building Maintenance

• Weatherize. Seal cracks and openings to prevent warm air from leaking into your business, or your cool air out.
• Get a boiler tune-up. When too much excess air is used to burn fuel, energy is wasted because excessive heat is transferred to the air rather than to the steam. According to ENERGY STAR®, a boiler tune up will ensure your boiler has the right fuel-to-air ratio.  
• Change your air filter. Change your air filer according to manufacturer recommendations to save between 5-15% on your heating costs. 
• Purchase energy-efficient office equipment. Before you buy or lease office electronics, check to see if they are ENERGY STAR^®:-rated. These appliances have been evaluated and deemed energy-efficient, which can save you money and help you manage your small business energy costs, especially in the long run. 
• Reduce Peak Demand. One of the best ways to save electricity in an office is to reduce your peak demand. The phrase “peak demand” refers to the hours in a day when energy usage is at its highest. Peak demand times are typically normal office hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). You can reduce your demand during this time by staggering work hours and start times, running heavy equipment and factory equipment during the evening and early morning hours, and conserving energy throughout the day.