With winter right around the corner, small and medium sized business owners are beginning to think about ways to reduce winter electricity and heating costs, particularly businesses in northern climates.
While many businesses will not be promised lower energy costs, there are ways business owners can reduce their energy consumption and lower their bills.
Become Energy Efficient
Looking into swapping out less efficient heating systems, water systems, lighting options, and computers may seem like a big expense, however it may be well worth it. Not only can a business owner reduce energy costs through more efficient equipment, in some provinces incentives are offered to businesses striving to be more energy efficient, which can, in turn, offset the cost of replacing older equipment.
In Ontario, Canada, for example, the saveONenergy Retrofit program allows qualified businesses the opportunity to receive financial incentives that can cover as much as 50 percent of the project costs. As part of the province’s green commitment, the incentives offered by the Retrofit program include upgrades and modernization of lighting systems, motors, heating/cooling systems and new control systems.
Monitor Energy Use
To avoid getting a shock when opening energy bills once the seasons change, implement an internal energy management strategy. Switching the hours when your business uses the most energy to off-peak hours may be a viable solution for your company.
For other businesses, unplugging machines that are not frequently used, like photocopiers or laminating machines, can eliminate phantom energy consumption.
Simple things like ensuring the lights are turned off in offices that aren’t in use, installing weather stripping on windows and doors, programming the temperature of thermostats and lower the temperature of hot water tanks can also help drive energy costs down in the winter months, as well as year round.
Hire an Energy Management Company
As many business owners and entrepreneurs know, energy experts exist that are highly experienced in the energy industry and knowledgeable on how to mitigate high energy bills.
For businesses that need a more robust or comprehensive energy management strategy, hiring these experts, usually in the form of a professional energy management firm, may be the best option. Not only can energy management firms provide energy audits to save business owners money, these firms also know the ins and outs of the complex energy industry.
In Ontario, for example, Active Business Services has been helping Canadian business owners manage their energy needs for more than 10 years. The energy management specialists at Active Business Services work with business owners and staff to assess, manage and procure energy for the best available rates.
With more than a decade of experience assisting commercial and industrial customers, Active Business Services offer their business clients tailored natural gas and electricity supply and risk management solutions aimed at cutting costs and increasing efficiency.
In addition to reducing energy costs, a professional energy audit can also pinpoint other wasteful energy practices.
“Energy audits reveal your usage patterns, identify waste, over-expenditure and, generally, make you fully cognizant of where your energy dollars are going,” notes the Diversegy website, a New Jersey-based energy consultancy firm.
Taking the time to assess a business’s true energy needs while looking for ways to implement efficiency could be exactly what your business needs to save on energy costs. You may even be eligible for a retrofit upgrade, which would be beneficial for energy efficiency and productivity.