Energy Insights: 7 Small Business Energy-Saving Tips

There are many ways to save energy in the office. The right equipment, light sensors, and educating employees are just a few. We gathered some of the most effective business energy-saving tips to help jumpstart your cost savings.

Purchase energy-efficient office equipment.

Before you buy or lease office electronics, check to see if they are ENERGY STAR-rated. An ENERGY STAR-rated appliance has 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.

Install occupancy sensors.

Install dimmers and occupancy sensors in proper locations to automatically turn off lighting. In a typical office, lights stay on in 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.

Program your thermostats.

This is one of those office energy-saving tips that are especially relevant for an 8 am-5 pm workplace. You don't need to heat or cool a workplace after everyone has gone home for the night. Even if your team's hours vary, using programmable or smart thermostats to manage the temperature during "off" hours can make a big difference.

Use energy-efficient light bulbs.

It's one of the easiest and simplest energy-saving ideas in the workplace: switch out your regular incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs such as CFL or LED. This will help you use a significantly less amount of electricity.

Power down.

Power down computers and other office equipment at the end of the day. If computers are not being used through the hours when your staff isn't working, have your team be in the habit of shutting them down before they leave. Turning off and unplugging as many devices as possible at the end of the day is a simple way to cut back. This can also include energy-efficient coffee makers, toasters, and similar appliances.

Get an energy audit.

Getting an energy audit is a great thing to do at the start of your journey to making your small business more energy efficient. Lots of utility companies offer free energy audits, which will help you understand how much energy your small business needs and where you might be able to make cuts and adjustments.

Get employees invested.

Saving energy should be done as a team – it shouldn't just be the responsibility of business owners. Employees should be informed on how they can save energy and be encouraged to share their innovative ideas on cutting down on energy costs.