Energy Saving Tips for Your Business

You can reduce energy use whether you rent or own a facility for your business. Reducing energy use can be as simple as turning off a light when you leave a room or purchasing energy-efficient lighting and office equipment. Doing a bit more could be the addition of sunshades and yearly maintenance of cooling equipment.

TOP FIVE TIPS TO SAVE ENERGY and DOLLARS

1. Educate yourself about your rate structure.
2. Know which equipment uses the most electricity, and set priorities.
3. Investigate new equipment that is more energy efficient.
4. Monitor usage and compare it to historical electric use.
5. Make energy conservation a part of your business plan. Discuss energy efficiency with your employees.

BONUS TIPS

• Keep the air conditioner in top working order.
• List everything that uses electricity in your business. The length of the list may surprise you. Include large and small equipment. Do you really need 10 clocks and five coffee pots for eight employees?
• Pick a day to read your meter first thing in the morning, then again at the end of the business day. Record electric usage. Decide upon a second day to read your meter in the morning and at the end of the business day, only this time implement all your energy saving ideas. Compare the usage for the two days to see the benefit of your efforts. (See Watch Your Watts: Read Your Meter.)

PEAK USE

MID customers use the most electricity on hot summer days, especially between 4 and 7 p.m. Help MID avoid energy problems by shifting your use to off peak hours during the summer.

LINKS TO ENERGY-SAVING INFORMATION RESOURCES

• California Consumer Energy Center www.consumerenergycenter.org
  A service of the California Energy Commission. Links to information about conservation and renewable energy use in homes, offices and industry.
  
• ENERGY STAR® www.energystar.gov
  Information about energy-efficient appliances and office equipment and much more.
  
• Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Network (EERE) www.eere.energy.gov. This U. S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) web site provides comprehensive access to all of DOE's energy efficiency and renewable energy library, including more than 600 links and 80,000 documents. Includes resources for both homes and businesses.
  
• California Dept. of Consumer Affairs www.flexyourpower.ca.gov.
  Link to Flex Your Power public education campaign. Residential energy tips.
  
• Energy User News Magazine www.energyusernews.com
  Links to other sites in the energy and energy-efficiency fields, plus news and product information.
  
• Heating, Piping, Air Conditioning Interactive (HPAC)www.hpac.com
  Library of articles on HVAC and refrigeration topics.
  
• California Title 24 Energy Standards www.energy.ca.gov/title24
  California's energy efficiency standards for residential and nonresidential buildings.
  
• Office of Building Technology State and Community Programs www.eere.energy.gov/buildings
  Building information for homeowners, commercial building owners and managers and others. Includes links to energy-related software tools.
  
• Energy in Agriculture Program www.energy.ca.gov/process/agriculture
  Publications on irrigation, dairy and livestock and field equipment. Technical information on electric motors, pumps, compressed air, refrigeration, combined heat and power and power quality technologies. Links to public and private funding sources for productivity improvements.