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Wise use of energy can improve your bottom line: in most cases, you can
cut your energy bills by 30 percent or more simply by managing energy more
effectively. We have a few recommendations.
HVAC SYSTEMS
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are usually a business’s
biggest energy users. Here are some ideas for economizing:
Turn HVAC down or off when not
needed. Better yet, install a program-mable
thermostat that will do it for
you automatically. Program it to the
temperature you want the space to be
when you arrive, to a higher or lower
temperature during the day as usage
changes (such as customers arriving),
and to higher summer and lower
winter temperatures when the space is
unoccupied. You can save as much as
20 to 40 percent on heating costs-
and you never have to give your
thermostat settings a second thought.
Have the HVAC system inspected and
maintained regularly by a certified
Enliance professional, who will:
Reduce fan speeds and adjust belt
drives.
Check valves, dampers, linkages, and
motors for proper alignment and
lubrication and repair, recalibrate, or
replace controls.
Turn off water pumps in hot-water
heating systems in mild weather
(upgrade to automatic controls
whenever possible).
Check and maintain steam traps,
vacuum systems, and vents in one-pipe
steam systems.
Upgrade major components, such as
fans, circulator pumps, compressors,
boilers, furnaces, or chillers to the
latest technology.
Lower the thermostat in the winter
and raise it in the summer. Even just a
few degrees can save hundreds of
dollars. Make the change gradually-a
degree or so a week-to let people
get used to it. Your savings will depend
on how much you raise or lower the
thermostat and the temperature of the
outside air.
CONVERTING TO NATURAL GAS
MEANS BIG SAVINGS
Converting from electricity to natural gas
may cut your annual energy bills in half.
Your Enliance contractor is trained to
evaluate your heating, cooling, and
ventilation needs and recommend the
system that’s right for the space it serves.
A system that’s too large will waste energy;
one that’s too small won’t do the job.
LIGHTING
Lighting is probably the second most
expensive component of your energy bill,
and the heat it generates can increase
your cooling costs. There are many ways
to save money; as you evaluate your
options, be sure to consider comfort
(light that is too bright or too low is
difficult to work by); color, (especially in
retail applications such as clothing stores,
salons, art galleries, or grocery stores,
where color can influence purchasing
decisions); and safety and security.
Here are some ideas for how to save on
your lighting costs:
Turn off lights in unoccupied spaces,
reduce lighting during non-business
hours, install programmable controls or
motion sensors, reduce lighting near
windows during the day. Make sure
outdoor lights are on timers or use
photoelectric cells to turn them off
during the day and back on at twilight.
Energy Smart Solutions for Your Business
Consider replacing incandescent bulbs
with compact fluorescent bulbs. They
come in a wide range of sizes, shapes,
wattages, and colors. The cost to
operate an ordinary incandescent light
bulb for 10,000 hours is roughly twice
the cost of operating a compact
fluorescent bulb.
Replace high-wattage incandescent
bulbs with lower wattage bulbs. Avoid
"long life" bulbs: they yield less light per
watt, so you will need more of them,
which will increase energy costs.
People working at computers, desks,
drafting tables, and product assembly
areas may benefit from task lighting.
Desk and floor lamps provide light
where it’s needed, so you can reduce
background light levels significantly.
Compact fluorescent bulbs are ideal.
Avoid halogen desk lamps and
torchiere floor lamps: the intense heat
they generate can pose a fire hazard.
Clean lamps, lenses, and globe lights
regularly. Dirty fixtures and bulbs can
reduce lighting output by as much as
35 percent.
WATER HEATERS
Another area of potential energy savings
is your water-heating system. You can
realize energy efficiencies by:
Insulating water heaters and pipes.
Lowering the temperature of hot water
to below 130° unless your business
requires extremely hot water.
Turning off the water heater when
employees are not present.
Regularly maintaining your water-heating
system.
Investing in energy-saving controls, such
as timers with demand monitors.
WINDOWS
Replacing old windows with energy-efficient
windows will maximize energy
savings. If replacing the windows isn’t an
option, invest in new insulation that’s up
to current codes.
There are several innovations in window
design that can save you money:
Heat-reflective coatings applied to glass
reflect heat back toward the original
heat source-the building in winter and
the outdoors in summer.
Inert gases such as argon and krypton
between double-paned windows serve
as very efficient insulators and slow
down heat and cool-air loss to the
outside.
Vinyl and wood window frames
insulate better than metal frames.
Wood windows require more mainte-nance
than vinyl, which require no
painting and typically have warranties
of 20 years or more. Wood frames
have similar efficiency ratings, however,
and some manufacturers make window
frames with wood interiors and vinyl
exteriors.
TOP 10 ENERGY SAVERS:
Saving energy saves you money. Here are
a few tips to help you cut your energy
costs:
- Check your HVAC system.
- Adjust heating and air conditioning
settings for unoccupied time periods.
- Have your HVAC system serviced
and adjusted regularly.
- Lower the heat settings during colder
months and raise air conditioning
settings during warmer months.
- Turn down or shut off office ma-chines
and other equipment when
not in use.
- Make sure automatic controls on hot-water
systems are in good working
condition and are properly set.
- Turn off lights when not needed.
- Remove unneeded light bulbs.
- When replacing light bulbs, use lower
wattage or more efficient bulbs.
- Keep light fixtures clean.
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