California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - 22

BUSINESS
INSIDER

9

TIPS ON SAVING ENERGY
Simple solutions can add up to big savings in your business

E

nergy costs are an unavoidable fact of doing
business. If you have a bricks-and-mortar infrastructure, it needs to be lighted, heated and
cooled. In addition, you almost certainly need
energy-consuming office equipment such as computers
and printers.
Because energy costs are an unavoidable fact of life,
costs are almost always trending upward, taking an increasingly bigger bite out of your operating budget.
However, there are steps you can take to manage your
energy costs while still supplying your company with all
the energy it needs. Here are some tips to consider.

1
.

Service your HVAC annually. Every system, even
ones with ENERGY STAR ratings, will decline in
performance over time without regular maintenance. A service contract with a trusted HVAC service
company will ensure regular checkups are performed.

2.

Control sunlight. Especially in summer, direct
sunlight can rapidly increase the temperature in
your building, causing your air conditioning to
work harder. Consider solar film on east- and west-facing
windows, and draw blinds or curtains in west-facing rooms
during the afternoon. Strategically placed trees can also
help provide shade.

3.

Turn out the lights. If a room isn't going to be
in use for a period of time, shut off the lights.
Installing motion sensors on light switches can
eliminate the need to keep reminding employees to do so.
If the sensors don't detect movement in the room for a set
period of time, the lights will automatically turn off.

4.
5.

6.

Remember that laptops use less energy than
desktop models. Some employees have jobs that
require more memory or capabilities than a
laptop can provide, but if a laptop provides the computing
power necessary for a given employee's job, it's the more
energy-conscious choice.

7.

Look in the lunchroom. Do you have the latest in
computing and printing technology but a handme-down lunchroom refrigerator that's 25 years
old? The older and more worn-out your kitchen appliances are, the more energy they're using. If replacing old
appliances isn't in your budget, at least clean your refrigerator coils twice a year and replace the door gaskets when
they wear out. If a dollar bill can easily slip out of the
door's seals when it's closed, the gaskets need replaced.

8.
9.

Install CFL bulbs. ENERGY STAR-qualified
compact fluorescent, or CFL, bulbs cost about 75
percent less to operate than incandescent bulbs
and last about 10 times longer.

Buy better batteries. If you have cordless phone
sets or other portable devices that require AA or
AAA batteries, consider rechargeable versions
instead of primary-cell throwaway batteries.

Turn off or power down computers when not in
use. Many companies let computers idle when
they are not in use. Screen savers can help save
your monitor over the long haul, but they don't save
energy. Computers should be shut off or placed in sleep
mode when idle.

Unplug chargers when not in use. If a cell phone
charger remains plugged into the wall when a
phone is not connected to it, it's still connected to
the power system and still using energy - to do basically
nothing. *
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration

22 * California Business



California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California

Table of Contents
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - Cover1
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - Cover2
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - Table of Contents
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - 4
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - 5
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - 6
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - 7
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - 8
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - 9
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - 10
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - 11
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - 12
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - 13
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - 14
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - 15
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - 16
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - 17
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - 18
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - 19
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - 20
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - 21
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - 22
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - Cover3
California Business - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Northern California - Cover4
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