These tips don’t just conserve energy to help the environment, they also impact your bottom line so your monthly electric bill will read just a little nicer. In addition to improved efficiency and reduction to your overall monthly energy consumption, you’re changing over to newer and, in some cases, better functioning technology.
In addition to switching to clean energy, here are some easy steps you can take to improve your energy efficiency:
- Using Energy Star compliant appliances is a great start towards a more efficient home.
- Unplugging electronic devices when not in use translate to small, incremental savings that can add up to power consumption equal of a large appliance, like a refrigerator. It also reduces chances of a fire hazard.
- Adjusting your thermostat 3-5 degrees higher during the summer months can save 10-20% on your cooling costs. Similarly lowering your thermostat by a few degrees in the winter can add to the savings. Make sure your have proper maintenance done on your heating and air conditioning unit to avoid energy leakage, and periodically check the accuracy of your thermostat.
- Replacing your standard bulbs with CFLs (compact fluorescent bulbs) can mean reductions of up to 75% off the energy and cost of your lighting, and they last about 10 times longer too, saving up to $200 for every five bulbs replaced.
- And of course follow Mom’s advice and turn off any unnecessary lights. By wasting energy you’re not just burning more coal and fossil fuels (and releasing more unnecessary pollutants into the air), but also burning your money.
These are just some of the ways you can be part of cleaner living. The following links provide information on energy efficiency and conservation that best suit your conditions.
For Your Business:
Switching to clean and renewable energy is just the beginning. In addition to improved efficiency and reduction to your overall monthly energy consumption, you’re changing over to newer and in some cases better functioning technology.
There are other easy steps you can take to improve your energy efficiency, which will save you money and help reduce your environmental impact:
- Switch from incandescent to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). It is both affordable and your business will start saving immediately. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), CFLs use 75 percent less energy, saving up to $200 for every five bulbs replaced. Lighting expenses can make up as much as 40-50 percent of the average commercial building’s energy consumption. Of course turning off the lights when not needed helps too.
- You can save a bundle by improving the efficiency of your heating and air conditioning system since this can be responsible for the majority of the costs found on your utility bills. Simply turning off the heat or air-conditioning at night and the proper adjustment to a reliable programmable thermostat to regulate temperature can lead to serious cost savings. Making sure your heating and cooling units are adequately serviced and repaired by professionals helps reduce wasted energy, such as air conditioning leaks.
- Consider replacing outdated energy sapping office equipment with models that are Energy Star compliant.
- Shutting off and/or powering down computers to go to sleep automatically after 15-20 (or less) minutes of inactivity also helps. According to the EPA, this can save anywhere from $50-$150 annually per device.
- Tracking your carbon footprint even after you’ve chosen clean energy, will help you continue fine tuning your efficiency goals.
Pass on these efficiency techniques and goals to your partners and/or employees. We can help you with this type of material
Here are some great resources for additional information on cost saving, environmentally friendly energy efficiency practices.
