The holiday season is a joyous time of year, filled with family gatherings and festivities for many businesses. Along with the excitement come electricity bills that can cause concern for business owners. The good news is there are some simple steps businesses can take to cut costs during the holiday months while remaining festive.
Here are some practical energy management tips small businesses can use to keep their own budgets in check this holiday season:
1) Ensure your facility’s exterior lighting is on a timer so lights come on when you open for business, and go off on a set schedule at night after you close. This will help ensure your building is well-lit on dark winter days and reduce the amount of electricity used. During the few hours of daylight try to use as much natural sunlight as possible and only turn on the Christmas lights when it gets dark outside.
2) For those businesses operating 24 hours a day, turn off all exterior and interior lighting not needed throughout the night. This will cut down on unnecessary costs and save energy. Turning out lights in conference rooms or other areas during work hours when people are not present also saves money long term.
3) Turn off or unplug equipment and appliances that are not in use: including office printers and copiers, desktop computers, monitors, coffee/tea makers, TVs, and other electronics. This is because they continue to draw power even when switched “off”.
4) Consider using exit or entrance lights that come on when a door is open and off after the door is closed. This will save power while reducing safety concerns, and they’re easy and inexpensive to install (about $25 per light).
5) Use the most efficient appliances available when purchasing new equipment. Energy saving appliances can be up to 70 percent more efficient than standard appliances and can help your business save a fortune on energy costs. Lean into the holiday spirit and use battery powered or LED or even solar candles for decoration.
6) Ensure employees know the best practices for keeping bills low during the holidays, including the steps mentioned above. This will help reduce waste in time for any New Year’s resolutions too! Informing your employees of the importance of energy saving.
7) Check with your local utility company to see if they have any rebate programs available based on energy savings after installing energy-efficient equipment, lighting or appliances
8) Consider non-electric Christmas decorations, such as live or artificial trees, poinsettias, and snowmen made from recyclable materials instead of buying energy-hungry lighted decor. You can still create a festive feel without the need for bright flashy Christmas lights everywhere.
In Summary
Energy management is not just about installing new technology; it requires commitment from everyone in the company to do everything they can to reduce usage when possible. By using timers on your lights and ensuring the absolute best use of lighting and equipment, businesses can keep their overhead costs in check while remaining festive. Not only is this a smart business decision that’s good for the bottom line, it makes good environmental sense as well.
