Start-up companies and small businesses frequently run close to the bone and may be profitable only so long as unplanned events never occur. A Small Business has to take every possible step to cut down on its operating cost. Apart from the fixed costs of the rents and salaries, there are Variable costs that the company must control.
For small businesses, reducing energy costs can make a significant dent in monthly bills — especially with the prices rising on gas, electricity, water, and other energy resources. Whether through simple changes or larger-scale investments, every business operation can do something to save energy. Cutting back on energy use will improve your bottom line and help the environment, and your greening efforts likely won’t go unnoticed by customers.
There are a few ways to start with mentioned for your company to save energy. Although a company could consult with experts for the same, however as they say ‘Charity begins at home,’ so shall CONSERVATION!!
Additionally, there many energy saving calculators that are available online and once you input information about your business, you can make use of the specific suggestions for saving energy — including an estimate of the up-front costs of implementing changes and how much money those changes could save you over time. (The Energy Guide, at www.energyguide.com)
- Change all of your light bulbs to energy efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
- Install motion detectors that automatically shut off the lights in lesser-used areas of your business.
- Turn off lights when you don’t need them.
- Install skylights and make use of natural daylight.
- Install power strips or other devices that effectively unplug computers, kitchen appliances, printers, and other electronics at the end of the day.
- Install a programmable thermostat.
- Replace old equipment with Energy Star appliances.
- Install water efficient appliances, low-flow faucets, low-flow toilets, and high-efficiency urinals.
- Install an energy efficient water heater.
- Consider buying a laptop next time you need a computer upgrade (they consume far less energy than a desktop).
- If you make deliveries or use vehicles frequently, combine trips to save on gas and consider using a Global Positioning System (GPS) system to find the shortest routes and avoid traffic.
Image Courtesy : HECO, Hawaiian Electric Company
