| Free
or Low Cost Tips
Looking
for ways to cut down on your business’ energy
bills? Try some of these easy Energy Saving Tips
in your place of business and help keep costs
down:
- Change or clean air filters on your cooling/heating
unit regularly. These should be changed or cleaned
at least once a month. Replacing or cleaning
a dirty air filter can save money by reducing
the amount of electricity needed to operate
your compressors.
- Adjust thermostats up when cooling and down
when heating, especially when the building or
area of the building is not occupied, such as
on weekends or during non-work hours.
- Where practical, use ceiling fans or portable
fans to circulate and cool the air, rather than
lowering your thermostat.
- Install programmable thermostats. These devices
adjust the thermostat up or down automatically.
You won't need to remember to change thermostat
settings every time you open or close your business.
If you have two or more A/C units, set them
to return to "occupied" temperature
half an hour apart.
- In summer, close window blinds during the
day to keep out the heat. In winter, open blinds
to let in the sun.
- Install reflective window film. Applied directly
to the inside of the window, it reduces solar
heat by reflecting it away from the window.
- Awnings keep sun off windows in summer. Installed
at the proper angle, awnings allow sun to enter
in winter when extra heat is welcome.
- Designate someone to be responsible for good
energy practices. Good energy practices need
to be promoted by a key person to everyone else
in the company. Remember, saving on your energy
costs is just like increasing your business
profits. No-cost tip.
- Quickly repair leaks in piping, ducting,
coils, fittings, and at the units, replace defective
insulation on equipment, ducting, and piping
and clean all heat exchanger surfaces, water
and refrigerant coils, condensers and evaporators.
- If you have an office refrigerator or freezer
at the work place, keep it full but not overcrowded.
Use ice cubes and water containers to fill empty
space.
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