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Energy Efficiency

Saving Energy in your Business

Business can use energy efficiency measures to:

• Lower energy costs
• Increase productivity
• Improve the bottom line
• Obtain attractive investment return
• Improve competitive position
• Show environmental responsibility

Lighting

• SAVINGS OF ABOUT 50%

Lighting is the largest user of electricity and the easiest area in which to save in commercial buildings.   Using energy-efficient equipment also reduces the incidence of eyestrain and headaches among employees, in turn, increasing employee productivity.  

• Energy-Efficient Lamps
  These energy efficient fluorescents save up to 35% of the wattage of standard fluorescent lamps.   Energy efficient lamps are more expensive than standard fluorescents, but the energy savings allow these lamps to pay for themselves.   Efficient fluorescent lamps also improve color rendering, which may improve the marketability of products in retail spaces.  
• Electronic Ballasts
  It is necessary to replace ballasts when changing to energy efficient fluorescent lamps.   Make sure to use electronic ballasts.   These operate 75% more quietly (DOE, 1996) than conventional ballasts, eliminating the flicker and hum of older fluorescent lamps.   Simple payback periods are in the order of 1-2 years.  
• Task Lighting
  Using the concept of task lighting, concentrate light where it is needed instead of lighting an entire area.   This can be done in offices, workrooms and garages.  
• Reflectors
  Reflectors increase the effectiveness of fluorescent lighting fixtures by up to 10% by reflecting additional light to work spaces.   Reflectors combined with energy-efficient fluorescent lamps and electronic ballasts can reduce lighting energy costs by up to 70%.  
• Compact Fluorescent Lamps
  Compact fluorescent lamps can replace incandescent light bulbs.   They are more expensive, but last 10 times longer than incandescent lamps.  
• Lighting Controls
  Occupancy sensors are convenient for turning lights off in certain areas such as conference rooms, bathrooms and storage rooms.   Auto-dimming controls automatically adjust to take advantage of existing daylight.   Also, by using task lighting, employees can take advantage of daylight and turn off unnecessary lighting.  

Buildings

• Isolate unused spaces that do not require space conditioning by closing heating and cooling vents and covering exterior windows.  
• Caulk leaks in the building exterior such as walls, windows, doors, ceiling and floors to prevent warmth leaving the building in winter and warm air entering the building in summer.  
• Make sure that windows, doors and other openings are properly maintained.   Use automatic door closers, replace broken glass, place insulating covers on window-mounted or above-door air conditioners during winter and also make sure that the space around the air conditioner is thoroughly sealed.  

Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning (HVAC)

• Programmable thermostats maintain system start-up and setback schedules for optimum comfort and eliminate unnecessary HVAC during unoccupied hours.  
• Replace dirty air filters.  
• Perform routine maintenance on the furnace and cooling system.  
• Clean intake screens, condenser coils, supply registers, and return grills.  
• Use duct tape to seal duct joints and elbows where accessible.  
• Insulate any ductwork in unconditioned spaces, such as roofs, attics, crawl spaces, and basements.  
• If the building uses a boiler for heating:
  • Follow routine maintenance procedures
  • If it doesn’t use natural gas, consider switching to cheaper natural gas
  • If necessary, due to age or excessive maintenance costs, replace the boiler with a high-efficiency model.  
• Have a professional optimize the system’s ventilation system to avoid excessive ventilation, which raises heating and cooling costs.  
• Check your hot water supply temperature, it may be possible to reduce the temperature.  
• Insulate the water heater with an insulating jacket.  

Solar Energy

• Use day-lighting whenever possible, aside from the fact that it reduces lighting costs, it also increases worker productivity.   However, in summer, shade windows that allow sunlight to pour into the building as this adds to your cooling cost.   In winter, take advantage of the sun to heat your building.  
• If you have a large hot water need, such as restaurants, bars and dry cleaners and the location is in a warm, sunny climate consider using solar hot water heating or preheating, especially if your heating energy source is costly.  

Equipment and Machines

• Energy-efficient equipment not only saves energy, but because it produces less waste heat you can also lower the air-conditioning bills.   Restaurants and other food service providers rely heavily on refrigeration equipment and freezers.   Refrigeration equipment can include efficiency options such as hot-gas defrost or evaporative condensers.  
• Turn off equipment that is not being used.   Do not leave personal computers or printers running at night and turn them off when they are idle during the day.   Use the power saving option on your monitor so that it automatically powers down when idle, instead of using screen savers.   Energy Star computers, monitors and printers have the ability to power down when idle.   Consider sharing copiers and printers, which will reduce their idle time.  

Motors

Electric motors are used in pumps, fans, and compressors, and for materials processing and handling.  

• Install efficient motors that use less energy to accomplish the same amount of work.   Although, these motors can cost 10-30% more than standard models they often pay for themselves quickly.   These motors have a superior design and are often more reliable, produce less waste heat and run more quietly than standard models.  
• Motors should be sized for their application.   Over-sizing a motor will mean it will not run at its design load and will be loose a considerable amount of efficiency.  
• Install variable speed drives in applications where the load fluctuates.   The variable speed drive allows equipment output to more exactly match demand.   Variable speed drives can reduce motor energy use by 10% to 70%.  
• Monitor and maintain equipment, which not only ensures that the motor is running efficiently, it also allows for more reliable, trouble-free operation and extended equipment life.  

Vehicles

If your business relies heavily on vehicles and has a fleet or provides delivery services, consider these options:

• Refer to the Fuel Economy Guide published by the DOE, which lists miles per gallon (mpg) ratings for all new vehicles available from your automotive dealer.  
• Combine errands in one trip.  
• Tune the engine regularly.  
• Do not carry unnecessary weight.  
• Consider alternative fuels if you have a fleet or 10 or more vehicles, it may be possible that you may have to comply with either the Clean Air Act or the Energy Policy Act.  
• Encourage employees to use mass transit, ride sharing and alternative work schedules.