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As a business, you can do your part to reduce the impact you have on climate change while realizing significant cost reductions from conservation and smarter energy management. Businesses that have already begun to make similar adjustments are finding competitive advantages in the results.

STEP 1: Create a Business-Wide Energy Management Plan

• Get a thorough grasp of the energy output from your company
• Choose the low-hanging fruit and the areas with the highest carbon emissions
• Create a prioritized plan for implementation

Benefits you may realize include:

1. Cost reductions– Steps to save energy will impact utility bills as well as lead to savings on transportation, waste and other operating costs. Given the forecast of future energy prices in the coming years, any savings will become increasingly critical.
   
2. Alleviation of regulatory impacts– Carbon Management can help avoid regulatory costs by reducing the carbon from the various business processes.
   
3. Operational efficiency– Energy reduction strategies often improve productivity and quality in unexpected ways..
   
4. Corporate responsibility and reputation– as global warming creates more concern and awareness, many consumers and investors are focusing on companies that effectively measure and manage their carbon emissions -- and they are being rewarded.

STEP 2: Start with the Following Changes

Within the following categories, find the areas that apply to your business. Commend yourself for all that you are already doing and create a plan for achieving the rest. The cost savings you realize can pay for the more expensive changes that you may be unwilling to pay for at first.

Lighting & Electricity

• Discuss a lighting retrofit with a specialist. Identify costs, rebates and potential savings associated with replacing conventional lighting with energy-efficient alternatives.
• Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient alternatives such as Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL).
• Clean light fixtures annually. Dirt reduces efficiency of lights.
• Separate switches and/or timers for dimmer lights so they can be operated autonomously from main switch.
• Use only natural lighting during daytime hours in all areas.
• Turn off lights in unused rooms and hallways.
• Install and clean skylights annually in late spring to maximize incoming light.
• Consider installing Solar on your rooftop. It's an investment that can pay back within a few short years.
• Install motion sensors in low traffic areas such as storage, bathrooms and offices.
• Install timer on thermostat.
• Replace all exit signs with LED alternative as needed.
• When replacing equipment, ensure that it is Energy Star-rated or an energy-efficient product.

Computers

• Turn computers off overnight
• Utilize energy-efficiency settings on computers.
• Allow computers to go into “sleep” mode when not in use for 10 minutes.
• Turn off screen savers. Allow monitors to go dark when in sleep mode.
• Flat screen monitors use less energy. So do laptop computers.

Transportation & Travel

• Video conference whenever possible to avoid flying/driving.
• When it’s absolutely necessary to fly, pay to offset the carbon that is generated.
• Survey employees’ transportation habits and where they live. Facilitate ridesharing whenever possible via scheduling and/ or incentives. Encourage bus commuting, van pools and biking.
• Consider switching to alternative fuels for your fleet vehicles. Biodiesel or Ethanol are readily available substitutes that can be incorporated at a negligible cost.
• When purchasing vehicles, choose the most fuel-efficient model for your needs.
• Introduce “no-idle” policy on all trucking and transportation. This practice only creates pollution and wastes fuel.

Heating & Cooling

• Check temperature on water heater and dishwasher.  Ensure setting is to 140° F.
• Insulate water heaters and pipes.
• Set the thermostat at 78°F...costs rise by 3-5% for every 1°F increase.
• Don't heat unused space. Storerooms, corridors and areas where there's heavy physical work can be set to lower temperatures. Reduce heating during holidays and weekends.
• Keep radiators clear. Don't block radiators with furniture - it reduces efficiency and output.
• Check that thermostats are sited out of drafts and away from either cold or hot spots.
• Keep windows closed in cold weather. If staff are too warm, turn the heating down instead.
• Track and measure your energy usage.
• Consult your colleagues as to where they think energy is being wasted and what their ideas are about saving energy.

Industrial Motors

• Keep them maintained.  A badly maintained motor and drive system can add 5% or more to your energy costs.
• Replace with higher efficiency motors.  If replacing a motor, ensure it is a Higher Efficiency Motor.
• Supervise running time. Check for motors (fans, pumps, etc.) that are running when they are not needed. A motor running without load can still use as much as 40% of the full load power.

Refrigeration

• Perform regular maintenance on refrigerators to increase efficiency.
• Consolidate refrigerators and unplug those not in use.
• Keep freezer doors closed -Maintain correct temperatures - not too low.
• Check the temperature of your system. Is it too low? Every 1°C lower than needed can add 2- 4% to costs. -Check the condensers. Ensure that they are located in a position that is not overheated and has sufficient airflow.
• Vacuum the refrigerator coils to keep them free of dust. -Does the system have the correct amount of refrigerant charge? Leakage can typically increase energy costs by over 10%.

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