Is your electric bill too high at your office? Do you need to cut back in some areas of the budget? There are minor adjustments you can make that will have a big impact on your energy bill. Check out these tips and tricks to save some money.

Schedule an Energy Efficiency Audit

An energy efficiency audit should be your very first step in trying to lower your electricity bill. An expert will walk through your building and talk to you to learn about your current usage and where efficiencies can be created. They will look for air leaks, problems with insulation, and outdated electronics that are sucking energy. They’ll also be able to help you conduct an energy audit after hours. Once everyone leaves for the night, do a walk through to determine what stays on and what is turned off. Are fans left on? Are computers running? Are lights unnecessarily left on?

Update an Old Building

If, in your energy audit, you find that there are a lot of areas of improvement to be made, you may want to start by upgrading your building. If your building is drafty and full of air leaks, you can fix that with some good insulation and air sealing. Clean and unblock vents so air can circulate properly and efficiently. Depending on your situation, you may want to add in skylights for natural light, or you may want to plant large, shady trees to cut down on cooling costs.

Upgrade Your Appliances

While you’re updating your building, you should also invest in some technology upgrades. Energy-efficient technology can save you a lot of money in the long run. Replace old appliances with ENERGY STAR-rated appliances, put in energy efficient lightbulbs, and utilize a programmable thermostat. And be sure you’re setting your appliances to power-saver mode!

Encourage Staff to be Energy Efficient

In your after-hours energy audit, you may learn that your staff has a lot of changes they need to make with their electricity usage. If they’re leaving lights and appliances on overnight, encourage them to make it a habit to shut them off. Encourage them to take the stairs versus the elevator if possible, to rely on natural lighting if possible, and to keep windows closed. Welcome any other ideas they may have to make improvements, too.

Implement Flexible Hours

If you’re really in a pinch and want to get hours down, you could consider implementing flexible hours. Peak energy usage happens during the workday. However, if you stagger hours and let people work in shifts, you will use less energy at one time and your rates will drop. You could also let people work from home a day or two each week. You should notice a significant decrease in energy costs if you do this.

If you need more electric help at your commercial building, give Nies Electric a call at 320-253-6837!