6 Simple Tips to Reduce Your Office's Electricity Bill

Most businesses aim to reduce costs and maximize profits, and saving on energy costs is one way to improve the bottom line. Most offices consume more energy than necessary, and a few changes to electrical fixtures and employee behavior make a significant difference in electricity bills. Check out some simple ways to use less energy without sacrificing comfort below.

1. Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Equipment

Newer electronic office devices are more energy-efficient than models from 10 years ago. Look for the Energy Star label in office devices, which can save you as much as 75% for some equipment.

Also, invest in copiers and printers with automatic shutoff and sleep modes, which keep the devices from consuming energy when not in use. A printer with several quality settings also reduces energy consumption when an employee doesn't need a high-quality print for a specific document.

Energy Star also has energy-efficient requirements for many computers, including laptops, desktops, notebook computers, and workstations. Investing in computers and monitors with the Energy Star logo reduces your energy costs dramatically, especially for a mid-sized or large company. Although upgrading to energy-efficient office equipment can be costly, you save more money in the long-term on electricity bills.

2. Use LED Lighting

Good lighting creates a productive and comfortable workspace. However, the kind of lighting you use in your office affects your energy costs. Most offices install fluorescent bulbs, but you have many advantages to switching to LED bulbs.

LED lighting consumes less energy and emits less carbon dioxide than other lights. Although LED lights cost more, they last 20–25 times longer than other types of lights, and the energy savings outweigh the initial installation costs. You also spend less on replacement and maintenance with LED lighting.

3. Install Motion Sensors for Lighting

Motion sensors reduce wasted electricity costs by automatically shutting off the lights in a room with zero occupancies. Areas like conference rooms, warehouses, copier rooms, storage areas, bathrooms, and individual offices often have irregular use patterns. Motion detectors use sound, heat, or both to detect occupancy in such rooms, and you can install them on a ceiling or high up a wall.

4. Maximize Natural Light

Natural light and fresh air improve mood and productivity, and interior decorators and architects often pay attention to these two elements when designing modern offices. So, harness natural sunlight to reduce your office's reliance on artificial lighting.

Larger exterior windows and skylights are good ways to brighten your workspace with natural light. Skylights are especially great for open offices with multiple cubicles away from the windows.

5. Switch to a Programmable Thermostat

If you use a non-programmable thermostat in the workplace, you can waste a lot of energy on empty desks and office equipment. A programmable model lets you set different temperature settings based on your building's occupancy routines.

For example, you can set the thermostat to shut off at night or on weekends and automatically heat the office to the desired temperature on Monday morning. In this way, you keep employees comfortable at work and avoid the energy costs of heating the workspace when it isn't occupied.

6. Embrace Cloud Computing

Computer rooms use a lot of energy to power the servers and keep the space cool to prevent the system from overheating. If you switch to the cloud, you don't have to host an IT room, reducing your energy costs drastically. Cloud computing also helps offices go paperless and reduces reliance on copiers and printers. The longer these bulky devices stay plugged in, the more energy they consume.

While the above tips reduce your energy costs, you will enjoy the greatest gains from consulting professional electricians. At Reinhold Electric Inc., we help businesses of all sizes reduce electrical inefficiencies via various services such as LED lighting. Call us today to explore energy-efficient lighting solutions.