Energy Efficiency Tips for Businesses

General Facility

• Use natural light whenever feasible in occupied buildings, have windows opened to welcome natural heating on sunny days. 
• Verify that security systems are turned on and working properly. 
• In vacant buildings, keep the windows and blinds closed to avoid drastic temperature fluctuation.
• Shut down compressed air systems if the equipment does not require conditioned air. 
• Eliminate HVAC system use in underutilized spaces or where unmanned processes take place.

Refrigeration and other appliances:

• Turn your refrigerator off and leave the door open after using up perishable foods.
• Unplug devices and power strips when you leave. Many electronic appliances and devices continue to consume energy even when they are shut down. 
• Adjust to the brightness level on your tv or monitors. By lowering the brightness setting, you will greatly reduce power consumption while maintaining proper picture quality. 
• Turn off exterior signage, lighting and parking lot lights if not needed. Make sure you are in code compliance for any safety and security lighting. 
• Turn off lights in vacant refrigeration cases.

HVAC and Lighting:

• Turn off or dim partial lighting in spaces that are not being utilized.
• Close fume covers to reduce the loss of warm/cool air. 
• Shut down domestic hot water heaters or substantially lower the heating set point. 
• Apply settings to HVAC economizers to close when air systems are off. 
• Avoid using HVAC systems to heat or cool unused facilities that do not serve critical equipment. 
• Keep the HVAC systems set to run with unoccupied temperature setbacks. 
• Manually turn off emergency lighting in underutilized spaces.