How to Save Electricity

Minimising business expenses from energy consumption is a highly sought after solution many commercial enterprises are looking for. Recent energy price hikes has had a significant impact on commercial businesses in Australia. Reports suggest this hike has resulted in a 120% increase in power bills. Whilst the resolution would be to use your lights more efficiently by regularly turning them off, this is not the ideal solution for commercial businesses.

Ways to save more on your energy bill

For businesses, minimising electricity expenses means finding more energy efficient, low-cost alternatives. If you are Sydney or Melbourne based business who has been hit by the recent energy price rises, here are some helpful tips to try and reduce your current bill. (RELATED: Affordable Lighting System for Commercial Buildings)

1. Gather data on your electricity consumption.

   Take a step back and assess how much electricity your business consumes. Not only is it useful in saving money, it can also point out opportunities for operational improvements.

   The first piece of data you should look at is your electric bill. A year’s worth of data from your energy bill should suffice, although you could go further back. Take note of the kiloWatt consumption and the corresponding cost per month. For greater detail, you can contact your energy retailer and request more specific information. If you are surprised by this figure contact Easy Being Green today.

2. Find where you use the most electricity.

   You may use monitoring equipment or programs to assess your electricity consumption. For example, you can use plug-in appliance monitors to measure the impact of individual appliances. Some energy providers also provide online energy monitoring.

   Alternatively, you can hire an energy assessor to analyse your energy consumption. The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage listed their pre-approved energy efficiency experts on their website. The Energy Efficiency Council also has a list of energy assessors on their site that you can contact.

   Small businesses can usually do the assessment. But if you manage a business with plants or factories, you may need the help of an expert. Identify cost-saving opportunities and plan accordingly.

   Did your HVAC consume the most electricity? Was it your office equipment or your lighting? The findings that you get from your energy assessment will help you identify opportunities for cost reduction.

3. Create a formal plan on how you can reduce your electricity consumption.

   From your initial research, set a baseline for your electricity use per year. Next, create a list of actions to reduce your consumption and divide them into short term and long term. Finally, set a target percentage reduction and a target date to achieve it.

4. Don’t forget to set realistic targets.

   Setting it to high may hamper instead of help your cost-reduction initiative.

5. Include employees in your cost-saving initiative.

   It’s important to include your employees in creating your energy-saving plan. Create a culture that promotes energy saving as an important company value. Let management set an example and your employees will do the same.

   Hold a staff meeting to brainstorm ideas and outline what they can do to help with the initiative. Who knows? They may point out some crucial building upgrades or suggest equipment alternatives that may help reduce your energy bill.

6. Look for energy efficient alternatives to equipment.

   You can save money in the long run by looking for equipment that has a high energy efficiency rating. Check the Energy Rating Label included in appliances or equipment and compare them to find the most energy efficient choice. This label is regulated by the government and rates equipment based on their efficiency when compared to similar equipment of the same size.

   You may use the online calculator from the Energy Rating website to calculate the kiloWatt hour consumption and corresponding annual cost.

7. Save money by switching to LED lights.

   How much money can you save with LED lights? Quite a lot, actually. When you switch to LED lights on your business sites, you can save up to 82% on your energy consumption. That is an 82% reduction in your electricity costs for lighting. LED lamps consume less electricity compared to their incandescent and fluorescent counterparts while producing the same amount of brightness.

   LED lights also last longer than other types of lighting fixtures. For example, the Ecobulb Edison Screw that replaces 100W incandescent bulbs lasts up to 36,000 hours. That translates to 36 years with average use, 36 times longer than its incandescent replacement.

   With less electricity consumption and even lesser maintenance cost, LED lights can help you achieve your cost-reduction goals.