To begin your journey towards optimizing your energy usage, generally the first step will be to conduct an energy audit. This assessment will allow you to better understand your energy usage and locate areas for improvement. It is recommended to request an audit from a trusted engineer, as they will be able to give you accurate data on energy usage across your facilities.
Once a thorough audit has been completed, a variety of upgrades may be available for your business. We go into further detail on what these options may be below. It is important to review the results of your data with a trusted consultant and complete a cost savings analysis so that you can get a full picture of how each option will affect your business. CarbonSuite can assist by providing a GHG analysis, showing how each option will directly affect your carbon emissions.
Let’s have a look at what options your business may have may have to optimize your energy usage.
Upgrade Your Lighting
Step 1: Upgrade to LEDs
One of the easiest and most effective ways you can reduce electricity consumption is by upgrading your lighting to LEDs. Traditional incandescent bulbs are highly inefficient, emitting large amounts of heat and consuming excessive energy. They also have much shorter life spans, lasting 1,000 hours compared to the 25,000-hour lifespan of a LED.
But what about CFL bulbs?
CFL bulbs are also an option for energy efficient upgrades as they are more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs. However, they are only about 25% more efficient whereas LEDs are roughly 75% more efficient. So, when looking to optimize energy usage, it’s best to stick with LEDs.
How can I get started?
Reach out to a trusted engineer or lighting services provider in your area to determine how your business may benefit from a LED Upgrade.
Step 2: Install Lighting Controls
Another great option is to install occupancy sensors and/or daylight harvesting systems to automatically adjust lighting levels.
Occupancy sensors use motion sensors to determine if lighting is required in a space. They automatically turn lights on and off based on if the space is occupied. These can save large amounts of energy and relieve you from worrying about whether or not you’ve turned off the lights!
Daylight harvesting systems automatically adjust the brightness of the lights within a space based on natural light available. This leads to less energy usage throughout the day while keeping the space well-lit and comfortable.
How can I get started?
Lighting controls are often offered as a pairing with LED upgrades, but can also be offered as their own service. Reach out to a trusted engineer or lighting services provider in your area to determine where your business may benefit from lighting controls.
Upgrading your lighting through one of the methods above can result in significant energy savings. And even better – you may qualify for an incentive program to lower the cost of implementation. See below for details.
United States: Many utilities offer incentives for upgrading to LEDs and/or implementing lighting controls. Reach out to your utility provider for details on what programs you may be eligible for.
Canada: Canada offers a variety of resources to understand what energy efficient products and financial resources are available. Learn more here.
Australia: Depending on your state, you may be eligible for an Energy Savings Scheme such as qualifying for Energy Savings Certificates (ESCs) in New South Wales or Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEECs) in Victoria.
Not located in one of the regions listed above? CarbonSuite can assist with understanding your options or connect you with a local partner.
Optimize Your HVAC and Water Heating Systems
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Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are major contributors to your electricity consumption. Here are some simple and low-cost changes you can make to optimize their usage:
Step 1: Regular Maintenance
Regularly maintaining and cleaning your HVAC systems can have a big impact on energy usage. This can seem obvious or unnecessary, but leaving your HVAC unit unattended for long periods will require it to work much harder. This leads to increased electricity usage to meet your desired temperature. Regular maintenance also extends the lifetime of your equipment prolonging the need for replacement.
How can I get started?
You can check out this do-it-yourself guide, or reach out to a professional for routine maintenance and performance monitoring.
Step 2: Upgrade to Smart Thermostats
Smart Thermostats are wifi-enabled thermostats that can adjust temperature settings remotely or based on occupancy schedules, allowing you to optimize your energy usage. Some even have features that can detect if there is a problem with your system and can remind you when it is time to complete your regular maintenance. You may even qualify for a rebate or incentive depending on where your business is located.
How can I get started?
Discuss your options with your utility provider or go to your local home improvement store for recommendations on which Smart Thermostat may be right for you. Below are some recommendations by region:
United States: Check with ENERGY STAR here to determine eligible products and if your business is eligible for a rebate.
Canada: Depending on your province and utility provider, you may be eligible for a rebate on upgrading to a smart thermostat. Reach out to your utility provider to learn more.
Not located in one of the regions listed above? CarbonSuite can assist with understanding your options or connect you with a local partner.
Step 3: Improve Insulation
Poor insulation can cause your heating and air conditioning equipment to work much harder than it needs to, leading to increased energy use. Improving insulation can help to prevent heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer, reducing the workload on your HVAC and water heating systems.
How can I get started?
Conducting an energy audit is the best way to understand where your building may be losing energy due to poor insulation. Reach out to a trusted engineer to review your business site and provide recommendations for improvement. You can also check out this article to determine if your business is in need of an insulation improvement.
Choose High-Efficiency Equipment and Appliances
Appliance manufacturers are always releasing new, high efficiency equipment to meet consumer demand as well as federal, state, and regional requirements. Different appliances have different units to measure energy efficiency such as SEER/EER (Seasonal/Energy Efficiency Ratio) for HVAC equipment, and COP (Coefficient Of Performance) for Water Heating equipment.
How can I get started?
Reach out to a trusted engineer to determine what equipment in your business may benefit from an upgrade. You can also look out for the ENERGY STAR label when purchasing appliances for your office and encourage employees to do the same.
Choosing high-efficiency appliances can have a huge impact on your energy usage. Many utilities and government entities around the world offer incentives for upgrading an older appliance to a high-efficiency appliance. Some even offer incentives for properly recycling old equipment. See below for details.
United States: Many utilities offer incentives for upgrading to high efficiency HVAC, water heating, and even foodservice appliances. You can check with your utility provider for details on eligible programs.
Canada: Canada offers a variety of resources to understand what energy efficient products and financial resources are available. Learn more here.
Australia: Depending on your state, you may be eligible for an Energy Savings Scheme such as qualifying for Energy Savings Certificates (ESCs) in New South Wales or Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEECs) in Victoria.
Not located in one of the regions listed above? CarbonSuite can assist with understanding your options or connect you with a local partner.
Implement Demand Response Programs
Electricity prices tend to spike during periods of the day where large amounts of energy are being used by consumers. It can be difficult for utilities to meet these periods of high demand, therefore many utility providers have implemented demand response programs. These programs ask that you to reduce your electricity usage during peak demand periods, and provide incentives for doing so. By voluntarily curtailing electricity consumption or shifting it to off-peak hours, you can help reduce demand on the grid, and earn financial incentives or reduced energy prices.
How can I get started?
Reach out to your utility provider to determine your options for participating in a demand response program.
Foster Employee Engagement and Awareness
Engaging your employees and fostering a culture of energy consciousness is crucial for long-term success. Educate your staff members about the importance of optimizing energy usage and provide training on energy-efficient practices. Below we list some simple ways you can get started.
Promote Education and Awareness
- Conduct regular training sessions to educate employees about the importance of energy efficiency and how their actions impact overall energy usage.
- Use emails, newsletters, and internal communication platforms to share tips and success stories about energy-saving practices.
- Host workshops with energy experts to provide in-depth knowledge and answer questions about energy optimization.
Incorporate Motivation and Incentives
- Offer rewards or recognition for employees who demonstrate significant contributions to energy-saving initiatives.
- Create competitions or challenges where teams or departments compete to reduce energy consumption, with prizes for the most effective group.
- Publicly recognize employees or teams that achieve notable energy savings through newsletters, meetings, or bulletin boards.
Provide Strong Leadership and Culture
- Ensure that leadership is visibly committed to energy efficiency, setting an example for employees to follow.Integrate energy efficiency into the company’s core values and mission, making it a part of the organizational culture.
- Regularly review and update energy-saving practices and policies, involving employees in the process to keep them engaged and invested.
Incorporate Measurement Tools
- Implement smart energy management systems that provide real-time data on energy usage, helping employees see the impact of their actions.
- Use visible dashboards to display current energy usage and progress towards goals, keeping energy efficiency top-of-mind for everyone.
Ready to Get Started Optimizing Your Energy Usage? Let’s Review How in Just 5 Easy Steps!
1: Request an energy audit from a trusted engineer.
2: Review your energy usage with a trusted professional and determine which energy efficiency upgrades will be right for your business.
3: Incorporate simple, low-budget solutions like regular HVAC maintenance and employee engagement.
4: Implement the solutions and begin saving energy.
5: Track your GHG savings with CarbonSuite!
Ready to get started? Send us an email and we can help connect you with experts in the field.