Energy Saving Strategies for Commercial Properties
Cost savings are always a key concern for businesses and occupants of commercial properties. With ever-rising energy prices, any enterprise seeking to reduce costs may find it useful to start by rethinking their energy usage. From installing solar panel systems to useful strategies for climate control and using office equipment, here are some practical energy saving strategies for your commercial property.
1. Use Solar Power
Solar panels for your home are common, but it’s probably less well known that increasing numbers of businesses have taken advantage of solar power. Companies with solar system have used it to reduce their energy bills, provide an abundance of free energy for daily use, and even make money on excess energy generated that’s fed back into the power grid for other consumers.
Solar power can be used for any electrical appliance in your business, from air-conditioners, to heaters, refrigeration, lighting and any office equipment. A solar system comes with substantial benefits for businesses, including tax reductions for purchase, rebates through Renewable Energy Certificates (‘RECs’), and the solar credit programs that allow your business to sell unused electricity back to the grid.
The subsidy program means that the government covers up to 60 per cent of the upfront cost of your system. Given that the government subsidy system is in the process of being reduced over the next few years, it’s a good time to take advantage of the significant cost savings in a timely way.
2. Active Climate Control
When choosing an air-conditioner or heater, be sure to take note of its energy rating. In Australia, the same rating system applies for whitegoods such as dishwashers and washing machines. Choose appliances with a good energy rating. You’ll be able to see how much it should cost to run per year by checking the energy usage on the rating label.
Climate control tips:
- Use the recycle function on the air conditioner
- Make sure the air-conditioning unit is cleaned or serviced regularly. Dust build up will impede its efficiency
- Consider evaporative conditioners, which can cost up to 80 per cent less to run, or ceiling fans
- Reverse cycle units are another alternative, allowing you to cool your office or factory space in summer and warm it in winter
- Note that every one degree increase in your thermostat temperature uses an estimated 10 to 15 per cent more energy (this can vary depending on your heating system)
- Limit who has permission to adjust the thermostat settings
- Don’t cool or warm areas that are infrequently used
- Use reflective blinds for rooms that have direct sunlight to reduce heat in summer
- Double glaze windows for better insulation in winter
- Use ceiling insulation to reduce energy consumption in warmer months
3. Lighting
When it comes to lighting, there are also many easy ways to reduce energy consumption:
- Energy efficient light bulbs can reduce usage in your office or factory lighting by up to 80 per cent. Compact fluorescent light bulbs last much longer and consume much less electricity.
- Use motion sensor lights for rarely accessed areas. These lights can turn off automatically when no one is in the room.
- Light sensitive sensors are another option for outdoor spaces that require lighting – they turn off and on at dusk and dawn.
- Skylights are a natural and energy-free way to light your office or factory.
4. Office Equipment
- You can save hundreds of dollars a year or more by switching appliances off completely rather than leaving them on standby.
- Encourage a paperless office – printing utilises energy as well as paper. Ink jet printers use a fraction of the energy of laser printers.
- Desktops are less energy efficient than notebooks. Notebooks have the added benefit of being portable.
