Whether you own a local flower shop or a manufacturing facility, lighting, air conditioning, IT and other equipment are essential to running your business. We know that each business has unique needs when it comes to the investments needed to maintain operations. Fortunately, you don’t necessarily have to make a big investment to save money on your energy bill.
Our Solutions for Business team specializes in working directly with businesses to identify ways to help you save through measures that work best for each customer. These can include anything from rebates for HVAC equipment to smart thermostats or simple saving tips for everyday energy use. Additionally, we can help your business identify small operational changes that may not only reduce your energy costs, but also improve your work environment and reduce maintenance expenses.
Here are just a few of the ways you can start saving money:
Business Energy Analyzer
Visit aps.com/bea to take a quick online survey about your current operations.
Answer questions about square footage, number of employees and more.
Receive custom money- and energy- saving recommendations in just 10 minutes.
Lighting
Clean the dust off fixtures, lamps and lenses every six to 12 months to maintain light levels.
Replace lights in groups and switch to LEDs if you haven’t already. Lamps can lose up to 30 percent of light output over their service life. Group replacement saves labor and helps keep light levels high.
Heating and Cooling
Install a smart thermostat and create a daily schedule with your optimal temperature settings.
Save 2-3% for every degree you raise or lower your thermostat setting, depending on the season.In the summer, we recommend 78-80 degrees when the building is occupied and bumping it to 85 degrees after hours.
In the winter, try 70-72 degrees when the building is occupied and dropping it to 65 degrees after hours.
Utilize ceiling fans to more evenly distribute air and eliminate hot and cold spots. The evaporative effect can make occupants feel 3-5 degrees cooler in the summer. But, make sure it is not running and unnecessarily using energy when the room is empty.
Install shade screens, window film or blinds to keep out the hot summer heat and open the blinds in the winter to take advantage of the radiant heat.
Add a cool control device to your existing HVAC unit. The device makes the fan run longer to utilize more of the residual cooling in the coils.
Install CO2 sensors so the HVAC system takes into account not just temperature preferences but air quality requirements.
Ventilation
Check insulation levels, particularly in rooms that are reported as “hot” or “cold.”
Make sure vents are clear so there is proper airflow.
Seal any gaps or holes around windows and doors, and encourage employees to keep them closed, especially during heat waves and cold spells.
Custom Rebates
Save money on equipment upgrades with rebates for smart thermostats, HVAC systems, IT equipment, variable speed drives and more.
Find a full list of available rebates at aps.com/businessrebates.
For even more ways to save, visit aps.com/biztips or call the Solutions for Business team at 866-277-5605. FBN
By Janet Dean
Janet Dean is the community affairs manager for APS.