Trending: Here are some Business Statistics and Trends to know
Managing a business means juggling a lot of balls. And when it comes to business utilities, such as water and electricity, they can be the low-hanging fruit on your plate.
Fortunately, there are several ways in which you can start saving on business utilities without compromising on comfort or work efficiency. So, let’s talk about how you can have a much better grip on your business utilities with the following simple strategies.
Track Your Usage and Identify Problem Areas
When it comes to business utilities, the first place to start is by tracking your business water and electricity usage. You need to identify the problem areas. While tracking your usage and keeping an eye on your utility bills is one of the simplest and most effective ways to begin saving on utilities, it’s also often one that gets ignored.
Tracking and monitoring your business water and electricity usage will help you identify the problem areas. Fixing leaks and inefficient systems as well as changing some of your business practices will help you make a big dent in the utility bills without much effort on your part. So, to get started, go through your bills for the past few months and see where the higher consumption areas are.
Once you have an idea of your general water and electricity usage and how it fluctuates throughout the year, you can take concrete steps to target problem areas and make the necessary changes.
Hire Professional Commercial Electrical Services
Electrical works need to be left to the professionals. A certified professional is a good option for both your small and medium businesses. Professional electricians ensure that all your electrical systems are working efficiently and are not over-consuming energy. A licensed electrician can help you find out where your business is over-using electricity and recommend energy-saving upgrades to your electrical systems that will help you in the long run.
Regular electrical maintenance by professionals can also help prevent future electrical issues that can be both dangerous as well as costly. You need the services of a qualified electrician whether you’re looking to upgrade your lighting, new HVAC installation, or wiring new equipment or appliances, commercial electrical services can help you reduce your business’s energy consumption.
Use Energy-Efficient Equipment and Appliances
Energy-efficient appliances have been the order of the day for several years now. However, have you kept up with your older equipment? Have you replaced those air conditioners, fridges, and freezers with more efficient ones?
If not, then it might be time to do so. It will cost you a pretty penny, but it will save you a considerable amount in the long term. And if you’re still using those old light fixtures, it’s time to replace them with some that use less energy.
If you have older air conditioning units in your business spaces, you could seriously consider replacing them with more energy-efficient ones that could help you bring your energy bills down significantly. It’s also a good idea to replace your water heaters with more efficient units as well.
Choose a tankless water heater which can provide hot water on demand. This way, you’re not constantly using energy to keep a tank of water hot when you don’t need it.
Take Advantage of Off-Peak Hours
A simple way to save a significant amount on your business electricity bill is to run your machines during off-peak hours. The trick is to keep your consumption low when the rest of the world is using a lot of power.
In most cases, off-peak hours are during the evening and early mornings. So, if your business operates on a 24/7 basis, try to schedule your energy-intensive tasks, such as washing machines, machinery, etc., for these hours.
If, however, your business runs only during business hours, try to find out if your electricity provider has a time-of-use plan. This way, you can lower your rates during the hours when other people are using a lot of electricity and increasing the rates during non-peak hours.
Choose a Water Bill Payment Solution
Tracking your water and electricity usage is one thing, but if you don’t have an efficient way to pay your water bills on time, you are only defeating the purpose. A water bill payment solution that allows you to set up automatic payments or check your bill using an app can help you save on late charges while also helping you manage your budget better.
Set up reminders every month to check your water bills and try to spot any sudden increases that are unusual and could potentially be errors. If you have been managing water bills for your business manually, you might consider paying your bills in bulk or setting up recurring payments to make it less of a hassle.
Upgrade Your Lighting
Did you know that how you light up your commercial spaces can impact your energy bill? Lighting is one of those things that businesses often take for granted but can cost a pretty penny if you aren’t careful. If your business has been operating for some time and has a lot of overhead lights that are always on, consider switching over to energy-efficient lights.
LED lights are the way to go as they are not only more energy-efficient, but they also last much longer and are brighter than the old lights. If possible, set up motion sensors to automatically turn off lights when no one is around.
For larger businesses, you can also install smart lighting systems which can be controlled remotely. They also allow you to adjust your lights depending on the time of day, and the lights are bright or dim accordingly. This way, you can make sure that your business space is lit only when it needs to be and not at other times.
Install Solar Panels
Solar power is probably the last thing on your mind when it comes to ways to save money on business utilities. And, for most businesses, it is. However, in recent years, solar power has become more accessible and affordable than ever. And, if you’re located in a region with a lot of sun, installing solar panels to supplement your energy use can save you a significant amount on your electricity bill over time.
In fact, there are several tax incentives available to businesses who switch to solar energy, which means that going solar is good for the environment as well as your bottom line. If you aren’t ready to go all-in with solar, you could look at hybrid solutions that allow you to use a combination of solar and grid power, thus saving money and energy.
Consider A Professional Energy Audit
If you’re seriously looking to scale down your water and electricity usage, it’s a good idea to get a professional energy audit done for your business premises. An energy audit is when a professional comes in and assesses your business and tells you exactly what you can do to reduce water and electricity wastage in your business.
The good news is that most local utility companies offer energy audit programs for free or at a discounted rate. The energy audit professional will assess your business property and suggest ways to improve efficiency and reduce water and electricity wastage.
Educate Your Employees
And lastly, it’s important to educate your employees. Let your employees know about your water and electricity savings goals and get them on board. It’s not only about turning off the lights and faucets when they’re not in use. It’s also about creating a culture of saving energy and water in your business.
Educate your employees about simple energy and water-saving tips, and encourage them to adopt these tips in their daily lives. Not only will this help you in reducing your utility bills, but it will also benefit the environment and help create awareness about conservation among your employees.
Wrapping It Up
Managing your business water and electricity bill doesn’t have to be a chore. In fact, if you do some of the things we mentioned above, you could easily save a lot of money and help the environment in the process. So, whether it’s fixing leaks and upgrading your appliances or tracking your usage and getting a professional audit, every little bit helps, and when it comes to business water and electricity bills, every little bit can help you save a lot.
