Workplace Energy Efficiency Tactics
When you’re operating a business, every cost should be analyzed, and energy is one of those areas. Saving money in this category means you’ll have higher profits that can be used to grow your business.
Tips on Saving Energy at the Workplace
The first way to save money on the energy costs of a business is by incorporating a few simple practices, which can include the following.
- Use computer sleep mode: When computers aren’t being used, it’s best to make sure they are put into sleep mode. It also helps to have other office equipment set to save on energy.
- Install light sensors: Lights should be switched off when a room is unoccupied. Installing light sensors can help people curb the habit of leaving lights on.
- Open the blinds: Early morning glare from the sun usually requires blinds to be closed. Once the sun has risen in the sky, turn off the lights and open the blinds.
- Replace the old refrigerator: When the inside of the fridge in your company break room feels like an iceberg, it’s probably time to recycle the old beast. Replacing older appliances with energy-efficient new ones can help save money in the long term.
Energy Efficiency During Hot and Cold Times
During the hot summer months, it’s important to stay cool in the workplace. However, this doesn’t mean that the air-conditioning unit should be set to a high level and left there. It can help to have a programmable thermostat installed that turns off the air-conditioning at night when no one’s around. Furniture and other obstructions should be removed if they are currently placed in front of any air conditioning vents. It also helps to have the airflow of these units controlled in a tight loop.
Commercial buildings are susceptible to heat loss during the winter. One of the best ways to keep a building warm is by making sure external doors stay shut. Maintaining the HVAC system will also help this type of system work more efficiently.
Criteria to Consider When Renting Commercial Space
Renting commercial space can be tricky and full of hidden costs. It helps to look for warning signs that might curb you from using a building for your business. Energy efficiency is a category that is often forgotten when a business owner is negotiating a lease. It can help to utilize a structure that contains fiberglass insulation. This helps create more energy efficiency and comfort.
Fiberglass insulation can assist your cooling and heating systems to operate with increased efficiency. The natural thermal barrier it creates can decrease your energy usage and help cut your energy bill. Fiberglass is excellent at resisting heat transfer, which is why it’s one of the best products to use in commercial construction.
Different Types of Insulation
It’s not surprising that fiberglass insulation is recommended as a good product to use in commercial buildings for energy efficiency. Here are some of its attributes:
- Its fire-resistant and moisture resistant, which can help reduce property damage if a fire or flood occurs.
- It’s waterproof characteristics also means it doesn’t retain water. This resistance to moisture makes it an excellent solution to stop the growth of unwanted mold or mildew.
- It contains recycled materials that can be reused again at the end of its lifespan.
Sound insulation and absorption are important factors for workers in noisy manufacturing settings. This product has a higher Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) than alternatives like spray foam insulation.
Spray foam insulation has become popular due to its ease of use. It does fall short in several attributes when compared to other types of insulation as seen below:
- It’s susceptible to fire and will ignite at 700°F.
- Spray foam insulation does contain isocyanates, which have been linked as a possible cause for asthma. Determining safe levels of exposure to isocyanates for individuals has not been completed, but isocyanates have been associated with work-related asthma.
- This chemically-based product cannot be reused at the end of its life.
Eco-Friendly Energy Alternatives
Fiberglass is one of the most eco-friendly insulators. It’s composed of materials like sand, glass and other types of recyclables. It achieves a high R-value consistently and can be utilized to meet the requirements for specific energy codes or green building. It also continues to provide savings on energy throughout its lifespan as an insulator in a commercial setting.
Analyzing every area in a business where energy efficiency can be introduced and implemented will aid in helping to cut unneeded expenses and show up when profits are determined.
