TOU Business Energy Efficiency Tips

If you own a business or just work at one, you can help reduce energy use during on-peak times when the energy prices are higher. Most businesses cannot completely eliminate usage during on-peak time periods; however, you can reduce energy consumption by following the energy-efficiency tips below and, if possible, shift workload for tasks that can be completed during the off-peak hours.

Electric heating and ventilation system:

To reduce energy consumption during the winter heating season, set the thermostat in your workspace to 68° F during work hours and lower the setting to 55° F when the space is unoccupied. For every degree you lower in the 60° - 70° F range, you can save up to 5 percent on heating costs.
To manage your energy usage for heating needs, install a programmable thermostat to regulate the temperature during work hours and after hours. Consider a locking cover over the thermostat to avoid having employees change temperature settings.
Keep your exterior and freight doors closed as much as possible, to retain heat inside the building.
During the winter months, open the window blinds to warm your workspace from direct sunlight. Remove solar screens, blinds or awnings on the south and west facing windows to help increase heat gain—replace in the summer.
If your business has a water heater, set the water temperature to 120° F. To avoid health risks, never go below 115° F. Add an insulation blanket if your water heater is located in an unheated space. Install a timer on the water heater and set it to run after 8 p.m. and go off before 6 a.m. Insulate the first three feet of exposed pipes coming from the water heater.

Cooling and Air Conditioning:

During the summer, central air conditioning and heat pumps can be the largest energy user for your business. Take advantage of cool night and morning air by venting your business. Keep your windows covered and doors closed as much as possible, to reduce the loss of cooling.
During the day, try to reduce the use of heat-producing equipment such as printers, fax machines and any equipment not in use.
To save money, operate your cooling system before 4 p.m. This will reduce the need for cooling during more expensive, on-peak times of the day, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. during the summer months.
A programmable thermostat can be set to avoid on-peak use.
Room and central air conditioning units should be sized properly. The larger the unit does not necessarily mean the cooler the room. On a central air conditioning unit, the fan and compressor should be set to turn off at the same time—do not use the fan separately to circulate the cool air.
Always keep your filters clean and maintain the unit in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Lighting:

Many offices, stores and factories can easily reduce lighting without affecting productivity. Turn off as many unnecessary lights as possible during work hours, and make sure all lights are turned off after hours. Use task lighting instead of overhead lighting, and light only those areas that are needed at the time. Providing the right lighting can save up to 15 percent on your lighting bill.
Replace old fluorescent lights with newer, more efficient models. Replace your high-use incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights with the Energy Star® label. A compact fluorescent light uses 75 percent less electricity to produce the same amount of light as an incandescent bulb, and doesn’t need to be replaced as often.
Make sure the bulbs, fixtures, lenses, lamps and reflective surfaces are cleaned regularly. By removing grease, dust and other dirt, you can increase the output of your lights.
Install automatic lighting controls to turn on and off, depending on occupancy or time of day.
Replace incandescent exit lights with LED exit lights that last significantly longer and use less electricity.

Computers and other office equipment:

Turn off your computers and other office equipment when you are not using them, especially overnight and weekends. Smart power strips are marketed that sense the presence or absence of office workers and turn the attached equipment on and off accordingly.
Choose settings that automatically switch the computer monitor into sleep or "power-down" mode, when it hasn’t been worked on for a present amount of time.
Choose the smallest computer monitor that will meet your needs. The bigger the monitor, the more energy it uses.
Consider having employees use lap top computers, since they use up to 90 percent less energy than a standard computer.
If it works for your business, consider ink-jet printers that also use 90 percent less energy than laser printers. Purchase the proper sized copier for your business needs. The larger the copier, the more energy it uses.
When purchasing new office equipment, purchase equipment with the Energy Star® label, because energy efficiency features are built into the design. Be sure the energy efficiency features are activated.

Electric food service and refrigeration equipment:

Completely load cooking equipment to use energy efficiently; however, be careful not to overload beyond the recommended capacity.
Keep evaporator coils clean and free of ice build-up with regular maintenance. Keep refrigerators full, which retains the cold longer and will cycle on less frequently. Install automatic door-closers and strip curtains on walk-in freezers or coolers.
Turn off backup fryers and ovens during low production periods. Make sure oven doors fit tightly by adjusting door latches, and that gaskets are in good condition.
Buy insulated cooking equipment when possible, since insulation keeps more heat in the equipment instead of the room.

Irrigation:

Avoid irrigating during on-peak hours, if possible. If you must irrigate during on-peak hours, operate at less than full capacity.
Test your well pumps and improve overall pumping plant efficiency—that is the combined efficiency of the pump and the motor or engine.
Consider repairing or replacing pumps with less than 50 percent efficiency. When replacing standard motors, buy new energy efficient electric motors.

Basically, if you're not using it, turn it off!