4 Top Ways to Lower Your Office’s Electrical Bill

Did you know electricity is among the highest operating expenses for businesses in commercial buildings? According to recent data, in a typical office building, heating, cooling, and lighting account for 54% to 71% of total energy usage. Energy costs also contribute to about 19% of an office’s total expenditure.

From small daily changes to investing in smarter equipment and lighting options, there are plenty of ways to lower your office’s electricity bill.

4 Ways to Cut Your Business’s Energy Costs

Check out four top strategies to conserve energy and help your business save on utilities

1) Invest in Energy-Efficient Equipment

Investing in energy-efficient equipment and replacing outdated, high-consumption hardware can dramatically decrease your office’s electric bill. When shopping for office equipment, look for ENERGY STAR appliances to find the highest-quality, energy-efficient products. To earn the ENERGY STAR, a product must meet stringent requirements set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or Department of Energy.

For example, ENERGY STAR office equipment must have “sleep” mode functionality and automatically turn off during inactivity. Additionally, ENERGY STAR refrigerators must be 15% more efficient than the minimum federal efficiency standard.

2) Assess & Update Office Lighting

Office lighting, such as overhead lights and desk lamps, plays a significant part in a business’s overall energy expenses. Luckily, there are a couple of solutions to consider for lowering office lighting costs, such as using ENERGY STAR light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) for all office lighting fixtures.

Also, consider installing timers, dimmers, and light sensors to ensure efficient energy usage. Automatic light sensors prevent lights from being left on unnecessarily in places like break rooms and restrooms. Timers can be used similarly to automatically turn off lights at the end of the workday. Dimmers allow employees to adjust the brightness of lights depending on the task or time of day.

3) Incorporate an End-of-day SOP Checklist

Establishing and communicating end-of-day standard operating procedures (SOPs) for office employees can help businesses decrease energy consumption. Depending on your office setup and amenities, an SOP or end-of-day checklist may include daily tasks such as shutting down computers and monitors, unplugging appliances like coffee makers, desktop printers, and fans, and adjusting thermostats. Educating employees on energy consumption best practices is essential to lowering your office’s electric bill.

4) Install Smart Meters & IoT Devices

Smart meters can be installed by a skilled electrical professional to help you measure your energy usage and make more informed decisions. A smart meter collects real-time data on your office’s energy consumption and sends the data to your utility company. These meters provide detailed information on electricity usage that businesses can access to optimize their consumption.

Internet of Things (IoT) devices such as smart thermostats, smart lighting systems, smart plugs, and more can conserve energy. For instance, smart thermostats can help a business learn its office’s heating and cooling patterns and adjust temperatures automatically. Additionally, smart plugs can help businesses reduce standby power consumption by turning off devices when not in use.

Contact Top Commercial Electrical Contractors Near You

There are lots of ways to cut down on electricity costs in your office. Whether you’re thinking about installing smart devices or upgrading your lighting system, a Powering Pacific Northwest electrician or contractor can help you get started. Our licensed and bonded electrical experts are dedicated to delivering dependable solutions for commercial spaces like yours.

Find a contractor today to get started.