Reducing Business Utility Bill Costs – Advice From An Expert

Posted by: Mark Walters  /  Category: Commercial Energy, Energy Conservation

No matter how big or small a business may be, it still needs to be cost effective. This means taking action to reduce the amount of energy it uses, which in turn can help to reduce the cost of utility bills. We give you some tips on how this can be achieved. Comparing the different deals available from a range of energy providers is a good idea as it can help you determine if you’ve got a good deal on your utilities or if you maybe need to move elsewhere.

You can also help to save on the amount of energy you use by using recycled products instead of brand new. For example, you can now get recycled printer cartridges which are better for the environment and can then reuse them yourself when they run out, making them both cost effective and climate friendly. Recycled paper is another good option as it reduces the number of trees cut down as well as your carbon footprint. Recycle it again when you’re done to keep the process going.

Going green in as many ways as you can think of is also a smart move. There are some good energy saving computer monitors available that make it easier than ever before to save energy as they just switch themselves off when no one is using them. You could also buy lots of energy saving light bulbs for your office as these have come down a lot in price since they were first introduced and they also last much longer than traditional bulbs, making them a really good green investment.

A paperless office environment is another way many businesses are currently acting to save energy and money on utilities. Moving all your communication to email reduces the amount of paper you use for letters, and adopting energy efficient electronic means of communication wherever you can helps to save lots of energy. Recycling rainwater for flushing the toilet is another really good example of how you can save energy, reducing your utility costs in the long run despite the initial investment.

One more drastic but definitely effective way of reducing the cost of your utility bills is to consider sharing office space with another company. Having two or more companies in one office is more energy efficient than if you all had separate offices and it also makes introducing energy saving measures much easier to implement and manage. It will also mean you only pay for a share of the utility bills and having more people in the room should reduce the heating you use, making it even more cost effective.

Now Try : Commercial Gas

Schedule A Commercial Energy Audit For Efficiency

Posted by: Daniel Stouffer  /  Category: Commercial Energy, Energy Efficiency, Global Warming

A seemingly endless assault on resource and budget is being faced by companies everywhere. This seems especially acute in the field of energy management. Not only are utility providers increasing their charges, but existing and future government legislation is also problematic, causing organizations to turn to a comprehensive commercial energy audit as they look forward.

A lot of attention is being paid to climate control and global warming and it is becoming more apparent that we will need to decrease our reliance on traditional fuels. The American Clean Energy and Security Act has recently passed through the House of Representatives by a small margin. Should this become law, organizations will need to reduce their reliance on products and procedures that cause greenhouse gas emission. As this legislation progresses, companies are seriously looking at their commercial energy audit options.

Enterprise energy management programs and specialized software solutions are available to help companies that are very reliant on fuel heavy products. These solutions allow the companies to observe, track and modify their processes and equipment. Once a successful commercial energy audit is complete, they can achieve considerable economies of scale, regardless of the type or location of their facilities.

Companies are being prompted to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and to increase their use of alternative fuel options. The ACES Act, currently passing through the United States Congress, proposes a sliding scale of conformity over time.

The United States government is proposing a cap and trade system to help companies adapt to new rules. By interacting with other companies a business may conform while still meeting its short to midterm requirements, by trading or buying unused energy. The business that sells an unused allocation would receive an additional financial benefit for being compliant.

The employment of a full-time energy manager cannot be justified by many smaller businesses. As such, they may turn to enterprise energy management programs and software solutions. Operating costs can be reduced and stringent requirements met through the use of these solutions. As part of a commercial energy audit, officials can then understand and keep up with their needs and make sure that they comply with the complex reporting requirements.

A commercial energy audit can identify several options available to a company such as industry grants, loans, incentives, rebates and other funding, for the upgrade or installation of energy efficient equipment. Specialized software also helps the company to consolidate its carbon footprint.

Momentum is gathering in government circles, pointing towards increasingly onerous federal and state requirements. Companies must look at more fuel-efficient equipment and processes and must see whether they can take advantage of alternative fuel sources. More attention will be paid to commercial energy audit options by the company of tomorrow.

About the Author: