Just like salaries, inventory and taxes, bills are an unavoidable part of your business expenses. However, many businesses overlook utilities compared to other business costs. The truth of the matter is that utilities are a major expense for your business. Rather than assuming that your business is efficiently using utilities such as electricity and water, it is paramount that you start taking steps to reduce those expenses. For example, during the day instead of using powered lighting, you can use natural daylight. Also, you can advise your employees to use the stairs and not the elevators so that you can reduce energy costs. In this article, we are going to show you 5 ways businesses can save money on utilities.
- Perform an energy audit
The first way your business can save money on utilities is by performing an energy audit. Many energy companies offer this audit free of charge. Energy audit entails inspection of your business to try and find ways you can reduce your utility bills by eradicating unnecessary usage. The benefit of an energy audit is that it helps you understand how much energy you are using every month and how much your business is paying for them. After the energy audit, you will know where your business stands in terms of efficiency and what you can do to reduce utility costs.
According to the team at UMC Solutions “Many businesses have a lack of both time and skill to process a large number of complex utility bills, in the majority of cases outsourcing this time and skill to a specialized utility management company will provide a positive ROI.”
- Use LED lights
In case your business is still using the same light bulbs which you used a decade ago then it is time for a change. There are many light bulbs available in the market today, and despite the high initial cost it can prove to be worthwhile in the long term. These days, halogen bulbs have been replaced with fluorescent tubes which help businesses save money. However, if you want your business to be more energy efficient then you should use LED light bulbs.
- Monitor machines you are using in your office
You must inspect the machines that you are using in your business. In case there are any computers or laptops which are not in use then you need to make sure they are shut down. Also, you can unplug any other machine that is not in use. Following this tip will help you save up to 25 percent on the electricity bill. Also, make sure that you perform regular maintenance for your cooling and heating equipment to ensure they operate at full efficiency.
- Use programmable thermostat
Did you know that when you lower the setting on your thermostat during winter and raising it during summer can help you save money? Instead of using a manual thermostat that enables you to set Installing temperature then leave it there you can get a programmable thermostat. It can be expensive to heat your office space during cold seasons but you can shrink the energy bill by using a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat allows you to set the temperature for weekends and weekdays which helps reduce your utility cost.
- Install smart plugs
Installing smart plugs in your business premises can help cut power consumption. If you plug devices into smart plugs it allows the plug to turn the power off when the device is not in use. When you do this, you will not only reduce wastage but it will also save you money.
Utilities can really increase the operational cost of your business. This is why you need to take the above five steps to reduce your business expenses. In addition to the above tips, you can fix air leaks around your office’s window and door. Installing motion detectors is also paramount in turning the lights on and off when someone enters a room. This is important because it can help your business cut on energy costs. When you save on utilities it can go a long way in increasing your business bottom line.
