Energy
The power within
How to reduce your energy costs by 20 to 30 percent with a minimal investment
By Jessica Tremayne
Smart Business Columbus | January 2009
Page 1 of 2
Ron Casteel
executive vice president
Sovereign Homes
The days are long past that energy was
so cheap you could afford to waste it.
Now, financial and environmental concerns have made saving energy a priority
for every business. When done right, you
can expect to achieve a savings of 20 to
30 percent off your current monthly utility bill, with minimal investment.
Getting started on saving can be as
simple as making employees aware that
energy efficiency is a priority for your
company. Employees who regularly turn
off lights and computers at home don’t
bring that same mindset to work. By
recruiting employees to help manage
your company’s energy usage, you can
start to save money.
Seventy-nine percent of readers surveyed by Smart Business say they expect
energy costs to continually increase over
the next 12 to 18 months. Full dedication
to efficiency is necessary to maximize savings because energy experts say halfhearted efforts get similar results.
“At a time when most CEOs are thinking about how to keep their doors open
because of the economy, they should
consider energy efficiency to help with
today’s problems and prevent some for
tomorrow,” says Ron Casteel, executive
vice president, Sovereign Homes.
Why managing energy use is
important
Energy efficiency is a prime example
of what you don’t know can hurt you.
Few people are aware that energy-efficient business desktop computers are
available that cost about $10 a year to
operate and are about 75 percent more
efficient than typical PCs. Installing certain models of smart thermostats allows
you to program them wirelessly through
the Internet, allowing for temperature
adjustments without physically being at
the facility. Also, new smart electric
meters translate energy wattage use into
dollars and allow you to track energy
use online.
“Tough times are the mother of all
invention,” Casteel says. “Appoint an
energy czar, make every staff meeting
include an energy-saving tip and share
energy costs as widely as possible, making employees take ownership of
their energy use. Take all necessary
steps to take advantage of energy savings.”
ENERGY STAR, an Environmental
Protection Agency and U.S. Department
of Energy program, along with your
utility provider and local city hall can
help you reduce energy waste by providing regional energy-efficiency tips,
financial incentives and energy audits
of facilities. ENERGY STAR endorses
more than 50 types of products, which
are identifiable by a label that indicates
the amount of energy it will require
during average use and will tell you the
savings you can expect by choosing
that product over products that aren’t
approved by the ENERGY STAR program. Purchasing the proper equipment and carrying out good habits will
reduce your energy expenses exponentially. For example, you will use 30 to
35 percent less energy using an ENERGY STAR battery charger or power
adapter over conventional products.
By changing purchasing habits and
being more cautious of efficient equipment operation, you’ll immediately
reduce your energy bill. By purchasing
ENERGY STAR-qualified products,
you’ll use about half the amount of
electricity that would be used without
the efficient product. For example,
when a computer is placed in sleep
mode, it uses 75 percent less energy
and a copier uses 40 percent less energy.
Most businesses use 25 percent of
their energy on lighting. Compact fluorescent bulbs last longer than traditional bulbs and use 75 percent less energy.
Even if it means renovating your entire
lighting system, you’ll see a return on
your investment in anywhere from five
months to three years.
“An Ohio bill recently passed that
mandates new construction to be more
energy-efficient,” says Ross Parkman,
senior director of utilities, energy services and sustainability, The Ohio State
University. “Politicians aren’t lightening up on their approach to energy conservation. It’s better to make the decision willingly and with incentives today than forcibly tomorrow.”
