Business owners have to deal with several different costs on a monthly basis, including: employee wages, office rental costs, equipment purchases, raw materials, and more. One expense that can easily get overlooked in all of this is your energy costs.

While not at the top of many business owners’ priority lists, the price of electricity, water, and gas can quickly eat into your profit margin. Luckily, there are some things you can do to trim these costs. Here are four economical ways to lower your business’ energy expenses…

Get your HVAC system in check.

Even though heating and cooling costs are responsible for a large portion of your business’ energy consumption, many people neglect their HVAC systems. Paying close attention and properly maintaining your furnace and air conditioner can do wonders in lowering your energy bills. Here are some things you can do to trim your heating and cooling costs:

  • Have your HVAC system tuned up once per year

  • Clean or replace air filters on a monthly basis

  • Upgrade building insulation and seal air leaks

Out with the old, in with the new.

As a rule of thumb, older equipment generally uses more energy than newer equipment. This doesn’t mean that you need to go out and replace everything in your office today – that wouldn’t be very cost-efficient. But, you can start by upgrading your light bulbs to LEDs, which use about 80% less energy than old incandescent bulbs. Then, gradually replace older equipment with newer, Energy Star models. From computers to the refrigerator in the break room, every little bit helps.

Audit your building’s operation schedule.

One of the biggest causes of wasted energy is paying to operate an empty building. How often is your building “ON” when your employees aren’t there? This can include hours early in the morning, late at night, or over the weekend. There is no sense in paying to light, heat, cool, or otherwise operate a vacant facility.

Track your energy consumption in real time.

The best way to monitor your energy consumption is through the use of an energy management system. The power monitoring equipment and software available from Electro Industries lets you track your facility’s energy usage in real time. This helps you identify areas of inefficiency and develop programs to reduce and even eliminate wasted energy.

Electro Industries has been a global supplier of power monitoring equipment for more than 40 years. Our energy management systems are designed to help your business save energy and money. Click here to browse our selection of power meters and submeters, or give us a call at 866-928-7908.