As a business owner or financial manager, you are well aware of the high energy costs it takes to keep your company going. Between office equipment, lighting, HVAC systems, and other miscellaneous expenses, you know that it can cost a small fortune just to power your facility.

But did you know that as much as 20% of that money goes to nothing? Really. Wasted energy is a real problem, and one that is costing your business money. Here are the five biggest causes of wasted energy in commercial facilities.

1. Old, inefficient equipment.

When was the last time you upgraded your HVAC system, water heater, or even the refrigerator in your break room? If it’s been a while, chances are there is a newer model on the market; one that is much more energy-efficient. Upgrading requires an up-front investment, but you can quickly recoup those costs with the ROI of your new equipment.

2. HVAC mishaps.

Space heating and cooling is responsible for as much as 40% of your office’s energy costs. Many facilities are making matters worse by practicing bad heating and cooling habits. Some examples of these include leaving your exterior doors and windows open, not changing your air filters, and running heating and cooling equipment at the same time (you would be surprised how many places do this).

3. Inefficient lighting practices.

Experts estimate that lighting is responsible for 25% of worldwide electricity consumption. If your office is still using old, incandescent bulbs, upgrading to LEDs or CFLs can cut your lighting costs by 80%! You should also have motion sensors installed so that lights are not running when your building is uninhabited.

4. Running electronics in an empty office.

Piggybacking off the last point, you shouldn’t be running any equipment when your office is empty unless it is absolutely necessary. Before you leave for the night or weekend, power down your computers, switch off the lights, and turn off anything else that doesn’t need to be running. Take this a step further by unplugging these devices from their outlets, since they can still draw energy even when they are turned off.

5. Not having an energy management system.

If you don’t know how much energy your facility is consuming, how are you going to know how much of it is being wasted? An energy management system complete with submeters will tell you exactly how much energy your business is using in real time. Using this invaluable information, you can design and implement energy saving programs and track their progress over time.

When it comes to energy management systems, there is only one name you need to know: Electro Industries. For the past 40 years, we have been at the forefront of the power monitoring industry. Our power meters and submeters are installed in some of the world’s largest companies, utility providers, and government entities. See what we can do for you by visiting our website or give us a call at 866 928-7908.