Did you know that up to 30% of your energy bill is wasted every month? Energy waste happens virtually everywhere, including many places you would never think to look. Here are five hidden ways your building could be wasting energy:

1. Air Loss

If your facility is under-insulated, your money could be going out of the window – literally. Air leaks can spike heating and cooling costs by 20% or more, which is why it is important to make sure your building is properly sealed. A professional energy audit is the best way to locate air leaks within your facility.

2. Artificial Lighting

It is estimated that lighting accounts for roughly 25% of energy bills. Fortunately, there is a free source of light that everyone can take advantage of: the sun. Keeping your curtains open can reduce lighting costs, and help warm up your office on cold winter days. Upgrading to LED light bulbs can cut your lighting costs even further.

3. Phantom Energy

Most electronics continue to draw power from the outlet when they are turned off. This “phantom energy” usage can significantly increase your energy bills. Prevent this unnecessary consumption by unplugging all of your electronic devices when they are not in use.

4. Inefficient Appliances

You may not be thinking about the stove or refrigerator in your employee break room, but your energy supplier is. These afterthoughts can add hundreds of dollars to your electricity bill each year. Upgrading to Energy Star appliances is a smart move which can pay for itself in a relatively short time.

5. Poor Building Scheduling

Take a close look at your building operations schedule. Does it match up with your employee’s work hours? If your facility is running when the office is vacant (such as holidays, overnight, or on the weekends), ask yourself how many of these operations are essential. You will likely find that many of them are not.

The energy management systems available from Electro Industries make it easy for businesses to monitor, control, and optimize their energy consumption. For the past 40 years, we have helped businesses all over the world save energy, money, and the environment. Visit our website to learn how we can help your business, or call (866) 928-7908.