As energy prices increase along with many other business costs, small businesses can focus on energy efficiency to reduce expenses. Simple changes minimize waste, save money, and improve the environment. These strategies work best when there is buy-in from everyone in the business, so the best way to start is with an audit and then education about the positive impacts of efficiency measures.

October commences National Clean Energy Action Month, a celebratory time in which the federal government is “Leading by Example” by providing leadership in energy management and building optimization. Here’s how your small business can take actionable steps towards becoming a cleaner, more efficient company.

Conduct an Energy Audit

Creating an energy-efficiency plan is difficult when you don’t know where waste is happening. A small business can receive a no-cost energy assessment from Duquesne Light Co. and other local energy companies. Receive a simple-to-understand proposal with key savings opportunities, energy retrofit upgrade costs, and efficiency measures recommendations. Once you know where you’re wasting energy and what solutions are a good match for your building, you can take steps to reduce your consumption.

Educate Your Employees on Energy-Efficiency

Creating an energy-efficient business involves small and large changes at every business level. Share energy audit results with your team and work collaboratively to change behaviors that will cut costs. Build buy-in by educating them on the benefits of energy efficiency and how it can help the environment and your bottom line.

Implement an Energy-Efficiency Policy

It’s easy to slip back into previous energy-wasting habits. By writing policies for energy savings, your business is committing to long-term changes. Create a policy outlining your dedication to energy-efficiency measures and the specific actions you’ll take to reduce your energy consumption. Be sure to communicate the policy to all employees and enforce it consistently. Some approaches to consider are:

• Paperless. Where can your business cut back on paper waste? Are employees printing documents unnecessarily? Ask for a volunteer to remove the business from junk mail lists and cancel unneeded mail subscriptions and catalogs. Are all bills set up for electronic invoices and bill pay?

• Turn off lights. Lighting is one of the most significant energy costs for small businesses. Post signage about turning off lights when leaving rooms. Install motion detectors, so lights turn off and on automatically. Use natural lighting when possible.

• Turn off computers. Turning off your computer rather than leaving it in standby mode saves energy. Unplug unused chargers and appliances, too. Create a standard policy for employees to follow when they leave the building at the end of the day.

• Contact your local sanitary department about dropping off recycling bins if your business doesn’t already have a recycling program. Many will also offer educational programs about the importance and benefits of recycling.

• Green your commutes. Encourage employees to ride share, use public transportation, or walk or ride a bike instead of driving individually. Designate a day a week or month for these efforts. Is it possible to offer work-from-home options to save on energy costs in the building and on commutes?

• Encourage reusable water bottles. Manufactured water bottles create tons of wasted water and fill landfills with plastic. Stock up glasses or reusable water bottles and provide filtered water options on-site.

Make Energy-Saving Changes to Your Building

Take the energy audit findings and make small and significant changes to increase your building’s efficiency. These may include:

• Change your light bulbs to fluorescent. Swapping out light bulbs can have a significant impact on your energy consumption.

• Install a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats will allow you to set temperatures according to when people are in the building, saving energy and money.

• Save water. Installing an energy-efficient dishwasher in the kitchen can save a ton of water. Fix leaky faucets and set irrigation systems for maximum efficiency, or consider xeriscape landscaping.

• Use rebates to make upgrades. Rebates may be available to upgrade several of your business’s systems, including HVAC, lighting, refrigeration, and new construction. Duquesne Light Company’s business solutions department can help match your business energy needs with available rebates.

Monitor Your Energy Use

Keep track of your energy consumption over time to identify trends and improvement areas. Monitoring your energy use will help you make the necessary changes to become more energy-efficient. Understanding your energy bill, including usage patterns, planning for demand, and efficiency power factor can lead to tremendous savings over time,

If your business isn’t optimally energy-efficient, you’re missing out on opportunities to save money and be more sustainable. Duquesne Light Company is here to help!