• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Power Savings: Cutting Energy Costs Could Spark Increase in Profits

Posted on: Tuesday, 20 December 2005, 12:00 CST

By Debra Pressey, The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.

Dec. 18--CHAMPAIGN -- 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the office, not a creature was stirring, except ...

The copier, the fax machine, the computer monitors and the printers which, instead of being switched off for a brief winter's nap were all left on when the employees went home.

Now, maybe this is just your company's way of making sure Ameren has an especially nice Christmas this year.

Or maybe nobody's thinking about how much energy all that office equipment sucks up, even when it's not in use.

"Making sure the equipment is turned off overnight can save a lot of energy," said David Braun, Illinois business markets director for Stamford, Conn.-based Direct Energy.

Braun said he finds businesses often overlook the simple things that can save energy on a daily basis, but he thinks a lot more will look for ways to conserve as energy costs continue to rise.

"It's going to be a lot bigger hit on their bottom line if they don't pay attention," he warned.

Just how wasteful is the business world when it comes to energy?

Donald Fournier, program manager for the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center at the University of Illinois, said most commercial buildings use between 10 percent and 30 percent more energy than necessary.

A 30 percent reduction in energy costs will translate into a 5 percent increase in net margin, he said.

Want another incentive to conserve? The Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program, which helps businesses and homeowners become more energy-efficient, said if every business in the United States trimmed energy bills 10 percent, Americans would save about $10 billion in energy costs.

What's more, the EPA said, greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced so much, it would be like keeping 15 million vehicles off the roads.

Fournier, whose organization offers energy-efficiency guidance to small businesses in Illinois, said he advises companies to take a close look at their power bills.

"See if anything strange pops up," he advised.

For example, Fournier recalled, a car dealership his organization worked with was getting $100 gas bills in the summer a season in which gas bills should be minimal indicating a probable gas leak.

Another thing to look for: Some utilities have different rates for different kinds of users, and businesses should check to make sure they're being charged the correct rate.

Fournier said it's the small things like installing a programmable thermostat that businesses often overlook.

"Many people put them in their houses, and they work just as well in your business," Fournier said.

Braun said setting the thermostat back 10 percent to 15 percent daily for just eight hours can reduce the annual energy bill by 10 percent.

What if employees are present around the clock? Energy Star said cutting back on heating or cooling just one hour of every 12 hours still achieves about an 8 percent energy savings.

Here are some other tips from Energy Star and others to cut energy costs at your workplace: Do a complete assessment of the energy being used in your building.

"We really encourage taking a look at that complete picture," Ameren spokeswoman Natalie Hemmer said.

Do a thorough inspection of the building envelope. Just as you would at home, check for and seal up leaks that drive up heating and air conditioning costs, Fournier said. If you're building or remodeling, he said, invest in good, energy-efficient doors and windows.

"A window is much more than a piece of glass these days," he added.

Inspect heating and air- conditioning equipment, and maintain it monthly. About one-third of a commercial building's energy use is in space heating, and simple maintenance reduces heating costs about 5 percent. The savings grow when major problems are fixed, according to Energy Star.

Enlist the cooperation of all employees to turn off equipment when it's not in use, turn off lights when they leave, open blinds during the daytime and refrain from using space heaters under their desks.

Buying new equipment? Make energy efficiency a priority, and invest in equipment that consumes less power when it's not in use for extended periods.

"Anything that you buy that is electronic, make sure it has an Energy Star sticker on it," Fournier said. "People don't realize it, but a TV set can use 30 watts off or it can use 2 watts off."

Energy Star-qualified copiers and fax machines, for example, will use 40 percent less electricity when they're inactive, compared to standard models, and printers and monitors will use 60 percent less power, according to the Energy Star Web site at www.energystar.gov.

Take a close look at the building lighting. Energy Star said lighting consumes 13 percent of the energy costs in commercial buildings. Replacing older lighting systems can save about 30 percent on lighting expenses.

Installing occupancy sensors in some areas of the building, such as the restrooms and offices without partitions, may help when employees forget to turn off the lights, Fournier said.

"Daylighting," or making use of natural light and heat opportunities from windows, is a big trend in business construction these days, he said.

It not only saves energy it also makes people feel better. Studies show daylight increases productivity, Fournier said, and in retail businesses it even increases sales.

-----

To see more of The News-Gazette, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.news-gazette.com.

Copyright (c) 2005, The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

AEE,

Source: The News-Gazette

More News in this Category