LIGHTING

• Turn off lights when rooms are unoccupied. How often are lights left on in an unused break room or restroom?
• Adjust lighting to your actual needs and use free daylight to your advantage. Natural light costs nothing and may allow you to turn off or dim your lights during the day.

• Control direct sunlight through windows. In warm weather, limit sun shining through glass on eastern exposures in the morning and those facing west in the afternoon. In colder climates, southern exposures can add heat during the day, but should be covered at night.

• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps* (CFLs) wherever appropriate. CFLs cost about 75 percent less to operate, and last about 10 times longer. (*Lamp is a generic term used for light bulb, fluorescent tube, or other light source.)

Upgrade Fluorescent Lamps. Even within the generally efficient category of fluorescent lighting, you can reduce your energy use by more than 66 percent by changing from the worst to the best type of fluorescent tubes. Many “standard” fluorescent tubes are four-foot-long, 40-watt T-12s. It may pay to upgrade to the higher efficiency, 32-watt T-8 fixtures. (The number after the T represents eighths of an inch: a T-12 has a 1.5-inch diameter; a T-8, one inch). The T-8s improve energy efficiency by about 10 percent. Their electronic ballasts (devices that provide the proper voltage and current to fluorescent lamps) use 30 percent less energy than old magnetic ballasts used by T-12s. Ask about ALP’s lighting retrofit rebate!

• Install LED (light-emitting diode) exit signs. You may be able to replace current incandescent bulbs with simple “screw-in” replacements that cost $15 to $40 and will last more than 10 years. If not, a new LED exit sign costs about $100 and willsave 90 percent over incandescent bulbs operating costs. ALP offers a rebate of $6.00 per “changed out” exit sign. Ask for details!
• Install “occupancy sensors” where appropriate to automatically turn off lights when people leave an area and back on when someone returns. Just be sure to install them where the sensors can “see” someone approaching an unlit area.

HEATING, VENTILATING & AIR CONDITIONING

• Plug or fill any cracks or leaks with weather stripping and caulking. Look for cracks around windows, doors, utility switches/outlets, and any other holes between the inside and outside when you undertake this cheap, “do-it-yourself” job.
• Change your air filters (or clean if reusable) at least every three months, monthly during peak heating and cooling times. Each dirty filter typically wastes up to $5 a month, overworking your equipment and resulting in dirtier indoor air.
• Use ceiling fans to increase air movement and comfort levels while saving money year-round. Fans can delay or reduce the need for air conditioning: a temperature setting of 3 to 5 degrees higher feels as comfortable with fans as the lower setting feels without fans. Each degree of higher temperature saves about 3 percent on cooling costs. Remember to operate fans clockwise at a slow speed in the winter to force warm air downward; and in the summer,counter-clockwise to create a wind chill effect. This, however, does not cool the room so turn the fan off if the room is not occupied.

• “Tune-up” your heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system twice a year using a semi-annual maintenance contract. The cost for this service varies by local HVAC contractor, but it’s likely to save you more than it costs. It automatically ensures “pre-season” system check-ups before each cooling and heating season.
• Turn heating and air-conditioning systems down or off when not in use. If your facility is unoccupied at certain times (such as nights or weekends), lower the heat or raise the air conditioning to save energy costs. Or consider turning the system off altogether — just be sure to leave ample time for heating or cooling before employees return.

• Use the “auto” setting rather than the “on” setting. A fan in the “on” mode runs non-stop, 24 hours a day; in “auto” the fan cycles only when supplying heat or air conditioning.
• Use more efficient temperature settings. In the winter, try gradually lowering the thermostat by a total of 3 to 5 degrees; slowly raise it by the same amount in the summer. Experiment to see which settings are still comfortable for employees and visitors. Do you ever see employees wearing sweaters in the summer? You can save lots of energy just by being smart with your heating and cooling temperature settings.

OFFICE EQUIPMENT

• Turn equipment off when ever possible.Make sure machines get turned off whenever your facility is unoccupied or when machines will not be used for a considerable amount of time.
• Enable energy-saving software. If your machines are equipped with energy-saving software, be sure to turn it on.
• Clean, tune, and adjust equipment. Maintaining your equipment will extend its life and keep it running more efficiently.

HOT WATER USE AND EFFICIENCY

• Reduce the temperature of the hot water. Thermostats on water heaters are often set much higher than necessary. Laundry and dishwashing usually require specific water temperatures (often set by local codes), but temperatures shouldn’t be set higher than required. And a small office with an electric water heater that warms water for hand washing can save $10 per year if reduced from 130 degrees to 120 degrees.
• Fix leaking faucets, toilets, showerheads, and pipes. These do-it-yourself repairs can be done quickly and easily and at virtually no cost. Do an occasional walk-through of your space to spot any leaks.
• Insulate your tank. To reduce heat losses in your hot water system, make sure the hot water tank and the pipes connected to it are insulated.
• Do you need to replace your water heater? ALP has rebates available for energy efficient electric water heaters.