How
Small Businesses Can Save Money on Energy
Bill
The average
California small business spends $700 annually
on electricity bills - almost double the
national average! Much of this energy is
wasted through the use of inefficient equipment
and lighting. Lighting alone consumes approximately
35% to 50% of a small business energy budget!
By making smart
lighting choices, you can see immediate
savings on your utility bill. Simply replacing
the 10 most-used light bulbs in your business
can save up to $263 a year. After installation
of a new lighting system, most businesses
will recover the cost in less than one or
two years.
Whether you
own or rent your building, start saving
big by making small changes. Here are a
few no-cost and low-cost lighting tips to
help you reduce your energy use and save
money:
- Switch to
CFLs for frequently used lights. ENERGY
STARâ qualified compact fluorescent lamps
(CFLs) last up to 10 times longer than standard
incandescent bulbs -- about 4 to 5 years!
They use 75% less energy than incandescent
bulbs, provide the same amount of light
and are available in various wattages and
shapes to fit almost any lamp. Look for
the ENERGY STAR label, which means they
are energy efficient.
- Adjust lighting
to your actual needs; use dimmers, motion
sensors and free “daylighting.” You can
save a lot of energy if you turn off or
dim your lights when daylight is adequate,
or use automatic “daylight dimming” ballasts
and controls to do this for you. To prevent
computer eyestrain and headaches, use task
lighting and do not “over-light” the area.
Too much light can be as bad for working
as too little light - and it costs a lot
more.
- Install LED
(light-emitting diode) exit signs. Exit
signs must be lit 24 hours a day, seven
days a week. By installing LED lighting,
you can save up to 96% of your exit sign
energy cost. One set of LEDs is about $15
to $20 and will last for decades and give
off brighter light. LED lights may fit into
your existing exit sign feature. If not,
a new LED exit sign fixture costs about
$100 and you will still save about 90%.
- Replace T-12
fluorescent lamps and magnetic ballasts
with T-8 fluorescent lamps and electronic
ballasts. This can save you up to 40% on
your energy costs.
To learn more
about how you can save money and energy
for your small business, visit the Flex
Your Power website at www.FYPower.org. With
more than 1,000 incentive and technical
assistance programs, all Californians can
take advantage of opportunities to save
money and energy.
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