Strategic upgrades can have a huge impact on the amount of money you spend on energy for your commercial building
Key takeaways:
- Get a commercial energy audit
- Correct outdated infrastructure
- Don’t underestimate small upgrades
- Don’t let wasted energy cost your business
There’s an old business adage that says, “it’s not about how much money you make – it’s about how much you keep.” It’s certainly true that keeping costs down is important when it comes to maintaining your commercial property. With fewer expenditures on temperature control, lighting, wiring, and equipment, you’ll have much more flexibility in your cash flow. Keeping a lower overhead can make all the difference in your bottom line.
Energy expenditures make up such a large portion of operating costs, so it makes sense to do scheduled upgrades to your facilities. That way, you can make sure that outdated wiring or faulty equipment isn’t wasting electricity unnecessarily. If you’re ready to take a serious look at your energy infrastructure, here’s how to get started.
Get a commercial energy audit
The best way to get clear on your energy usage and how it can be improved is to have a professional energy audit done on your property. This will give you a thorough understanding of your current systems like wiring, appliances, lighting, temperature control, and more. Once your provider performs the energy audit, they will be able to identify any problem areas that may need improvement or replacement.
You may be tempted to skip this step and jump straight into upgrades yourself. After all, how hard can it be? Switch out a few lightbulbs for LED and purchase energy star appliances. Case closed.
While this may seem like an easy fix, we suggest you steer clear of the DIY approach. Eco-friendly equipment or LED lightbulbs won’t be much help if your wiring is old or if your circuits are outdated and wasting energy left and right.
It’s always advisable to have a licensed electrician perform an energy audit before making any changes. That way, you know exactly where your problem spots are and pinpoint exactly how you can lower your power consumption and your bill.
Correct faulty or outdated infrastructure
Old wiring is more likely to cause situations that will need to be dealt with. This is the first area you should take a look at for potential upgrades. Not only will it improve your energy efficiency, but it will also save you headaches when it comes time for your city inspections.
Safety inspectors regularly check buildings and their electrical infrastructure. It is worth your time to have an inspection done around the facility. Without knowing where your upgrades might need to be, this could lead to personal injury of your customers, clients, and workers. Out of date electric equipment without the correct maintenance schedule or upgrades might cause fires or other injuries.
The impact of small upgrades
Once you’ve made sure that your foundational systems are running smoothly, it’s time to invest in smaller upgrades. Don’t discount the power of a great LED lightbulb.
For one thing, there are obvious energy savings that come from switching away from incandescent and fluorescent lights. These older bulb options are falling out of use as more people convert to their hardworking LED counterparts. LEDs last longer, emit brighter light and use much less energy. Clearly the most efficient option!
And, while LEDs are slightly more expensive than other options, their low-energy use will save you money in the long-term. Not only that, but more and more research shows why office workers tend to prefer LEDs – like this one that identifies fluorescent lights as a trigger for migraines.
Because LEDs use less energy and appear to be safer, you can save on your power bill and keep your workers or tenants happy. It’s a no-brainer.
Don’t let wasted energy cost your business
Finally, consider making changes to your appliances and devices and utilize energy-efficient equipment. Things like intelligent lighting and thermostat controls, energy monitors, and surge protectors will all add up to big savings.
Operating a business is hard enough. Wasting energy on old, outdated power systems is a surefire way to increase your stress and damage your profitability. Cut down on that unnecessary spending by making strategic upgrades today.
Universal Electrical Services is a full-service, experienced licensed electrical contractor serving the South Florida community. From healthcare to data centers, the UES team understands that down time can be detrimental for any facility. We believe that no job is too small or big for us. We strive to reduce or eliminate your downtime and solve any challenging power issue.
