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We are a small business too and we know that electricity can be a large part of your overhead. A survey conducted by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) found that energy costs are a top-three business expense for more than one-third of the nation’s small businesses.
You can make this expense a little less of a hit though. We have some great tips to share with you.
When choosing a retail energy supplier, be sure to look into all the information. Visit a variety of provider websites to view pricing and plan options. Look into the supplier’s credit rating, their customer service, and technology offerings.
The Financial Fraud Research Center estimates that a whopping $40 to $50 billion are lost to fraud each year in the United States alone. Know your utility and energy supplier, safeguard your personal information and call them back when they call you so that you know you are getting to the right place and person.
Solar power can be a valuable tool in your overall energy strategy with little or no up-front costs.
Your business can take advantage of the investment tax credit (ITC) with solar systems. There are also other tax incentives for investing in your business’s energy efficiency so be sure to look into those as well.
Saving energy should be across the board. It is not just the responsibility of you as the owner, but also of your team. Get everyone involved. Tell them where you are at, be open to their ideas and suggestions and work together to save on your energy costs.
An annual maintenance on your HVAC system will ensure it is running the most efficiently it can. Also keeping your filters clean makes sure it isn’t working too hard throughout the year.
Natural light can be great if you are using it to warm up your office in the winter. You can also use blinds to deter the sun from beating on you in the summer so your office stays cool.
Setting your thermostat so that it stays at a certain temp when you are in the office and out of the office will help too. This will ensure it kicks in automatically if it is too hot or cold in your office based on what you have it set as.
Turning off machines such as your computer monitor when you are out of the office can save a fair amount of energy.
Ever hear of energy vampires? This is equipment that is still plugged in when not in use that sucks energy up in smaller amounts.
By improving the fuel economy of your business’s vehicles, you can significantly reduce costs.
You may want to talk to other local business owners also and see if they have additional tips that may help, and share some of your own with them. We are all in this together. If you need us, we are here at Contractors Insurance Agency.