How much are energy prices expected to rise in 2012?

If your firm hasn’t done so already, you’ll want to come up with some things you can do to make your building more energy-efficient ASAP.

Employers are expected to pay 6% for energy in 2012.

That’s the average predicted by company decision-makers, according to a recent study by the International Facility Management Association (IFMA).

So what are your peers doing to control rising energy costs? The IFMA study found that 81% of firms are making lighting improvements, and 80% are opting for HVAC and/or control improvements.

The third most popular cost-cutting method companies are employing was adopting-energy conserving behaviors — powering down PCs, shutting off lights in empty meeting rooms, etc.

The study also highlighted how long businesses were willing to wait in order to see a return their energy-saving moves. The median maximum allowable payback period for energy-efficiency investments was almost four years, according to the study.