Energy zombies wreaking havoc on businesses everywhere

You know some things waste energy – leaving the lights on or even turning the thermostat up or down a few degrees can make a huge difference in energy costs. 

But a few energy-zappers could be lurking around your facility and you may not even know.

Consider having your facility department, Accounts Payable staffers and IT personnel check these three areas to see if there’s potential for trimming your energy costs:

1. Turn down the water heater

Some hot-water heaters can heat water much higher than it should be. For example: A hot-water supply may need cooling before it can be used for hand-washing, which just wastes water and gas/electricity.

It’s a good idea to check the gauge on your water heater, and make sure it’s set at a safe temperature.

2. Question those bills

Facilities often learn this lesson the hard way: A typical monthly energy bill is higher than it should be.

Examine bills each month to make sure your facility is getting any rebates or environmental credits it’s entitled.

Also: Utility bills are a great first indicator of other problems. If a bill suddenly spikes, it can mean a bigger issue with your equipment not working properly.

3. Power off electronics

This may seem like a no-brainer, but electronics can zap energy even when they’re supposed to be saving it.

For example: Leaving a photocopier on overnight can use enough energy to create 1,500 copies – more than one day’s use.

Another example: Most of the time, leaving a computer in “energy saver” mode overnight wastes more energy than shutting down and starting the computer again.

Check to see if your IT department has a power-off policy, and if it’s being enforced. Supervisors may need a reminder so they’ll stay on top of their people if necessary.