The top 5 ways your business could be wasting energy
The most common ways businesses miss out on energy savings and spend more than they should on monthly power bills
So you just looked at your power bill and got a bit of sticker shock. Why is your bill so high? Well, plenty of businesses feel the squeeze when it comes to power costs—and the reality is that many companies are actually significantly overpaying or are missing out on savings.
From neglecting the health of your HVAC system to leaving equipment on after hours, let’s take a look at the top five reasons why businesses lose money on wasted power.
5 common ways businesses waste energy
- Neglected HVAC systems
One of the first places to look if you’re draining power is your HVAC system. Firstly, many businesses have a tendency to overheat or overcool their spaces. Beyond setting more reasonable temps and scheduling your thermostat based on operational hours, you can also establish a zoning system by partitioning your facility and directing energy only where needed. You should also have your insulation inspected, since poor insulation can cause your heating and cooling systems to work overtime. And don’t neglect regular maintenance either—dirty filters and malfunctioning components force systems to operate at suboptimal levels. Even better, upgrade to a more energy-efficient HVAC model. - Outdated equipment
It’s not fun to have to pay for new equipment, but the cost of running and maintaining your old equipment might be costing you more than if you bought new. Outdated machinery and appliances, whether in the production line or in office spaces, often lack the energy efficiency of their modern counterparts. They are also more prone to frequent malfunctions. Keeping your systems up to date might cost more up front, but it will keep your energy bill down in the long run. - Turning on all equipment at once
Here’s the deal: when your business requires a spike in energy demand (called your peak load), your energy provider has to supply that additional power instantly. This may require them to break out the backup generators, tap into reserve energy sources, or store a lot of extra energy on-hand to make sure they can supply your demand—all of which comes with additional costs. Energy companies don’t want to pay for your energy spikes, so they pass those peak-use costs onto you, the business.
If you want to stop paying peak load fees on your monthly power bill, you need to implement a staggered startup. Simply activate your equipment and machinery at different times throughout the day. This prevents a single, simultaneous moment of energy demand from your business, effectively eliminating any single energy spike during your business day. Boom, no more energy-spike charges on your energy bill. - Leaving equipment on when not in use
We all do it: we leave equipment on or plugged in when not in use. Computers, printers, chargers, and machinery, they’re all drawing power even when in standby mode. This phenomenon is known as “phantom” or “vampire” energy consumption and can result in substantial energy losses over time. And the solution is simple: power down devices and unplug equipment when not actively in use. You can implement company-wide policies to help staff and employees remember to unplug equipment and turn off power to idle devices and save money. - Not using a smart monitor
If you don’t have data on your energy system, you won’t know what’s wrong and why. That’s why you need access to your energy data, the information about the quality of your power, how efficiently it’s working in your facility, and where your weak points are. Harnessing energy data begins with investing in reliable metering systems. Smart meters, like Electripure’s CleanPQ™ system, measure and record energy consumption as it’s happening. They provide a granular view of how an organization is using energy, allowing users to identify inefficiencies, hidden costs, and opportunities for optimization. With your energy data in hand, you’ll have more control over how your energy is used.
Don’t procrastinate saving on energy!
Energy waste is easily preventable, and even one of these points listed can save you significant money each month on your power bill.
Don’t know where to start? Electripure’s experts can help you capture the energy savings you’re missing out on. We can inspect your facility to help determine your needs, and we have the tech to find out how to best optimize your system for efficient energy usage. Electripure’s proprietary CleanPQ™system is a non-invasive installation to your facility that acts as both a smart meter and harmonics filter. That means you can get live insights into the strengths and weaknesses of your system and you can see immediate results as the harmonics are filtered out of your power.
Electripure can help you get your money out of the power you pay for.
Schedule a free consultation today!
