It's late at night, and everyone's gone for the day. While most people are home asleep, many building systems and equipment continue to operate at full power. If you suspect that your operating budget is being haunted by this type of waste, there are steps you can take to give up the energy ghosts. Here are some of the most common after-hours offenders and what you can do about them.
After-hours comfort settings
A comfortable business environment is important, but not so much when you're not doing any business. Adjust the thermostat after hours to save energy, and you can reduce your heating and cooling costs significantly. A programmable thermostat makes it easy by automatically adjusting temperatures according to your schedule. Newer "smart" models include advanced features, such as remote control and AI algorithms to increase efficiency, and some can even interface with other Internet of Things devices in your home.
Lights and equipment left on in empty spaces
Security lighting is essential, but leaving lights running after hours in empty offices, break rooms, restrooms and other areas isn't very bright. It's easy for staff members to forget to switch lights off when they leave for the day. Lighting controls, such as timers and occupancy sensors, will ensure that lights are off after closing or when a space is empty. And they'll automatically turn them right back on when you need them.
Phantom loads
Computers, office equipment and other electrical devices around your facility continue to use power even after everyone has left for the day. Such "phantom loads" can be costly. Enable power management settings on all computers and office equipment. This puts these devices in low power "sleep mode" when they're not in use. Supplement power management settings with advanced power strips, which use timers or sensors to shut off power to connected devices.
Personal appliances
Personal appliances are never a good idea from an energy management standpoint, especially when there's no personnel around to benefit from them. Personal appliances running after hours is a big waste of energy and a potential safety hazard. Send out regular reminders to staff to remember to turn off space heaters, fans, coffee makers and other personal devices when they leave for the day.
To optimize your energy use, consider an energy assessment of your business. A qualified auditor will examine your facility and provide you with a set of targeted set of cost-saving recommendations that will help you reduce your energy use all day, every day. They will probably also recommend that you begin using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager® to track your progress if you have not already. Portfolio Manager is a free online tool available from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. You can use it to compare your energy performance against similar facilities nationwide and establish a baseline to monitor improvement over time.
