August-like energy bills in June? Mother Nature brought summer early this year – and companies are feeling it. Click here to see if you’re doing all you can to keep costs down.
Did anyone see spring? In many places, it seemed the U.S. moved straight from winter to summer. And that’s adding an extra expense to already-strapped companies in the form of bigger energy bills.
Sure, your facilities person probably had your organization’s air conditioning tested before you needed to crank it up for the year.
But there are some other simple steps you can take to shrink the size of the numbers you see on your energy invoice totals.
Here’s what they are, according to Business.gov’s small business site.
Like sunblock for your building
Touch base with the person in charge of your company’s physical plant to make sure the following warm-weather precautions are being taken:
- Change your HVAC filters. This should be a monthly task. Dirty filters cost more to use and overtax your cooling system. They’re not good for indoor air quality either. It’ll only set you back a few dollars to replace filters each time you turn over a new page on the calendar.
- Use fans. Yes, you can put a “whole facility” fan in your company’s attic. But you’ll still get a benefit from a few strategically-placed stand-alone fans throughout your company. (Your facility folks will know the best spots.)
- Break out the caulk – again. Probably around the fall someone goes around and caulks windows and doors to keep the cold out in winter. That’s just as critical in the summer: Keep cooler air in and the heat out. That’s one very cheap precaution many companies overlook.
- Watch your exposures. Every office has at least one: That department that is always scorching hot no matter how high the A/C is set. Chances are that room has a western exposure. Anything from shades to awnings to removable solar films can keep those areas cooler as things heat up. (You might also try it for eastern exposures, but it’s certainly not as critical.)
