Tips for small businesses

If you run a small retail or office-based business, lighting is probably your biggest energy expense. To lower your electricity costs:

• Install energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) — they provide the same intensity and warmth of incandescent lighting at a much lower cost. Replacing one 60-watt incandescent bulb with a 13-watt CFL will save about $37 over the 8,000 hour life of the bulb. CFLs also give off less heat, so they help control cooling costs.
  Learn about safe handling and disposal of CFLs.
• Replace standard T12 fluorescent tubes with high-efficiency T8 and T5 models — they last up to 16 years, are warmer, and need less maintenance. They also use electronic (not magnetic) ballasts, which eliminates any hum or flickering.
• Install occupancy sensors and dimmers in low-traffic rooms like washrooms, break rooms and conference rooms.
• Install a programmable thermostat. Save up to 10% on your energy bill!
• Use recommended thermostat set points. In summer, set the thermostat at 25°C during work hours and 28°C after hours; each degree you raise it can lower your air conditioning costs by up to 2%. In winter, set it at 20°C during work hours and 17°C after hours.  
• Make your business more efficient with insulation, weatherstripping around doors, and shades, awnings or tinting over windows.
• Use ink-jet printers — they consume less energy than laser printers.
• Use energy-smart power strips that sense when equipment is not being used.