Preparing for Summer

As a business owner, cooling costs can be complicated. You don't want your energy bills to be so high they eat away at your profits, but you also need your team members to be comfortable and productive. Luckily, there are ways to save money on your summer energy bills, while still keeping your staff and clients comfortable. Here are four ways to lower your office energy bills this summer:

Switch to a Smart Thermostat

Switching from a conventional thermostat to a smart thermostat is a simple and affordable change that can have a dramatic impact on your energy usage. Instead of counting on the last staff member who leaves for the day to remember to shut off the AC, you can program your thermostat to follow a set schedule. You can even access and control your office's temperature from your smartphone, no matter where you are. This eliminates wasted energy from those times when the AC is left on full bast even though everyone is gone for the night or the whole weekend.

Schedule an Office-Wide Energy Audit

Many utility companies will actually send someone to your office to perform a free energy audit, looking for ways you can cool your office more efficiently and identifying potential problems. For example, they may point out that the crawlspace over your office is under-insulated, or that your doors and windows need new weatherstripping in order to stop letting air conditioning escape. If your utility company doesn't offer this service, consider paying for a professional energy audit. The money you spend on the audit will quickly be repaid in lower energy bills.

Have Seasonal Maintenance Performed

Instead of waiting for something to break or go wrong with your HVAC system, which can lead to lost productivity for your office, schedule seasonal maintenance of your air conditioning system. The HVAC professional will clean and inspect the components, change filters, and troubleshoot for problems that reduce cooling efficiency. 

Make Smart Use of Landscaping

If the landscaping around your building is a bit sparse, consider having some shade trees and shrubbery planted. This will not only boost your office's curb appeal, but the shade provided by your new landscaping will provide natural cooling all summer, helping to block out the heat from the sun. This means you can keep your office cooler while using less energy.

By following these tips, you will be able to reduce your office energy bills all summer without sacrificing comfort. For more information, you will want to contact a company such as Controlled Comfort.