Businesses are constantly looking for ways to increase profits, save money, and improve efficiency in a struggling economy. When it comes to your business, cutting costs and saving can sometimes mean the difference between success and failure.
Entrepreneurs are responsible for ensuring their companies remain profitable, which is why they should save whenever possible. Saving money doesn’t mean laying off staff or sacrificing the quality of customer service. It can mean trimming business energy costs or reducing essential costs to automate your office, ultimately adding to your bottom line.
Managing a business as a busy entrepreneur requires realistic money-saving hacks, not life hacks. Consider implementing the following practical hacks in your business to see significant results.
Which Office Appliances and Equipment Use the Most Energy?
Various sources and appliances contribute to business electricity consumption. When a device is plugged into an electrical outlet, even on standby, it consumes energy. Many appliances generate higher electricity bills due to their constant connection to the power grid.
Electricity consumption in businesses is primarily driven by the following:
- The air conditioner / HVAC System
- Providing heat
- Water Heaters
- Lighting in the office
- Printers, computers, and laptops
- Devices such as telephones, routers, and modems
- Large appliances such as dishwashers & Refrigerators
4 Workplace Automation Hacks To Save You Money
Installing energy efficiency measures and implementing behavioural changes can reduce small and medium-sized enterprises’ energy bills by a whopping 25 percent. The following practical tips will help you reap the financial benefits of workflow automation in the workplace.
1. Install A Smart Meter
Smart meters let you ditch estimated billing by securely and automatically sending meter readings to your business energy provider. With accurate billing, you pay for what you use rather than what is estimated on your bills.
As a busy business owner, an additional benefit of installing a smart meter is that you can successfully avoid wasting time submitting regular meter readings, freeing up your time to concentrate on more important matters.
2. Switch to Energy-efficient Equipment
Saving money and reducing your carbon footprint are two benefits of using energy-efficient office equipment. The equipment used in offices and at work can be a high-energy user. Switching off equipment that is not being used saves energy; leaving equipment on standby wastes it.
By following these steps, you can avoid unnecessary energy consumption and save:
- You can save energy by switching from desktops to laptops. If that isn’t possible and you have an older desktop, you might consider upgrading to a newer, more energy-efficient model. Use your power-saving settings, and when the monitor is inactive for a specified period, it will either be put to sleep or hibernate mode.
- Employees should avoid standby modes on their monitors, computers, and peripherals such as printers and scanners overnight.
- Adjust the monitor’s brightness.
- Set all computers and laptops to power-saving mode.
- Power down printers automatically.
- When the day is over, ensure all communal equipment is turned off.
3. Update The Lighting
Switching from incandescent to LED light bulbs can significantly save you money depending on the size and nature of your premises and how many lighting fixtures you have in your circuits. Additionally, using smart lighting is another great way to save. Smart lighting allows you to adjust, schedule, and customize your lighting to the last detail.
For example, if you run a restaurant or retail store, you can dim the lights at certain times of the day to create a relaxing environment or set them up to only switch on during set work hours. The use of smart lighting allows you to illuminate your space more efficiently while also reducing energy costs and maximising your savings.
4. Automate the Office Bathrooms
Installing low-flow faucets and quality commercial-grade toilets will reduce water consumption while improving energy efficiency in your bathroom.
Make your bathroom motion-activated by installing lights that turn on automatically when people enter the bathroom and turn off a set time after movement ceases. Maintain appliances regularly to keep them running smoothly.
5. Switch Energy Suppliers
Change your energy consumption habits by switching to a new supplier if you want better options at an affordable cost. Checking if the energy provider has government-accredited green plans for commercial customers is advisable if you are considering switching to renewable energy sources. Solar technology, for example, can reduce your total consumption costs as early as the first year following installation.
Final Thoughts
While your business’ energy bill is an unavoidable overhead cost, there are ways to reduce your costs. It can benefit your business financially to become more energy efficient. In most cases, energy-efficient solutions can be implemented quickly.
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Lucas Brown 
