No cost energy saving tips for your business.

These solutions won't cost you a bit, but they will make your business more cost-effective. So it's a winner no matter how you look at it.

Maximizing your HVAC (heating ventilating and air conditioning)

• Check your HVAC manual for easy maintenance you can perform yourself. You could save as much as 5 percent on energy costs with regular check-ups.
• Use your HVAC economizers and take advantage of free cool outside air. During winter, make sure your economizer is working properly; an economizer that is stuck open can dramatically increase heating costs.
• Keep the shades closed in the summer to block the hot afternoon sunlight and you won't have to use as much air conditioning. During winter days open shades to let in the warm sunlight from the south, then close the shades at night to keep the heat in.
• Keep cool in the summer by using fans to create your own wind chill. In areas with high ceilings, ceiling fans work particularly well. You can also use ceiling fans in the winter to circulate warm air from the ceiling back down to the floor.
• Keep all registers and vents clear of drapes, desks, plants or boxes so the conditioned air can move freely.
• Set your thermostat at 76°F in the summer and 68°F in the winter. When you leave for the day, set your thermostat to 85°F in the summer and 60°F in the winter.

Flip the switch and pull the plug

• Turn off unnecessary lights to save electricity and to cut down on the heat lights produce. Also, pull the plug on TV's and radios.
• Turn cooking equipment off or down when business is slower.
• Consolidate perishable items into fewer cooling units and then unplug your extra refrigerators or freezers.
• Turn off machines that you don't use very often. When you do use it you may have to wait an extra minute for it to warm up, but the savings will make it worthwhile.
• Turn off computers, printers and fax machines every night before you leave.

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Keep things clean

• Clean the dust off refrigerator coils by vacuuming the back of the unit — and don't forget to clean underneath it, too.
• Clean your air conditioner filters. Window units have filters that should be cleaned every month with soap and water then air-dried while in use. Use a fin comb to straighten aluminum fins on the outside AC condensers.
• Clean grease and food particles from your exhaust hoods regularly. You should also clean filters frequently because grease build-up can increase your ventilation energy costs and the potential for fires.

Maintaining your building

• Check your facility's caulking and weather-stripping as part of your regularly scheduled maintenance.
• Properly installed and maintained caulking and weather-stripping can actually save you a substantial amount on your heating and cooling bills.

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