Energy Audit
A first step in the direction of reducing the company's impact on the environment is to have an energy audit done for the facility. By cutting back the electricity demands from the business, you can reduce the need to burn coal or other nonrenewable power sources. You'll also be cutting back on the pollution generated as part of the power to electricity process.
The local power company may offer to perform an audit for a modest fee or possibly for free, but you may have to contract with an energy expert. You may spend money in the beginning, but you'll save some in the end.
When hiring a contractor to perform an energy audit, make sure you know what you are signing up for. A preliminary audit includes just a walk-through with recommendations. A general audit goes further and includes a review of expenses. An investment audit will calculate the return on investment that can be expected, allowing businesses to budget building and operation renovations.
Before bringing in someone else, you can do your own energy walk-through, taking note of the following things:
Is natural lighting utilized as much as possible?
What kind of lighting is used?
Can lights be replaced with compact fluorescent lamps or halogen lamps?
Can green power be purchased from the local utility?
Is the office equipment (i.e., computers, printers, fax machines) Energy Star rated?
Are computers set to go to sleep?
Are employees encouraged to turn off their computers, printers, and lights at the end of the day or if they will be gone for a few hours?
Are outdoor windows and doors kept closed? If windows are not low-e, have they been treated for energy efficiency?
Is a comfortable temperature maintained for most employees? It's understood that some employees may occasionally need to don a sweater to warm up and use a fan to cool off.
A professional energy auditor will have more recommendations than one from a utility and will mostly include construction or material suggestions. After the audit, you will have to decide which and when improvements can be made or schedule them into the capital-improvement budget.
