As a property owner, you know how energy consumption costs can really eat at your bottom line. In fact the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that there is roughly a 33% waste of energy usage in the average building. The good news is you do have some control when it comes to curbing costs. Here are a few ways to reduce your footprint and pare down your bills at the same time:
1. Invest in HVAC maintenance.
Clogged filters, dirty ducts and coils will no doubt make your system work harder and operate less efficiently. If you have a preventative maintenance contract, an HVAC technician can help you get ahead of any issues.
2. Embrace insulation.
According to the EPA, you can reduce energy consumption by as much as 10 percent by installing proper insulation and sealing your building.
3. Opt for smart building technology.
Controls and programmable thermostats make it easy to reduce energy consumption. You won’t have to worry about whether lights are off or if your A/C unit is running unnecessarily. Set it and forget it!
4. Let there be… (LED) light.
Often businesses use up a lot of energy through lighting alone. However, there are ways to rein in costs. According to the EPA, Energy Star rated bulbs use 75-percent less energy than incandescent bulbs. They also last up to 10 times longer. Wow! Seems like a no-brainer, right?
5. Do an energy audit.
You can’t improve unless you have an accurate picture of your current energy consumption. An energy audit is a great first step because it will shed some light on problem areas. Experts recommend starting this process with a review of your bills. Also, look at your service, repair and maintenance records to determine if you’re behind on any work. You should also conduct a full inspection of your HVAC and lighting fixtures to see if these areas are responsible for higher energy bills.
6. Install utility submeters.
The SpeedRead AMR submetering solution is the best choice for monitoring energy consumption at your residential properties. Our comprehensive solution comes with comprehensive consumption management software that monitors usage, identifies leaks, and provides billing as necessary.
Because the SpeedRead AMR system records tenant energy use digitally, you never have to leave your office to take meter readings. Instead, simply log in to our online portal and review the information there. Over our years in business, we’ve noticed that submeters save clients an average of 15-30%. We invite you to learn more here: {{account:url}}