A Simple Way to Cut Expenses

The bottom line of running a successful business is to make all your dollars count. Cutting back unnecessary energy use keeps hard-earned money in your pocket. This is especially important now as we've seen states face critical energy shortages and blackouts. Even as the summer is drawing to an end and temperatures will start to cool off, reducing your company's unnecessary energy consumption is a simple way to cut costs even during the winter months.

Here are a few ideas, including some you can put to work in minutes at no cost to you to good energy saving investments when you are ready to replace equipment or do remodeling.

• Set the thermostat in your workspace to 78 degrees during work hours, and raise the setting to 85 degrees when the space is unoccupied. The energy savings can be significant - as much as 2 percent of your air conditioning costs for each one degree that you raise the thermostat.
• Many offices, stores or factories can easily reduce lighting without affecting productivity. Turn off as many unnecessary lights as possible. Use task lighting instead of overhead lighting, and light only those areas that are needed at the time. Providing the right lighting can save up to 15 percent on your lighting bill.
• Turn off your computers and any other office equipment when you're not using them, especially overnight and weekends. This practice costs nothing and can potentially save as much as $44 per year, per computer, depending on what you pay per kilowatt-hour. "Smart" power strips are being marketed that sense the presence or absence of office workers and turn the attached equipment on and off accordingly.
• Whenever possible, don't use large equipment during the peak hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Buy products that have the Energy Star label on them. All Energy Star products meet strict guidelines set by the US Department of Energy.

An energy audit might be the best investment you can make for your business. Many states are offering incentives for businesses to improve their energy efficiencies. Check with your state as to what kind of tax breaks or discounts for which your company may qualify.

Brad Harmon is the President at a leading financing company, First Star Capital (http://www.firststarcapital.com/ ). Brad is a frequent contributor to online publications and newsletters, and is the author of this blog on commercial financing topics.