Businesses require a lot of energy to operate. This massive use of power means high energy costs. Companies are faced with the constant challenge of trying to find new ways to reduce their utility bills. This new era of increased awareness about conservation has brought about some useful innovation for addressing this issue. There are some straightforward ways to improve your company's efficiency, thus lowering your utility bills.
Monitor Your Energy Usage
The most basic and fundamental way to conserve energy is to monitor its use. By tracking how much energy is being used by your business, you are able to better able to oversee how the energy is being used, and if your adjustments are having an impact.
To begin, you will need to find out what your current energy usage is. Evaluate how many kilowatts of energy your business is using monthly. Make sure you pay attention to the usage in the winter and summer months specifically—this is when the most energy is used.
Smart Meter
Modern technological advancements have presented us with some convenient options for energy monitoring. The smart meter is shaped like the standard electricity meter that is seen outside of homes and businesses. While smart meters have the same glass dome shape that we see with standard meters, there is a digital display rather than dials. These meters make it easy to monitor and control the energy utilization of your business.
Smart Plugs and Outlets
Smart plugs and outlets are the Internet of Things’ solution to energy monitoring and control. These units make it possible to use your smartphone or tablet to control and monitor your utility use. These devices operate on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies that allow the units to communicate with your smart devices. You can connect specific equipment to these units to control and monitor the use of the equipment.
Energy Management Software
If your company has complex energy demands, it may be feasible for your business to incorporate the use of energy management software (EMS). EMS comes in mobile and desktop applications. This software gives real-time energy information and in some cases grants control of energy consumption.
Online Reverse Auction
Online reverse auctions give businesses the advantage of making sure they get the absolute lowest price on energy. In a typical auction, the buy bids until the highest bid is reached. In a reverse auction, the roles are reversed. This means that the seller is bidding until the lowest bid is entered. These auctions make it easy to find out what utility company to use. There are platforms and consulting firms that specialize in this process. There is even online reverse auction software to make the job a simpler.
Conclusion
Hopefully, we have given you some viable options to address your energy efficiency needs. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to becoming more efficient, and there is a lot of trial and error involved. The tips and techniques given here are intended to provide you with a head start on your task.
