Energy Saving Tips for Business

Make the Cool Room Work Less:

• Transfer product to the cool room promptly after delivery taking batches rather than constant opening/closing doors.
• Let temperature stabilise by keeping the cool room closed for as long as possible.
• Adding plastic strip curtains and automatic door closers is inexpensive and easy-to-install and cuts out air infiltration by about 75 per cent.
• Perhaps a smaller holding refrigerator is best for products regularly accessed.
• Find a cool position away from sun and warmth for your refrigerator and freezer.
• Give the refrigerator breathing space - at least a centimetre from walls.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer condenser coils clean of dirt, dust and fluff and keep evaporative coils clean of ice build-up.
• Cover all liquids and foods with aluminium or plastic wrap before you store.  Avoid paper. It is an insulator.
• Think about what you want before opening the door and place regularly used items front and centre.
• Service regularly for a more efficient and longer lifespan.
• Refrigerators running continuously, making strange noises or heating up need a qualified mechanic’s inspection.
• Turn off display lighting at night and use thermal covers for display units.
• Turn off refrigerators leaving door open while away for a long period.
• Modern fridges have a ‘holiday mode’.  Use it if away for more than 2 days.

Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC):

• Use only when necessary and ensure the HVAC system is turned off at night & on weekends. Use timers and switches when building is unoccupied.
• Temperature settings should be 23-25 C in summer and 18-21 in winter.  Varying by even one degree increases energy consumption by 10 percent.                                
• Section off air-conditioning in unnecessary places such as storage rooms.
• Fans can be used instead of air-conditioning for comfort at a fraction of the cost.
• Avoid peak demand periods if business is connected to ‘time of use’ tariff. Adjust workplace schedules to benefit from cheaper tariff times.
• Keep employees informed by sharing your energy management plan with them.  Encourage them to keep doors and windows closed to retain temperature in specific areas and help reduce energy waste.
• Proper filter maintenance will avoid energy waste and overworking of equipment.  Systems need regular maintenance, and condenser coils, evaporators and filters need regular cleaning. Old/inferior valves & steam traps waste energy – replace them.
• Programmable thermostats – located away from heat sources - are ideal for allowing unit to switch off at a predetermined temperature and turn on again when the temperature registers a two degree difference.
• Switch off unnecessary lighting and replace incandescent light bulbs with LEDs.  This will result not only in energy savings, but also produce less heat to conflict with the air conditioner settings.
• Use energy efficient office equipment to minimise heat generation and turn off equipment when not in use.
• Don’t oversize HVAC equipment which will cost you more than you need.
• Proper insulation of ducts, pipes, wall and roof spaces can save up to 40 percent on your energy costs.
• Use radiant heating if necessary to ‘spot’ heat areas such as warehouses, garages, patios by heating objects rather than the air. This is cheaper than conventional heating.

• Double-glazing windows reduces heat loss during winter and heat gain during summer.
• In cooler months 40% of generated heat can be lost through the windows.  Shades, drapes, blinds and tinting all play a part as climate control tools.
• Utilise waste heat in processes such as cooking.  Recover the heat and use it to offset facility heating and cooling costs.