It takes a lot of energy to power any kind of large business. Using all of this energy can lead to a large power bill, not to mention a large negative effect on the environment. Below are some things that big businesses should do to reduce their energy bill and carbon footprint.

Maintain Generators

Generators help to power businesses when the power goes out due to any reason. These backup generators can be programmed to power certain electronics or all electronics in the building. A generator transfer switch can be used to control which items remained powered when the power goes out. 

Generally speaking, it is best to only power the essential electronic items. For many big businesses, this means running the lights (at a low capacity), computers, refrigerators/freezers, cash registers, security systems, and anything else that is essential for running the business. Ask yourself, "If this stopped working, would the business need to close?" If the answer is yes, then that item should continue to be powered by the generator if the main power supply is cut.

Shut Down Computers 

Office buildings, as well as other businesses that have heavy computer usage during the day, would do well to have employees shut down their computers at the end of the workday. Doing this saves far more energy than simply logging out of the computer or leaving it on "sleep" mode at the end of the day. 

There are a few things employees can do with their computers while they are still at work. When away from the computer, turn off the monitor. Believe it or not, a computer without a monitor turned on uses a third of the energy as a computer with the monitor on! For this same reason, having a screensaver that changes pictures often or that displays a video will keep the monitor turned on when you are away. So, try to avoid using screensavers. 

In the same line of thinking, turn off or unplug other electronics if no one is using them. Some examples of this include printers, copy machines, etc. The last person in the office can be tasked with turning off these items at the end of the day. The first person in the office the next day can be in charge of plugging items back in. Taking these little steps each day can save loads of money on electricity each month. 

Switch to Automatic Lights

Humans are forgetful creatures at times, which is part of the reason why it can be useful to automate tasks whenever feasible. Switching to automatic lights, sometimes also called motion-activated lights, is one of the simplest examples of doing this. Most people have seen these lights before. When someone walks into a room, the lights turn off. When no movement is detected in the room after a given amount of time (preprogrammed into the lights), the lights automatically turn off. 

If your business cannot afford to install motion-activated light switches just yet, there are other ways a business owner can reduce their lighting bill. Using dimmer switches/knobs can help employees choose which level of light they feel most comfortable working with. The highest setting on dimmers is usually the levels that lights are on when they are turned on manually. Because of this, it is likely that employees will have the light at a dimmer setting than it would automatically be at. Having the light at a dimmer level can help to save a little bit of energy over time. However, this tip works best for office buildings or businesses in which employees have their own working spaces.

Everyone needs to work together in order to reduce energy costs. Business owners should implement a plan to reduce his or her business's carbon footprint. Remember, doing many little things to conserve energy can make just as big of a difference as doing one large task- but it can be easier for everyone to be a part of.