When you operate a small business, you are always looking for ways to save money. All the energy you use to run your business costs you something. Therefore, you can save money by finding ways to conserve it. Not only that, but you are also doing something good for the environment by conserving energy. Here are some simple things you can do.

Turn Off Devices and Appliances When Not in Use

You should adopt the same rule for your business that you enforce in your home: If you're not using it, switch it off. This applies to any electrical appliance used in business, including devices such as computers or appliances such as lights or lamps.

Enforcing this rule may be difficult. A lot of time people get up and leave the room only intending to be gone for a moment. Then something happens to delay them and the next thing you know, 15 minutes have gone by during which valuable energy has been wasted lighting an empty room. One way to combat this is with building automation controls that turn things on and off automatically. For example, motion-activated lights in a room turn them on as needed and off when the room is empty, and you don't have to go looking for the light switch.

Fix Leaks

A leaking faucet wastes a lot of water. This can cost you a lot of money over time. It is much more cost-efficient, and better for the environment as well, to have a leak fixed as soon as possible.

There are other good reasons to fix leaks promptly. Cockroaches and other pests rely on a supply of water to keep themselves alive. By fixing water leaks, you're helping to avoid an infestation by cutting them off from the moisture they need to survive.

Avoid Using the Air Conditioning Often

Most homes and businesses set their air conditioners way lower than they need to be. In the summer, the interior of your business should range from slightly warm to moderately cool, not absolutely frigid. There is no need to set your air conditioner any lower than 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Lately, in places where the power grid is under significant stress, people have been asked to set their A/Cs no lower than 78 degrees, which is more than adequate for most people and may even be more comfortable for some.

For some people, it may take longer to acclimate their bodies to the warmer setting. What can you do to keep these people comfortable until their internal thermostat resets? For one thing, you can relax your dress code to allow your employees to wear cooler, summer-appropriate clothing. Another way of regulating temperature is to have indoor plants around your office. Not only do they look pretty and improve air quality, but indoor plants actually give off water vapor as they go through their respiration cycle, which helps to cool the air.

Reduce Heat

Heating your office in the wintertime also involves burning costly fossil fuels. You may not be able to avoid this entirely, but you can set your thermostat to a lower temperature in the winter to conserve energy. You can compensate by keeping blinds and curtains open to let the sun warm the office and encouraging employees to wear warmer clothing. How much do you have to turn down your thermostat? It depends on how high you had it set to begin with, but even a very small adjustment, just one degree lower, can make a significant difference to your heating bill.

Make It a Group Effort

It will be easier to conserve energy around your business if you get all your employees involved. This may mean appointing one person to monitor the efforts and provide guidance and encouragement. While you may have to enforce regulations occasionally, it is better if you can motivate your employees to adopt better conservation practices through positive reinforcement and incentives rather than having to punish them.

With all you have to worry about in running your business, conservation may seem like a low priority. However, making the effort may help you meet other goals as it relates to your budget.