Going green
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – June marks the beginning of summer – a time of year for family vacations, backyard barbecues, breaks from school and pleasant evenings spent with family and friends.
It can also be a time for scorching temperatures. As the thermometer rises each summer season, often so do your energy costs for air conditioning. At Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), we are committed to helping our business customers save money by reducing their energy usage. Below are some tips we have developed to help your business lower costs during the summer months:
Office Equipment
- Turn off all office equipment and lights every night and weekend. If you can’t turn off the whole computer, turn off the monitor and the printer.
- When purchasing PCs, monitors, printers, fax machines and copiers, consider ENERGY STAR models that ”power down” after a user-specified period of inactivity.
- If appropriate, use laptop computers and inkjet printers they consume up to 90 percent less energy than standard desktop computers.
- Use e-mail instead of sending memos and faxing documents.
- If you need to print, consider double-sided printing and reusing paper.
Lighting
- Retrofit T12 lights with magnetic ballasts to T8 lights with electronic ballasts.
- Replace incandescent light lamps with compact fluorescent lamps.
- Consider removing excess fluorescent lights and installing reflectors. Lighter colored walls need less light.
- Install motion detectors to control lighting in frequently unoccupied areas, such as restrooms.
- Retrofit incandescent or flourescent exit signs with long-lasting, low-energy LED exit signs.
- Clean dusty diffusers and lamps every 6-12 months for improved light output.
Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC)
- Set thermostats at 78 degrees for cooling in the summer.
- Install electronic time clocks or setback-programmable thermostats to maximize efficiency.
- Install locking covers on your thermostats to prevent tampering with temperature settings.
- Regularly clean condenser coils, replace air filters, and check ducts and pipe insulation for damage.
- Consider installing an air conditioning economizer to bring in cool outside air.
- Consider replacing old HVAC systems with new energy-efficient systems.
- Install ceiling fans.
- Install blinds or solar screen shades. Use reflective window film or awnings on all south-facing windows.
- Install ceiling and wall insulation.
PG&E also offers a variety of energy efficiency and demand response programs year-round that allow every business customer to cut back on unnecessary energy use and keep their hard-earned money in their pocket. To learn more about how you can take advantage of the latest energy efficiency options, visit our website.
In addition, businesses who are interested in learning more about energy efficiency may contact PG&E’s Business Customer Service Center at 1-800-468-4743.
