subject: Energy Efficiency For Businesses Large And Small [print this page] Because of environmental concerns and the need to limit energy consumption, many governments are putting into place energy requirements, including transferring to energy efficient lighting. Residential consumers are doing their part by replacing traditional bulbs with energy saving bulbs. They are finding that energy saving bulbs come in all shapes and sizes so they can upgrade all their fixtures and lamps. Most businesses, particularly large corporations and industries are also making these changes and installing energy saving machines and converting lighting sources to decrease utility bills.
Large businesses probably started making energy conservation decisions before the government mandates were made, because they learned that these changes cut costs while conserving energy. If you are running a large factory around the clock, and you use industrial lighting, then you want to seek out ways to conserve and bring your utility costs under control. You will find areas where you can put energy saving bulbs into fixtures, such as workrooms or cafeterias. In fact you may have a plant manager whose main responsibility is seeking out ways to bring down energy consumption.
Multi-office corporations are always looking for cost-cutting actions and are definitely looking at utility expenditures. Changes they can make are insisting that all office lights use energy saving bulbs, both overhead and on individual desks. They can also put in place measures regarding sporadically used areas, such as conference and training rooms, and make sure that the lighting is energy efficient. An additional measure can ensure that lights are not left on when the rooms are empty. They can even study the lights in their employee car parks and determine if these can be fitted with energy saving bulbs, possibly converting to LED lamps.
Of course a business does not have to be a big factory or large corporation to make these changes. Small offices can certainly benefit by adopting energy efficient practices. Energy saving bulbs can be used in office lights and desk lamps. Also, if they share their building with other businesses, they can meet with management or the building committee and discuss ways to conserve energy in all the general areas such as halls and bathrooms. Each energy efficient light bulb used will contribute to overall cost savings and reduced consumption, and these savings can be shared with all the building's tenants.
While many large and small businesses are making these changes themselves, there are some who are not. In these cases councils may conduct inspections to see if businesses are using energy saving bulbs and if not, they can encourage better practice. Once they feel the need for everyone to pull together on energy efficiency, and see how much money they are losing on inefficient energy sources, they will hopefully be motivated to install energy saving bulbs and take any other actions to reduce costs and decrease energy consumption. The business world is very competitive and it takes more than products or services to succeed. It takes disciplined practices and this includes installing and using energy saving lights.
