About 7% of the power used in the average Saskatchewan business is for heating and air conditioning.
Things you can do to reduce your power use:
- Limit the use of heat-producing equipment such as printers or fax machines, and turn off equipment each night and when not in use.
- Keep your windows covered and doors closed during the day to keep cool air inside.
- Use a programmable thermostat to reliably adjust the temperature in your building.
- Use an appropriate air conditioning unit. A larger unit does not necessarily cool the room better.
- Keep your filters clean and maintain your air conditioning unit in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Lights Generate Heat
On average, lighting accounts for roughly 40% of a Saskatchewan business’s electricity consumption.
Incandescent lights produce much more heat than CFL or LED lights. This increase in heat can increase the load on your air conditioning unit in the summer and is a very expensive way to heat your business in the winter.
Reduce your cooling costs by switching to more efficient lighting.
Heating and ventilation efficiency tips for your business
- During the winter, set the thermostat in your workspace to 20 degrees Celsius during work hours and lower the temperature when the space is unoccupied. For every degree you lower during an eight hour period, you can save up to two per cent on your heating costs.
- Install a programmable thermostat to regulate the temperature during and after work hours.
- Consider a locking cover over the thermostat to prevent tampering.
- Keep your exterior and freight doors closed as much as possible, to retain heat inside the building.
- Open the window blinds and remove solar screens, blinds or awnings on south- and west-facing windows to help increase heat gain during the winter. Replace the solar screens in the summer.
- Add an insulation blanket to your electric water heater if it is located in an unheated space.
- At a minimum, insulate the first metre of exposed pipes coming from the water heater.
- Doors and windows are the largest source of heat loss in a building.
- Reduce heat loss by sealing any cracks within walls and weather stripping all doors and windows.
