Electricity & Natural Gas

Facts:

• Though accounting for only 5 percent of the world’s population, Americans consume 26 percent of the world’s energy.
• Just by using the “off the shelf” energy-efficient technologies available today, we could cut the cost of heating, cooling, and lighting our homes and workplaces by up to 80%.
• Natural gas use has increased by 35 percent over the past ten years, and is projected to grow 45 percent by 2015.
• Replacing one incandescent lightbulb with an energy-saving compact fluorescent bulb means 1,000 pounds less carbon dioxide is emitted to the atmosphere and $67 dollars is saved on energy costs over the bulb's lifetime.

Tips for Electricity Saving:

• Maximize natural light and turn off unnecessary office lights.
• Plug all radios, cell phone chargers, monitors and other personal electronic into a power strip that can be turned off when not in use. These devices draw energy 24/7, even when switched off.
• Be sure to turn off lights and equipment in offices and conference rooms when they are not in use.
• Turn off office equipment when it is not needed at night or on the weekends. About 30 to 40% of office equipment is left on at night and on weekends.
• Don’t use screen savers, change the settings on the computer to automatically go into sleep mode.
• 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.
• Request to have motion detectors installed to control lighting in frequently unoccupied areas, such as restrooms.
• Check the hibernation box on your computer.

Tips for Natural Gas Saving:

• Dress comfortably for the weather. Adjust your layers before you adjust the thermostat. Don't turn on your space heater or air conditioning unless absolutely necessary.
• Set thermostats at 78 degrees F for cooling in the summer and 68 degrees F for heating in the winter.
• Install electronic time clocks or setback-programmable thermostats to maximize efficiency.
• Install locking covers on your thermostats to prevent employee tampering with temperature settings.

Energy Myths:

Has anyone ever told you that leaving the lights or your computer on (instead of turning them off at night) will save energy and increase the life of these products? Chances are, you've heard this myth and many like it. But don't always believe what you hear. Find out the logic behind these ENERGY MYTHS.

If you have an improvement idea for your store/office or tips on how other stores can save on their energy costs, please submit your ideas to ammunoz@petersonholding.com.