Switch Off
Be sure to switch off lights and other equipment when areas are not in use such as after hours, weekends or holidays. Additionally, consider powering off vending machines during slow times. Newer vending machines often come with a low power mode option that allows the machine to be placed in low-energy lighting and/or low-energy refrigeration states during times of inactivity.

Conduct a Walkabout
Doing a walkabout of your facility with a property manager or building supervisor is a great way to identify energy savings opportunities in your business. They can help you identify unnecessary equipment that can be unplugged, check settings on equipment, manage set points on thermostats and also provide the chance to better understand how energy is used throughout your business.

Utilize Natural Daylight
Take advantage of natural daylight to reduce energy use. Any lighting renovation should start by using daylight as much as possible.

Use Shading Devices
Install shades, curtains or blinds. During the winter, be sure to open shades during the day. Let the sun shine through to help heat your business. At night, close shades as these act as an insulator and can help keep the heat in. Shades can also be used to help block heat caused by sunlight in the summer and lower air-conditioning costs.

Set It Back
Use setbacks on thermostats for times when areas are not in use. You can start off by turning down just a couple of degrees on nights and weekends. Setting the heat back 5°C can save 10% on heating costs.

Control Heating and Cooling
Turn off or reduce the cooling or heating in areas not being used, such as storage and non-public spaces. Make sure heating and cooling units serving a common area are not “fighting” each other by heating and cooling the area at the same time.

Check Thermostats for Accuracy
Use an external thermometer to ensure the accuracy of your thermostat. Thermostats should be installed on an interior wall away from vents or other draft sources for the most reliable readings.

Check Sensors
Many exterior lights have sensors that control when the lights turn on or go off. Sometimes these sensors can have bugs, which causes lights to come on at the wrong times. Often times a simple reset can fix the problem and ensure lights are working properly at the correct times.

Close Unoccupied Areas
During periods of low occupancy, close areas to reduce lighting and HVAC system requirements.

Use Equipment Power Management Features
Place computers (CPU, hard drive, etc.) into a low-power “sleep mode” after a designated period of inactivity. You can also purchase a commercial software power management package to do this automatically.

Run Full Loads of Dishes and Laundry
Use dishwashers and washers only when full to conserve energy, water and detergent.

Clean Refrigeration Cooling Coils
Dirt impairs proper heat transfer and lowers a refrigerator’s efficiency and capacity. As you clean, watch for and remove any accumulation of ice.

Maintain Air-Gap on Refrigeration Units
Maintain an air-gap of at least three inches between the wall and the back of refrigerators, water coolers and freezers.

Cut Equipment Idle Time
Implement a start-up and shutdown plan to make sure you are using only the equipment that you need, when you need it.