As a business owner the last thing you want is for your electricity bill to start skyrocketing when it’s already expensive enough! With the benefit of years of combined experience in the electrical industry, the team at Live Electrical and Air Conditioning, have pulled together a list of tips and tricks that will help you reduce your energy use, saving money and the environment.

We pride ourselves on our innovative ideas and solutions and ensure the up-to-date technology and products we recommend are eco-friendly and cost effective. So, if you’re looking for new equipment or if it’s time for a service, make sure you call us first for a quote on 1800 548 332 or email admin@livesg.com.au and we’ll get back to you promptly. Don’t forget that we cover all areas from the Sunshine Coast to the Sunshine Coast.

Enjoy our list of tips, and let us know if there’s anything you think we’ve missed!

Office equipment

Good investments

• 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 – they consume 90% less energy than standard desktop computers.
• If appropriate, use inkjet printers – they consume 90% less energy than laser printers. Purchase appropriately-sized copiers for your company’s needs.

Lighting

Low cost improvements

• Retrofit incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps (cfls) as they use less electricity for the same lighting output.
• Remove excess fluorescent lights and install reflectors.
• Retrofit incandescent or fluorescent exit signs with long-lasting, low-energy LED exit signs.
• Remember that dark walls mean that you require more power to produce the same amount of light.
• Buy fixtures that have a dimmer which allow you to manually adjust the intensity of the light in a room.

Good investments

• Install motion detectors to control lighting in frequently unoccupied areas such as restrooms and copy rooms.
• Rewire restroom fans to operate with the lights.
• Install energy management system (EMS) technology to control lighting systems automatically.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning

Low cost improvements

• Install time clocks or setback-programmable thermostats to maximise efficiency.
• Install locking covers on your thermostats to prevent tampering with the temperature settings.
• Perform regular maintenance on units including checking ducts and pipe insulation for damage.
• Clean condenser coils and replace filters regularly.

Good investments

• Replace old heating, ventilation or airconditioning systems with new, energy-efficient systems.
• Install blinds or solar screen shades to cool the office.
• Install reflective window film or awnings on all south west facing windows.
• Install ceiling and wall insulation.
• Insulate water heaters and supply pipes.
• Pressurise and test all ducts for leakage.
• Consider installing adjustable speed drives. Your airconditioning system has fans that move air throughout the building. You can reduce the cost of operating these fans by installing adjustable speed drives which can change the speed of the fan motors to match the amount of air that is needed.

Refrigeration

Low cost improvements

• Perform scheduled maintenance on units.
• Keep evaporator coils clean and free of ice build-up.
• Adjust door latches and replace worn door seals.
• Observe noise made by the system.  Any unusual sounds could indicate a problem. Determine the cause and correct the problem.

Good investments

• Install automatic door-closers and strip curtains on walk-in freezers or coolers.

Food service equipment

Low cost improvements

• Make sure oven doors fit tightly and seals are in good condition.

Good investments

• Buy insulated cooking equipment wherever possible (such as fryers, ovens, coffee machines). Insulation maintains more heat in the equipment and transmits less to the environment.
• Where possible, replace broilers with grooved or smooth griddles to significantly reduce energy consumption.

Compressed air

Good investments

• Install air storage strategically to minimise system horsepower requirements and improve air delivery.
• Install variable speed drives on compressors.
• Make sure multiple compressors are sequenced using automatic sequencing controls. Shut-off timers should be used on all air compressors and installing microprocessor controls on compressor systems can yield savings.

Process cooling & refrigeration systems

Good investments

• Install high-efficiency evaporator and condenser fan motors.
• Install variable speed drives in place of constant speed drives. This can reduce cooling system energy use.
• Install additional condensing capacity to reduce discharge pressure.
• Insulate cooler/freezer area.

Process heating

Good investments

• Optimise heat transfer by selecting burners and design furnaces that allow use of high convection or radiation.
• Use adequate and optimum insulation for process heating equipment.
• Conduct regular repairs and maintenance of insulation.

Steam equipment

Good investments

• Install a condensation return loop. Condensation return to the boiler is essential for energy efficiency.
• Install heat exchangers.

Install a solar power system

You could choose to invest in a solar power system at your business to help save on your electricity bills, improve your green credentials and help the environment. That really makes good energy sense.