BusinessReport.com

Charles Taucer, a chef and part owner at Mansurs on the Boulevard, didn’t always worry about his business’ energy bill. But now, he says, “I get it every month and cringe.” If you’re a small-business owner, you probably know the feeling.

“It just seems like things have escalated to the point where it’s scary,” he says.

For about a year now, his restaurant’s staff has made a point to conserve electricity and gas. Between the lunch and dinner rushes, they shut down a portion of the dining area, close the blinds and turn off—or turn way down—some of the air-conditioning units.

Back in the kitchen, they turn off three of their four gas ovens and only use one of two fryers. Taucer says he can’t put a price tag on how much money they’re actually saving, but at least he feels better knowing they’re trying.

“It’s sort of a mind-set on our part, that we’re doing what we can,” he says.

The federal government recommends purchasing Energy Star-qualified appliances and equipment, saying, for example, that qualified refrigerators and freezers can save more than 45% on electricity use over conventional models.

But when money’s tight, as it usually is for a small business, going out and replacing everything really isn’t an option. There are all sorts of ways to cut down on your energy consumption, however, many of which are pretty easy and either free or relatively inexpensive.

Here’s a list of tips that might apply to your business:

Refrigeration

• Clean a refrigerator’s coils twice a year.

• If a dollar bill slips easily when closed between a refrigerator door’s seals, replace the door gaskets.

• Keep refrigerators full [water jugs make good fillers].

• Have big walk-in refrigerators serviced every year, and add strip curtains to the doorway if you don’t have them.

• Use night covers on refrigerated display cases.

Heating and cooling

• Change or clean heating, ventilation and air-conditioning filters every month, at least during the peak heating and cooling seasons. You might want to consider an annual maintenance contract to provide preseason tune-ups.

• When it’s hot [i.e., most of the time], it helps to block direct sunlight on the east and [especially] west sides of the building. Blinds and interior curtains can help, but it’s best to try and keep the direct heat from getting through your windows in the first place with awnings, vegetation, solar screens or solar films.

• In the winter, unobstructed southern windows can provide a bit of solar heat.

• Using fans can make a room feel a few degrees cooler, allowing you to set the thermostat a bit higher without causing everyone to sweat profusely.

• Make sure water heaters and supply pipes are insulated.

Lighting

• Turn off the lights when you’re not using them [OK, this one’s really obvious, but still].

• Use free daylight when it’s not too hot.

• When you replace your light bulbs, consider switching to compact fluorescent lamps, which cost more but use less power and last longer.

• Don’t over-light. Rooms with lighter-colored walls need less light.

Cooking

• Turn off unused and backup equipment when possible.

• Don’t preheat cooking equipment any longer or hotter than the manufacturer recommends.

• Use cooking equipment to capacity, but don’t overload.

• Make sure oven doors fit tightly.

Office equipment

• Turn off your equipment when not in use. Some people believe computers will last longer if you leave them on; this is a myth. Screen savers don’t save energy either.

• Most electrical appliances continue to draw power when they’re turned off, so unplug them, or use a power strip with an on/off switch.

• Studies show using rechargeable batteries save money over disposable batteries in the long run. Unplug the charger once the batteries are fully charged.

• If you’re buying a new computer, consider a laptop; they use much less juice than a desktop. To maximize your savings, put the AC adaptor on a power strip that can be turned off; the AC adaptor draws power even when the laptop isn’t plugged in.