Energy-Efficiency Tips for Business
The energy experts at Tampa Electric developed these energy-efficiency tips to help you better manage your energy costs. Being a wise energy consumer is good for the environment and your bottom line.
To get started on your energy-saving journey, we recommend that you complete a free Energy Audit that’s designed to pinpoint areas where you can save the most.
Heating and Cooling
Heat and cool only in frequently used spaces.- Set thermostats to lowest comfortable setting for heating (68 degrees); the highest for cooling (76 degrees).
- Reduce internal heat generation as much as possible during cooling season.
- Install locking covers on all accessible thermostats to avoid tampering.
- Minimize the use of strip heating. Disconnect if in excess of kilowatt (kW) per ton of A/C.
- Consider installing programmable thermostats that can shut down heating, A/C and ventilating equipment during unoccupied periods.
- Replace air filters monthly.
- Turn off all non-critical exhaust fans.
- When using an exhaust hood in food preparation, add control or gravity dampers to keep exhaust duct closed when it is not in operation.
- Sign up for a regularly scheduled systems maintenance program.
- Consider adding controls to shut ventilation system off whenever the building is unoccupied for an extended period of time (i.e., evenings and weekends).
- Make outdoor air dampers as airtight as possible when closed.
Lighting
Turn off lights in all unoccupied rooms.- Replace incandescent lamps with high-efficiency light-emitting diode lamps (LEDs).
- Retrofit existing fluorescent fixtures with energy-efficient LED fixtures.
- Install occupancy sensors, which detect occupants in a given space, to turn lights on or off. (Good in storage rooms, break rooms, offices, restrooms, corridors, garage and dock areas, etc.)
- Replace or retrofit exit signs with incandescent lamps with LED exit signs. This will reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs and increase the sign’s life to up to 10 years.
- To maintain light levels, establish a maintenance program to change all lamps and clean all fixtures at a predetermined time.
- Control all outside lighting systems with timers or photocells, making sure you adjust them to the changing seasons.
Tampa Electric’s conditioned and non-conditioned Lighting and Lighting Occupancy Sensor programs offer rebates for updates to lighting equipment that meets our energy-efficiency standards.
Refrigeration
Consolidate items to enable spare units to be turned off.- Keep seals and latches in good operating condition.
- Maintain temperatures no colder than necessary.
- Install plastic strip curtains at doors and walk-in units to reduce cooling losses when doors are open.
- Maintain proper refrigerant and adequate product spacing for proper circulation.
Building Envelope
Install door threshold(s) and weather-stripping.- Caulk and seal around window and door frames.
- Consider installing awnings, solar film or solar screens.
- Consider verifying and upgrading/installing building insulation.
- Have your ductwork inspected for leaks.
- Have your insulation checked in the attic.
- Install automatic door closers.
- Install plastic strip curtains or an air curtain between conditioned and non-conditioned spaces.
Hot and Cold Water Systems
Set thermostat(s) at 110 degrees or to any code requirement.- Inspect the water-supply system periodically and repair any leaks, including faucets.
- Inspect insulation on storage tanks and repair or replace as needed.
- Add insulation to storage tanks and hot water lines.
- Use flow restrictors and water-saving showerheads.
Tampa Electric’s Water Heating program offers rebates when you install a high-efficiency water heating system.
Other
- Turn off machines when not needed.
- Avoid simultaneous startup of equipment to minimize peak kilowatt demand.
- When replacing worn and defective motors, use motors sized as close to the load as possible, and specify high-efficiency motors.
- Review startup and shutdown procedures with employees to ensure equipment is not started before needed or left on longer than necessary.
Earn a Tampa Electric rebate when you install a Facility Energy Management System that controls all or a part of your building’s electrical load. It’s an easy way to save on maintenance and operating costs, improve your indoor air quality and more.
