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Increasing the amount of natural light used in your facilities dramatically lowers your utility bills. The more artificial lighting used, the greater the heat load imposed on the air-conditioning system. This is a critical point because artificial lighting and air conditioning consume the largest amount of electrical energy in a typical commercial building.

Encourage employees to turn off computers, monitors, printers and copiers when they are not being used. Consider equipping computers with devices that turn them off automatically after a set period of inactivity.

The goals statement for a comprehensive lighting energy conservation program should read: turn it off when it isn't needed; use the most efficient, suitable equipment; and provide light only where it is needed.

Seventy-five percent of a building's total air loss is from small leaks. Seal electrical outlets and gaps between moldings, as well as plumbing and wiring penetrations. Attic checkpoints include hatches, plumbing vents, chimneys and other roof or wall penetrations. Many areas can be sealed with a caulk gun and tubes of silicone or urethane caulking.

To conserve energy, make inexpensive repairs and improvements to the HVAC mechanical system as required. For heating efficiency, repair or replace burners and add radiator reflectors. Install flue dampers or balance the ventilation system to reduce the exhaust rate. Relocate thermostats, install fans to keep hot air off the ceiling, and install thermostats in hot water tanks.

Fixtures that have state-of-the-art lamps or ballasts (T8 lamps, electronic ballasts, etc.) may save plenty of energy but may also require a higher premium at relamping or reballasting time. Much of this cost is offset because of the longer life. This longer life not only cuts down on replacement component costs but also reduces the associated labor expense to replace them.

Perform regular energy audits to establish the basic costs and uses of energy forms including electricity, gas and steam, and to identify waste or inefficiency. By identifying on-peak and off-peak periods, you can take advantage of a utility's rate structure.

Incorporate motion detectors to reduce lighting usage and save energy.

When retrofitting an existing lighting system, high overall light levels can be reduced when good task lighting is installed. A combination of good, sensible lighting design with the use of the latest technology can result in substantial energy savings and an overall improvement in lighting quality.

In many cases, high overall light levels can be reduced when good task lighting is installed. A combination of good, sensible lighting design with the use of the latest technology lighting systems can result in substantial energy savings and an overall improvement in lighting quality.

Dehumidification equipment helps prevent illnesses and lost productivity.

Internal walls influence window design and placement. Highly reflective, but not glossy, light-colored walls will spread daylight back from sidewalls. Jewel-toned walls will absorb more light and may require more supplemental lighting sources.

Many lighting control projects have payback periods of less than one year. Daylighting control systems examine the total amount of light available in a given space and switch off one or more banks of lights whenever enough sunlight is available. Daylighting control systems are particularly well suited for use in facilities with large areas of exterior glass.

LEDs get progressively dimmer over time, which is helpful in critical lighting areas.

In addition to their aesthetic values, interior window treatments can reduce energy consumption. Insulating vertical or horizontal blinds and/or draperies can reduce heat loss and solar gain through window openings.

The initial cost of a state-of-the-art system may even be lower than the overall cost of a less expensive and less efficient system if you use fewer fixtures to achieve the same or better light levels, and if you can tap into utility rebates and other incentives.

The right system can be retrofitted to greatly reduce energy costs.

Window films not only reduce air conditioning loads but also help reduce heating energy use. In optimum situations, energy savings frequently pay back the cost of film installation in a year or less. In a surprisingly large number of cases, building owners have been able to pay back the cost of window film installation directly from energy savings.

96% of electric infrared heat generated goes to the person or object.

Replace your 10- or 20-watt incandescent lamps in exit signs with LEDs. While the incremental energy savings may seem small, the continual operation of exit signs makes the retrofit very cost effective.

Full-range dimming systems can significantly reduce the power delivered to fluorescent lights and can even be activated in response to available daylight for perimeter areas.

Infrared heaters boost temps first, so you boost productivity.

Artificial lighting and air conditioning consume the largest amount of electrical energy in a typical commercial building. The more artificial lighting is used, the greater the heat load imposed on the air conditioning system from lamps and ballasts. Carefully increasing the amount of natural light will decrease the need for artificial light, reducing energy in both lighting and air conditioning systems.

LED lighting uses 2-3 times less energy than most CFLs.

Get rid of mercury lamps inside and outside a building. Their light output reduces over time, and a dim mercury lamp uses as much energy as a brand new one. Replace them with high-pressure sodium or metal halide lamps.

Heat recovery systems can reduce ventilation costs by 50% or more.

Gas water heaters lose 3.5% stored heat per hour. Electric units lose 1%.

Savings from gas cooking are lost to increased costs of air conditioning.