EnergyCut

Energy Cut Step 13

Step 12: Reduce energy equipment costs

Within any business, there are two types of equipment:

the equipment that is specific to the service the business provides, like an oven in a bakery, a wheel-alignment machine in a garage, or a display refrigerator in a cafe
the sundry equipment that is common to most businesses – computers, air conditioners, phone chargers, printers, microwaves, photocopiers, dishwashers, kettles, fridges etc.

Maximising the energy efficiency of all your equipment will cut the running costs of your business. The easiest way to do this is to:

switch off equipment when it’s not being used (there is more information about this in (see ‘Step 6 – Switch off and save’)
consolidate your existing equipment
use your existing equipment more efficiently
replace machines and appliances with more energy efficient models.

This section will show you how to assess and reduce the running costs of your equipment. It will also show you how to purchase energy efficient appliances.

Money Saving Tips

NO COST / LOW COST

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Do an equipment energy audit

19/06/2014

Do an equipment energy audit Your existing equipment represents a significant investment. As with all investments, you need to maximise your return. One way to do this is to create an inventory of the equipment in your business and make a note of how much energy it uses. Appendix F of the ‘Energy Reduction Plan’ template […]
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Maintain your equipment

19/06/2014

Maintain your equipment It pays to keep your equipment well-maintained, as this maximises its ongoing energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness. For small- to-medium-sized businesses, maintenance doesn’t just have to apply to office and HVAC equipment; it should apply to whatever equipment is critical to your business operations. Fresh & Clean Uniform Services, NSW Fresh & Clean […]
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Switch off and save

19/06/2014

Switch off and save At the end of the working day, many businesses leave on equipment such as photocopiers, computers, printers, water-coolers, vending machines and urns. Wherever possible, you should turn off unused equipment at the powerpoint. This will save you on standby energy costs. To find out more, check the advice in Step 6: […]
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Reorganise the placement of your equipment

19/06/2014

Reorganise the placement of your equipment Sometimes, equipment is placed in an area that makes it use more energy than necessary: Printers, photocopiers, water-coolers, fridges and other office equipment all generate heat, which adds to your air-conditioning costs. Are you able to move your low-use office equipment like photocopiers and printers to a room that […]
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Use your equipment more efficiently

19/06/2014

Use your equipment more efficiently Doing lots of small photocopying jobs throughout the day is not energy efficient. From a money-saving perspective, it’s best to save up all the jobs and do the photocopying in large batches. This will use less energy per page.[1] Can you use your current equipment in a way where you […]
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Hand dryers or paper towels?

19/06/2014

Hand dryers or paper towels? Every business has restrooms for employees. A key issue that many companies wrestle with is whether they should use paper towels or hand dryers. Austin Health, VIC Dyson Airblade™ claim that their hand dryers cost up to 69% less to run than other hand dryers, and up to […]

SAVING MONEY WITH BATTERIES

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Save power with your smartphone

19/06/2014

Save power with your smartphone It’s bad for business when you’re out and about and your phone battery dies. To make your batteries last longer and save on recharging costs, check your settings. If you only need to receive text messages and phone calls, turn off 3G or 4G. If you don’t need them, make sure […]
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Be efficient with battery-charged equipment

19/06/2014

Be efficient with battery-charged equipment Business people in Australia use rechargeable batteries every day. It’s what keeps our mobile phones, portable phones, laptops, digital cameras and tablets alive. Over 15 million products with battery chargers are sold in Australia every year.[1] With the increasing business usage of laptops, tablets and smartphones, battery use will also […]

INVEST & SAVE

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Do you really need new equipment?

19/06/2014

Do you really need new equipment? When you feel it’s time to purchase new equipment, ask yourself the following questions: Can your existing equipment be repaired? Can it be upgraded without buying a whole new unit? Is it cheaper to hire replacement equipment on an ad-hoc basis? How much energy does the existing equipment use? […]
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How to work out the running costs of equipment you buy

19/06/2014

How to work out the running costs of equipment you buy Many small businesses buy cheap equipment as the upfront cost is cheaper. If you follow this approach, it can end up being a false economy for your business – the equipment may be very cheap to buy, but it could actually be very expensive […]
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How the ‘Energy Rating’ label can save you money

19/06/2014

How the ‘Energy Rating’ label can save you money You’ll find an ‘Energy Rating’ label on every TV, computer monitor, air conditioner, clothes dryer, dishwasher, washing machine, refrigerator and freezer currently sold new in Australia. When buying electrical appliances for your office or home-based business, make sure you buy the models with the most efficiency […]
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Look for the ENERGY STAR® label

19/06/2014

Look for the ENERGY STAR® label When buying new equipment for your business, look for products with the ENERGY STAR® label – this is the international standard for energy efficient electronic equipment. Products with the ENERGY STAR® label have been subject to independent testing, third–party review and compliance screening. This gives businesses confidence that products […]
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Save money in the workplace kitchen

19/06/2014

Save money in the workplace kitchen In most small- to medium-sized businesses, the core equipment in the workplace kitchen consists of a kettle (or urn), fridge, freezer and microwave. Simple energy savings can be made here that will contribute to reducing your bills: If you use an urn or instant hot water unit, use an […]

BIG ENERGY EATERS

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Be efficient with motors

19/06/2014

Be efficient with motors It’s surprising how many types of equipment use motors. They’re everywhere – in your microwave, air conditioner, fridge, air compressors, pumps and exhaust fans. According to Ausgrid, three-phase motors could be responsible for up to 40% of the total electricity consumed by commercial and industrial businesses in Australia.[1] The annual cost […]
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Save money with pump systems

19/06/2014

Save money with pump systems Pumps are used in many SME business sectors. For the companies that use pumps as a core part of their business, there are major financial savings to be had by implementing energy efficiency measures: When you look at the lifetime running cost of pumps, the purchase price only accounts for […]
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Cut the cost of compressed air equipment

19/06/2014

Cut the cost of compressed air equipment Compressed air has had a long history of use in the Australian business sector, but many people are unaware that it uses up a large amount of power. Up to 10% of energy used by Australia’s manufacturing sector goes on powering compressed air equipment and tools.[1] With such […]
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Do you need ‘power factor correction’?

19/06/2014

Do you need ‘power factor correction’? If the electricity your business uses costs more than $35,000 a year, you may benefit from the installation of a ‘power factor correction’ unit by an EcoSmart Electrician. According to Eaton, a power management company, businesses that improve their power factor from 70–95% can reduce its energy use by 7%.[1] Payback […]