Business tips & resources
Help your business save energy and money.
Are you a residential customer?
The content on this page is intended for business customers.
See tips and resources for residential customers
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Keep computers on standby. On average, computers are only used 10 per cent of the time they are turned on.
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Add reflectors to dining room fixtures. You’ll reduce the number of lights and total wattage by 25 per cent—with no decrease in light levels.
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Upgrade store and refrigeration case lighting to reduce energy use by up to 75 per cent.
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Upgrade common area washing machines. Front-loading ENERGY STAR® certified washers use up to 50 per cent less energy and up to 45 per cent less water.
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Turn off idle equipment. A copier left on all day and night costs more than $150 a year in wasted electricity.
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Place tent cards and decals in guest rooms with energy-saving tips for guests.
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Upgrade to energy-efficient lighting. Where possible, switch to T-8 tubes or LED lighting to reduce electricity costs.
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Consider switching to suite metering. With unit owners paying only for what they use in their suite, this means more predictable energy costs. Learn more about making the switch.
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Shut exterior and bay doors to keep the cool air in and electricity costs down.
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For supermarkets with bakeries, shift baking and other electricity-heavy work to nights and early in the morning when electricity rates are lowest.
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Seal air leaks. Regularly maintain and replace caulking and weatherstripping around windows and doors.
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Schedule pre-heating times for kitchen equipment such as ovens, grills, broilers and fryers to avoid heating unnecessarily.
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Schedule guest room cleaning during daylight hours to take advantage of the natural light available.
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Save energy in operating rooms. Install occupancy sensors to reduce speeds of air supply and exhaust fans when operating rooms are unoccupied.
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Run dishwashing and laundry operations during off-peak periods when electricity prices are lowest.
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Set refrigerator thermostats to 3.2°C and freezers between -18°C and -15°C for optimal efficiency.
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Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust temperature settings. Every degree of cooling increases energy use by up to 5 per cent.
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Not using it? Power down. Turn off idling equipment when it’s not in use to reduce energy waste.
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Replace old computers and monitors with ENERGY STAR® certified models to reduce energy use by up to 75 per cent.
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Use occupancy sensors in copy rooms, lunchrooms, boardrooms and restrooms. You’ll reduce lighting costs by up to 70 per cent.
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Install occupancy controls in break rooms, restrooms and loading docks to turn lights down or off when not needed. Report areas where lights can be turned off.
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Develop a routine maintenance checklist for HVAC equipment to prevent energy loss caused by dirt build-up in filters and pipe/ducts. You’ll also improve air quality.
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Use high-velocity, low-flow kitchen sprayers and save up to $1,000 a year in hot water costs.
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Limit the general-use hot-water temperature to 43°C. If the faucet is too hot, guests will add cold water, which increases both water and energy use.
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Install lighting occupancy controls in classrooms, reading rooms and cafeterias to avoid lighting spaces when not in use.
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Increase comfort with less harsh, more natural-looking hues, new lighting helps create the right atmosphere and mood; relaxed customers tend to stay longer, spend more money and return more frequently.
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Switch to LED bulbs in hallways, stairwells, lobbies and exit signs for savings up to 75 per cent.
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Install ENERGY STAR® certified LED exit signs. They last up to 10 years.
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Enhance safety with shadow-free LEDs, they offer more uniform light, greater visibility and increased security.
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Find leaks in compressed air systems. A 1/32" hole wastes enough electricity to power nine homes!
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Keep boxes, curtains and displays clear of vents. Blocking airflow reduces the efficiency of HVAC systems and increases energy costs.
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Install high-performance windows when original windows are beyond repair to help save energy.
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Install high-performance windows. Reduce heat loss and noise, and keep patients comfortable with energy-efficient windows.
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Make sure oven and refrigerator doors fit tightly and gaskets are in good condition.
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Engage teachers, parents and students in conservation awareness. Small steps can add up to substantial energy savings.
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Install energy-efficient lighting in guest rooms and service areas such as storage rooms, housekeeping closets and walk-in refrigerators.
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Eliminate hot spots with high-efficiency LEDs, they run much cooler than traditional lights which can also reduce air conditioning costs.
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Choose digital over hard copies: email, video conferencing, PowerPoint presentations, e-subscriptions and web resources.
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Close the door. In the summer, wasted air conditioning could add more than $500 to your electricity bill.
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Check for worn and cracked caulking on doors and windows of all rooms to keep air leaks sealed.
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To reduce heat loss from loading docks, use brush type seals and inflatable hinge seals for dock doors. Or, use dock shelters that enclose the rear of the truck.