Are you ready to increase your commercial property’s energy efficiency this spring? Try these tips.
As we gear up for spring, many of us are starting to think about fresh starts. After all, spring cleaning doesn’t have to be limited to cleaning physical spaces—it can also be about cleaning up some habits and making positive changes in how things are done. For us, and perhaps for you too, that means thinking about energy efficiency and doing our part to cut down on how much energy we all use.
If you want to increase your commercial property’s energy efficiency, there are a few steps you can take. A commercial property’s energy efficiency takes a number of factors into consideration but we’re focusing on lighting to help you stay energy efficient.
Use More Efficient Lighting
It’s always worth taking a look at what bulbs you’re using in your commercial property. You can increase your commercial property’s energy efficiency simply by switching over to more modern (and efficient) bulbs. The typical incandescent bulb will use a higher wattage, around 100W, to create the same light output that a CFL lamp does, which only uses around 60W. Incandescent bulbs are inefficient because they end up losing so much energy to put off heat instead of creating illumination. LED lamps are the most energy efficient option, as they produce little heat and lots of light and last for years. Your CMI Lighting electrician can retrofit your existing lights with LEDs this spring.
Use More Natural Light
What better way to cut down on energy use than taking advantage of naturally-existing light? Cutting back on how much artificial light you have is always going to be a big saver in terms of your energy efficiency. By opening up your curtains and letting lots of natural sunlight into your commercial space, you may be able to turn some lights off, dim a few others, and ultimately save on your energy costs and use.
Use Sensors and Timers
Avoid wasting energy by ensuring your lights are off when they aren’t being used. Timers are a good option for any business with set hours where you’re fairly certain no one is going to be around outside of those hours. On the other hand, motion-activated sensors can be useful as well, especially if your employees are often coming and going. Either way, you’d be doing what you could to mitigate wasting energy by keeping lights on when no one is around to use them.
Use Battery-Operated Lights
Another option for cutting down on your energy usage is to try using battery-operated lighting in certain places. That might mean accent or task lighting that isn’t necessarily going to be on 24/7, that way it is easily powered down whenever unused. It creates some additional flexibility as well as you don’t need to worry about running electricity to wherever you use battery-operated lighting.
CHECK OUT OUR SERVICES FROM CMI LIGHTING
With over 35 years in the industry, CMI has an array of equipment to handle the logistics of any in-house job. We also frequently provide solutions to property managers and upcoming developments. CMI Companies provides services in the Mid-Atlantic Region and proudly serves clients in Northern Virginia, Maryland, Richmond, Southern Virginia, Manassas, Prince William County, Fairfax County, Rockville, and Prince George’s County. Also, check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.