There are many ways you can take steps to reduce energy use ― whether you’re already making small changes, like turning off lights, or considering bigger investments.

We’ve pulled together some practical ideas to get you started saving energy, lowering expenses, and improving efficiency in your business. 

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Set clear, measurable goals 

Just like any business goal, your energy-efficiency targets should be specific and trackable. For example, you might aim to reduce peak-hour electricity use by 15% within six months.  

Make sure you can measure your progress ― whether by checking energy bills, using smart meters, or keeping an eye on important energy-use trends.  

An energy consultant or industry expert can help you set realistic goals and recommend the best ways to measure and achieve them. 

Find support and funding

Make an energy management plan  

Once you have investigated your current energy use, and set some goals for improvement, it can be helpful to bring it all together in an energy management plan.

An energy management plan is a structured approach to understanding and improving how your business uses energy. It details where energy is being consumed, outlines clear goals for improvement, and sets out strategies to reduce waste, lower costs, and cut emissions. 

A well-designed energy management plan includes the following: 

  • Baseline assessment ― Current energy use and costs provide a starting point for measuring improvements. 
  • Goals and targets ― Measurable energy-saving objectives help ensure progress is trackable and achievable. 
  • Action plan ― Specific steps to reduce energy waste make it easier to implement changes. 
  • Monitoring and reporting ― Tracking progress and making adjustments ensures long-term success. 
  • Staff engagement ― Involving employees in energy-saving efforts fosters a culture of efficiency and continuous improvement. 

How can you take action to reduce energy use? 

Improving energy efficiency doesn’t always mean big investments — often, small, practical steps can make a real difference. By maintaining your equipment, cutting waste, and fine-tuning everyday systems, your business can lower energy use, reduce costs, and improve productivity.

  • Maintain equipment and workspaces 

Keeping your equipment and workspace in good shape is an easy way to improve energy efficiency. Machines that aren’t regularly serviced can use more power than necessary, like an HVAC system with clogged filters that struggles to heat or cool a space. 

Simple maintenance tasks, like checking seals on fridges and freezers, cleaning dust from vents, or keeping vehicles well-tuned, helps everything run smoothly and use less energy. Regular maintenance can also extend the life of your equipment, saving you money on repairs and replacements. 

  • Cut waste 

Wasting materials also means wasting the energy used to make, move, or get rid of them. A business that prints unnecessary documents isn’t just wasting paper, it’s also using electricity for printers, copiers, and lighting in that workspace. Restaurants and cafes that throw away excess food also waste the energy used for refrigeration, cooking, and storage. 

  • Improve systems

Adjusting how business systems run can significantly boost energy efficiency. For example, installing motion sensors for lighting in low-use areas, like storerooms or bathrooms, ensures lights are only on when needed.  

Businesses that use heating or cooling can save energy by programming thermostats to reduce use during off-hours. Even factories or offices with large power demands can save energy by shifting certain tasks to off-peak times when electricity rates are lower.