How To Conserve Energy at Your Auto Shop
Energy costs are rising, and more people are choosing not to buy cars altogether. The good news is that there are many ways you can cut costs at your auto shop by optimizing energy efficiency—and saving money in the process. Here are actional tips on how to reduce your car garage’s business energy costs which could save thousands on your electric bills every year.
1. Optimize the HVAC
As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to make sure your shop is as energy-efficient as possible. A big part of that is keeping the HVAC system in good shape. Installing a smart thermostat will keep temperatures consistent throughout the day. You can use the timer switch if you want more control over the times your HVAC system is turned on and off.
Your auto shop’s heating and cooling costs might account for a sizable amount of your energy bill. Smart thermostats provide several features that include adjustable timers and room-specific controls. This allows you greater control over how much energy your business consumes daily.
2. Upgrade To Energy-efficient Appliances
This may not seem like a big deal, but upgrading old appliances with more efficient ones saves energy and money. Energy-efficient appliances are better for the environment because they reduce harmful greenhouse gases. Newer energy-efficient appliances have an improved lifespan compared to standard models and lower operating costs over time (because they’re made out of higher-quality materials). A more energy-efficient product is likely to reduce your energy bills in the long run so that you can save a lot of money over time.
3. Use Natural Light and Motion-sensor Lighting
Use natural light as much as possible. When you can, use natural sunlight to illuminate your work area or a skylight to bring in direct light. Turn off lights when they aren’t needed. Motion sensors and timers are a great way to help conserve energy by automatically turning off lights when rooms are empty or after a certain amount of time has passed.
4. Switching Providers as a Commercial Tenant
Among the most effective strategies to further minimize your carbon footprint and your costs is to switch your energy provider. You have the right to switch your energy provider if you are a commercial renter and are paying the power bill in full. Your landlord will have the option to select the energy provider if they are in charge of paying the utility bills.
5. Less is More
Keeping your energy consumption as efficient on the workroom floor requires three things: turn down, shift, and look out. Even a relatively small change in equipment settings can improve energy efficiency without materially affecting performance.
Keep an eye out for leaks coming from damaged joints and pipes since even a little hole may waste a lot of steam.
6. Use Solar Panels
Solar panels are great for reducing your energy bill, but they’re also a long-term investment. You should make sure that you have enough space on your roof to accommodate the system before installing it. The size of the solar panel depends on how much electricity you use, so you’ll need to figure out how big a system will work best for your business.
7. Routinely Check Bay Doors
The number of times a day that bay doors open and close due to cars entering and leaving raises the heating and cooling loads. These doors may be kept open for an extended amount of time in some buildings. Here are some tips for minimizing energy loss through bay doors:
- To reduce air leaking, inspect seals. Replacing broken or hardened seals that are missing.
- Brand-new doors require R-10 or higher insulation and inside and outside thermal breaks.
- To ensure that doors promptly close once cars or people arrive or depart, select automated sensor-driven bay door actuators for new installations. Modern high-speed machines close doors safely in a fraction of the time it takes older ones to do so.
- Employees should be made aware of the benefits of closing doors for energy efficiency. Train staff to avoid leaving bay doors open for extended periods because they may open and close dozens of times each day.
Conclusion: There are a lot of ways to conserve energy when running an auto shop. View your daily energy expenditure for your company so you may change energy-intensive jobs and reduce wastage. Making changes can save you thousands a year on utility bills, and it’s good for the environment too.