Value for owners and renters
Whether you rent or own your space, you will benefit directly from implementing energy efficiency measures. Owners will enjoy a more marketable building with fewer maintenance calls and more satisfied tenants. Renters will benefit from energy savings and comfort improvements.

Maximize your human resources
Reducing energy use in small offices requires a team approach. Clear communication is the key to ensuring success.

• Encourage everyone to turn off lights and equipment that are not in use.
• Explain the measures implemented, any potential impact on operations, and what actions are required to maintain energy savings.

• Replace incandescent bulbs with ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). By changing one incandescent bulb that burns 6 hours a day with a CFL, you can save $9 on electricity and $3 on maintenance costs each year. The more lamps you change, the more you save.
• Replace T12 fluorescent lamps and magnetic ballasts with T8 fluorescent lamps and electronic ballasts and reduce lighting energy use by 15-25%.
• Use occupancy sensors and timers in restrooms, conference rooms, private offices, and break rooms to save 30-60% of lighting energy. In partitioned areas, use ceiling-mounted ultrasonic sensors, which can
  detect motion over cubicle walls. Install photocells and timers on outdoor lighting.
• Encourage more task lighting, especially in areas with high partitions. Allow employees to focus light where it’s needed, rather than illuminating a large space.
• Save $20 per year for each incandescent exit sign you replace with an ENERGY STAR qualified model. These products also last up to 10-times longer.

Put them to sleep
Activate sleep settings on computers and monitors. You can save $10-$30 per monitor and $15-$45 per computer each year just by activating these settings. Sleeping computers still
draw some energy, so be sure to turn them off when done, along with other personal equipment like adding machines and shredders. Did you check
the conference room for televisions and projectors? Simplify the job by plugging
devices into power strips and turning off the power strip.

Share your success story
Tell your customers and the community about your efforts to save energy and help the environment. Encourage employees to find ways to save energy at home. Become an ENERGY STAR^® partner.

• Look for more efficient models when replacing or purchasing new equipment. ENERGY STAR qualified
  office and imaging products use 30-75% less electricity than standard equipment.
• Remind staff to turn off equipment at night and during long breaks.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC): Time it right
Cooling is the second largest energy expense for Arizona offices. An efficient HVAC system creates a comfortable and healthy work environment and it reduces maintenance demands. Measures to consider:

• Use a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature based on occupancy. Set the thermostat at 79ۧ F or higher during the day and use fans to feel five degrees cooler. Program the thermostat to raise the temperature even higher when your business is closed and to cool it down before employees arrive. For each degree you raise the temperature, you’ll save 2-3% on your cooling costs. Inform staff about the settings and seek feedback on comfort levels.
• Check the duct system and building shell for leaks and seal gaps with appropriate materials.
• For offices that have been subdivided multiple times, it is particularly important to balance the HVAC
  system and ensure proper air distribution.
• Replace aging or inoperable equipment with high efficiency models. Be sure the system is properly
  sized. A bigger unit is not necessarily better.
• If re-roofing, consider reflective roof materials, which can reduce peak cooling demand by 15%.

• Add energy-saving devices to beverage and snack vending machines to reduce the machine’s consumption up to 80%.
• Replace old refrigerators and dishwashers with ENERGY STAR qualified products, which use 15-40% less energy than other models.
• Don’t neglect the unsung hero of the office: the water cooler. A standard hot and cold bottled water cooler can use more energy than a large refrigerator. An ENERGY STAR qualified model requires about half as much energy.

Watch the clock
Peak demand charges account for 40% of commercial building electricity expenses, on average. Minimize demand charges by scheduling energy-intensive activities for off-peak periods. Save the big copy job for the morning. Schedule major IT updates, fax blasts and equipment repairs after peak hours.