√ Reduce lighting. Take advantage of natural daylight. Turning lights off or dimming them during the day allows for lower energy costs and a more comfortable environment. Also, remove excess lighting, and turn off signage and other lights not necessary for security and safety.

√ Install occupancy sensors. These inexpensive devices can reduce lighting costs up to 40% by turning off lights in unoccupied areas.

√ Use LED fixtures. Replace incandescent lights in exit signs with LED fixtures. This can reduce costs of these signs by up to 95%.

√ Maintain temperature. Keep the setting no lower than 78°F during occupied times, as comfort allows. Turn off air conditioning when it’s not needed. 

√ Install programmable thermostats. Smart thermostats automatically control temperature settings on heating and air conditioning equipment.

√ Perform routine maintenance. Follow a routine maintenance schedule to help your air conditioning equipment run efficiently and last longer. 

√ Power down equipment. Turn off or set office equipment to power down when not in use. Turning off one computer and monitor nightly and on weekends can save up to $80 a year. And setting PCs, monitors and copiers to use sleep mode when not in use can help cut energy costs by up to 50%.

√ Invest in energy-efficient equipment. When upgrading or adding new equipment, look for the ENERGY STAR® symbol, which indicates the equipment meets federal standards for energy efficiency. 

To find energy-savings tips and ideas for your specific industry, visit sdge.com/industry.