Air conditioning is a necessary evil for most businesses. It keeps employees comfortable and productive in the summer heat, but it also comes with a hefty price tag. If your business is struggling to keep up with the costs of commercial air conditioning, here are seven tips to help you reduce those costs.
1. Upgrade Your Thermostat
If you’re still using an old-fashioned thermostat, it’s time for an upgrade. Newer thermostats are much more accurate, which means they can maintain a comfortable temperature without wasting energy. Smart thermostats are even better; they can be controlled remotely and programmed to adjust the temperature based on the time of day or week.
2. Schedule Regular Maintenance
Just like your car, your air conditioning system needs regular maintenance to run efficiently. Schedule a tune-up for your system at the beginning of each cooling season to ensure that it’s running at peak performance. This tune-up should include cleaning the coils, checking the refrigerant levels, and inspecting the ductwork for leaks.
3. Install Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans use much less energy than air conditioners, so they can be a great way to supplement your cooling system. Install ceiling fans in all of the rooms that your employees use most often; just make sure that they’re set to rotate counterclockwise so that they push cool air down into the room.
4. Use Blinds or Curtains
You can reduce the amount of heat that enters your building by closing blinds or curtains during the daytime hours. This will help keep the inside of your building cooler without having to crank up the AC. Just make sure to open them back up when the sun goes down so that you can take advantage of the cooler nighttime temperatures.
5. Take Advantage of Natural Ventilation
If possible, open windows and doors during cooler hours to let fresh air circulate through your building. You can also use fans to help circulate this cool air throughout the space. Just be sure to close everything back up before it gets too hot outside; otherwise, you’ll be wasting energy by trying to cool down an already hot building.
6. Seal Duct Leaks
Duct leaks can cause your AC system to work harder than it needs to, which wastes energy and drives up costs. Have your ducts professionally sealed to ensure that cooled air isn’t escaping and costing you money. Leaky ducts can also lead to poor indoor air quality, so sealing them will improve both your comfort and your health.
7. Use a Programmable Thermostat
If you don’t have a smart thermostat, consider investing in a programmable one instead. This type of thermostat allows you to set different temperatures for different times of day or week, which can save you money on cooling costs while still keeping your employees comfortable during business hours. Just remember to adjust the temperature when no one is going to be in the office so that you’re not cooling an empty space!
Commercial air conditioning is a necessary expense for most businesses, but that doesn’t mean that it has to break the bank. By following these seven tips, you can reduce the cost of cooling your commercial space without sacrificing employee comfort or productivity levels. So don’t wait; put these tips into action today and start saving money on your AC bills tomorrow!
