It’s not even officially summer yet, and I’m already writing this post. Temperatures in New England soared this past weekend - we went from the low 60s last week to nearly 100 degrees over the weekend. My husband did a rush install of our air conditioners - both he and I work from home (him full time, me part time) as we just cannot bear to work in this icky heat! And neither can you. But with the rising costs of nearly everything these days, many people are dreading their summer a/c bills. In an effort to counteract those higher costs, consider the following tips for your home office or home-based business:

1.) Avoid using large equipment (if you can) during the peak hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
2.) Always turn off any lights or equipment that you are not using.
3.) Choose ENERGY STAR® products whenever possible.
4.) Set energy-saving features on all of your office equipment that will trigger sleep mode when not in use.
5.) Turn the cooling thermostat in your workspace up as far as your comfort level will allow. Raise settings or turn air conditioning off whenever space is unoccupied.
6.) Consider using a programmable thermostat, which will make it easier to adjust cooling settings, as well as regulate the temperature when you are away from your office to avoid unnecessary cooling costs.
7.) Close window blinds to shade rooms from direct sunlight.
8.) If you have central a/c, have it tuned or inspected at least once a year. If you run window air conditioners, be sure all filters are clean before using them again.
9.) Install ceiling fans, which make it feel at least four degrees cooler in a room during the summer.
10.) Replace all old incandescent or fluorescent lighting with newer, cooler, more efficient compact fluorescent bulbs or electronic ballasts.

Stay cool, and be energy smart, everyone!

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Tags: energy saving tips for businesses, home business, home office, home-based business, save energy, save money, telecommuting, work from home business