The heating system at your business uses more energy in the winter to keep your employees and customers comfortable. Here’s your checklist to keep your energy usage down and protect your bottom line.
Understand what impacts your winter bills
- You turn up the heat to stay warm when it’s cold outside. Remember, your furnace uses both gas and electricity to keep you comfortable. You may also use electric space heaters.
- Big temperature drops make your heating system work even harder.
- Colder weather and shorter days mean your team and customers are spending more time indoors, using more lights and energy.
Take these easy steps to reduce your energy usage
- Install a programmable thermostat and set to your schedule – comfortable while customers or employees are onsite, cooler when you’re closed.
- Change or clean HVAC filters at least every three months to keep your equipment running efficiently.
- Uncover vents by moving desks, furniture or backstock that are blocking air flow to registers or baseboard heaters. Up to 25% more energy is required to distribute air if your vents are blocked.
- Seal air leaks with caulk or weather stripping, especially around doors and windows.
- Schedule a no-cost energy assessment and get free energy efficiency products dteenergy.com/smallbusiness.
Ensure your business is safe
- Install or double check your carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms to ensure your business is using natural gas safely.
- If you smell or suspect a gas leak, leave the area immediately. Once you are in a safe place, call 911 and then call our Gas Leak Hotline at (800) 947-5000. This is a free service provided by DTE for our customers, 24/7.