Small Businesses Reducing Energy Costs

June 17, 2008

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

With electricity rates rising, small businesses are increasingly looking for ways to lower their energy costs, the Wall Street Journal reports. From changing out light bulbs to CFLs to shortening delivery routes, small businesses are finding ways to keep up with their big box competitors.

While small businesses can’t dedicate entire departments and budgets to sustainability measures like companies like Wal-Mart can, they can still take affordable steps to reduce their environmental impact.

A few examples from the Journal:

Transportation Costs

Wholesale delivery company Wil Fische is using mapping technology developed by UPS to help its drivers make fewer left turns and avoid traffic jams, making the company’s 175 daily deliveries more efficient.

Hi-Tech Solutions

A calculator on a manufacturer’s Web site helped Arctic Wire Rope & Supply Inc., in Anchorage, Alaska, determine they could use 25 percent less natural gas by installing a device that blasts a thin layer of air whenever the warehouse loading door opens trapping warm or cool air inside.

Greener Power

Results of an energy audit determined the Supperclub, a San Francisco restaurant could save $5,000 a year by switching to PG&E’s off-peak rate from its basic fee plan.

A Newsday story talks about what some Long Island small businesses are doing to reduce their fuel costs.

According to the Energy Star Small Business program, energy efficiency improvements of 10 to 30 percent are economically viable for many small businesses through the implementation of “best practices” for facility operation and maintenance, and the use of cost-effective technologies, the National Small Business Association reports.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Make sustainability part of your strategy.

Get equipped at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader