Hot Ideas for Cold Weather Savings

Heating tips to keep your business warm without overheating your budget.
Winter is a great time of year for retailers and many other businesses. Your business can start saving today with our quick and easy tips to use less energy.

Low Cost Heating Tips

Rapid Payback Heating Tips

Lower Temperature Setting

In the winter time, lower the temperature on your thermostat. During off-business hours you can lower your thermostat another degree or two to save even more.

Tip Type: Low cost. Soure: energystar.gov.

Maintain HVAC Filters

You should change or clean your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) filters every month during peak heating season. Dirty filters increase energy usage and cost, overwork your heating equipment and result in lower indoor air quality.

Tip Type: Low cost. Soure: energystar.gov.

Capture Sunlight

During the heating season, open blinds and curtains on south-facing windows to gain solar heat during the day. Sunlight is also a natural morale booster.

Tip Type: Low cost. Soure: energystar.gov.

Draw Shades and Curtains

At night, close blinds and insulated drapes to prevent heat loss.

Tip Type: Low cost. Soure: energystar.gov.

Clear Vents

To optimize warm air flow, make sure that areas in front of vents are clear of furniture and paper. As much as 25 percent more energy is required to distribute air if your vents are blocked.

Tip Type: Low cost. Soure: energystar.gov.

Replace Air Handler Filters

Conduct preventive maintenance or replace air handler filters regularly. Systems must work harder, and use more energy, to force air through dirty filters.

Tip Type: Low cost. Soure: energystar.gov.

Clean Heating System Coils

Clean evaporator and condenser coils on heat pumps, air conditioners or chillers. Dirty coils inhibit heat transfer, causing your system to use more energy.

Tip Type: Low cost. Soure: energystar.gov.

Maintain Compressed Air Systems

Repair leaks and adjust pressure in compressed air systems for maximum performance and efficiency.

Tip Type: Low cost. Soure: energystar.gov.

Repair and Replace Insulation

Fix damaged insulation and replace missing insulation with the thicknesses calculated for your system’s operating and ambient conditions.

Tip Type: Low cost. Soure: energystar.gov.

Close Exterior Doors

Keep exterior doors closed while running your heating system.

Tip Type: Low cost. Soure: energystar.gov.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats are ideal for unoccupied areas during set periods of time throughout the week. Stock rooms, warehouses and other spaces with minimal traffic should be kept cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer.

Tip Type: Low cost. Soure: energystar.gov.

Tune Up HVAC System

Tune up the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system every year. Even a new HVAC system, like a new car, will decline in performance without regular maintenance.

We recommend enrolling in a maintenance contract. It ensures that your HVAC contractor will provide “pre-season” tune ups automatically before each cooling and heating season. What’s more, regular maintenance reduces the chances of an emergency HVAC breakdown.

Tip Type: Rapid payback. Source: energystar.gov.

Plug AIr Leaks

Find and fix air leaks with weather stripping and caulking.

Tip Type: Rapid payback. Source: energystar.gov.

Add Energy-Efficient Motors

Install variable frequency drives and energy-efficient motors on your HVAC system. These save you energy and money, plus extend the system’s lifespan.

Tip Type: Rapid payback. Source: energystar.gov.

Monitor Air and Water Systems

Adjusting and balancing the HVAC air and water systems are essential to maximizing cost efficiency and preserving air quality.

Tip Type: Rapid payback. Source: energystar.gov.

Add Films and Coatings

Install window films and add insulation to reduce energy consumption.

Tip Type: Rapid payback. Source: energystar.gov.

Upgrade Heating Equipment

Upgrade and maintain your heating equipment. Retrofit or install energy-efficient models to meet your heating needs. You can also upgrade boilers and other central plant systems to energy-efficient standards.

Tip Type: Rapid payback. Source: energystar.gov.