Energy Saving Tips for Home Businesses
I’m guessing we are all going to be in “saving” mode for some time. When times are good, we don’t much bother with saving. Now, with the “credit crunch” and fewer ways to raise money for home business operation and expansion, we all need to look at cost savings.
Saving on energy use in your home business might take some doing, but here are some tips from the Alliance to Save Energy:
- Turn off home office machines when they aren’t being used. Find the “sleep” feature and activate it. I make sure my computer is in “hibernate” when I’m not around. Not only does this save energy, it keeps the computer running longer.
- Plug leaks by weather-stripping and caulking doors and windows. Put in those storm windows. We have an older home, so every year, my husband I look forward (!?!) to the twice-a-year routine of taking off the screens and putting on the storm windows in the fall, and doing the reverse in the summer. The cursing/swearing will be next weekend. It’s still worth it; we notice the difference as soon as those storm windows go on.
- If you are buying new office products, choose ENERGY STAR-certified electronic products for your home office. These products use less energy when running and when turned off.
- Use the new compact florescent blubs (CFL’s) (the one on the left in the photo). They might cost more, but they do save a lot of money. The Alliance to Save Energy says these bulbs use up to 75% less energy than conventional bulbs. We buy them on sale and stock up. When our regular light bulbs go out, we replace them with these new bulbs.
- Tune up your furnace and water heater - make sure the furnace filters are changed regularly and consider one of those “jackets” for the water heater.
You can also get tax credits for energy saving projects in your home business in 2009. I will remind you about this closer to the end of the year, but you might want to put off some of these projects until January to get the tax credit.
In the meantime, save your bills for energy related products and services (like a checkup by the power company), and take these to your CPA to see if you can get credit for them on your taxes. Even if you don’t get a tax benefit, you will still be saving money.
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