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Category:
Published: October 2007
My cousin owns a large company in New Jersey, and recently he asked me what renewable energy systems (solar panels, etc.) he could use at his company to save money. I told him the first thing that needs to be addressed (and the first thing I always discuss with individuals and business owners)... conservation!
By conserving energy you will see the biggest and fastest return on your investment, and you will be happier with your future renewable energy system. Looking to save money with renewable energy systems without first conserving is like complaining about high gas prices and still driving a gas-guzzling SUV.
I talked with my cousin about this and learned that he has quite a few computers in his office that are not shut down at night. This was a great place to start. There are many products out there that can help businesses and individuals with this particular problem. One of the most common is a simple power strip.
He has 40 computers that are not needed after hours, and he is pretty sure the users do not turn them off when they leave at the end of the day. Each computer consumes approximately 200 watts of electricity per hour (most desktop computers will use anywhere from 100 to 400 watts). Let's assume that the computers are not needed for a minimum of 10hrs in a 24 hour period. 10 hrs x 200 watts = two kilowatts per day saved per computer if the unit is turned off.
That's over $4000 per year he can save by just shutting down his non-essential computers at night. If my cousin paid $4,000 for motion-detecting power strips for each desk, the power strips would pay for themselves in approximately one year, and maybe less.
If you are having a similar experience, put a simple power strip at everyone's desk and instruct them to turn off everything when they go home. If you can't get employees to do this on a regular basis, you can buy a $100 motion-sensing power strip like the Isol power strip from Watt Stopper (I carry it in my store) to do it for them. If the strip doesn't sense motion for a specified amount of time (from 30 seconds to 30 minutes) it shuts down everything that is plugged into six of its eight outlets. You may think that $100 is a lot to pay for a power strip, but in this example the power strip will pay for itself in less than a year, so thinking long-term is essential.
These can also work at home. Plug your kid's PlayStation or Nintendo and the TV into the Isol; if he leaves it on and walks away, it shuts off. Better yet, throw the PlayStation away, send him outside to cut the lawn, clean the gutters or help the elderly people next door.
Turn those non-essential power loads off. You'll save money and your business will be more profitable.
SAVING FORMULA: Here is a simple calculation to give you a good estimate of his potential energy savings:
2 kWh x 40 computers = 80 kWh per day
80 kWh x 30 days = 2400 kWh
2400 kWh x $0.15 = $360
$360 per month x 12 months = $4320 /year saved
$0.15 is just a guess as to what he pays per kilowatt-hour, which is most likely a very low estimate. I pay $0.25 per kWh at my store when I figure in taxes, delivery charges etc.
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