How to optimize electricity consumption

The issue of saving energy resources is becoming more acute against the backdrop of the constant shelling of Ukrainian infrastructure by Russia. Rolling blackouts have already been introduced in Ukraine, but each company, for its part, can make an even greater contribution to the stabilization of energy consumption, which will save the company's funds.

In this article, we've put together some helpful tips for business owners to help them maintain stable operations during power outages and effectively reduce power consumption.

Buy Backup Energy Sources

In case of power outages, it is important to have backup power sources such as gasoline, diesel, or battery generators, uninterruptible power supplies, mini solar power plants, and other renewable energy sources, etc. This will help to maintain the functioning of critical equipment and workplaces for a certain period. For example, recently the SmartTender team was able to run a scheduled webinar on time only thanks to the availability of the generator.

You can also buy the necessary devices using the SmartTender electronic platform. Advertise purchases as a commercial customer and receive favorable offers from suppliers. Examples of such purchases can be viewed here.

Install Voltage Stabilizers

Voltage fluctuations in the electrical network can disable your equipment. Therefore, it is worth considering this point as well, if you have not used such devices before. Choose a voltage stabilizer according to the needs of your company and start using it. This device will be useful to you in peacetime as well.

Find out how to become a commercial customer to purchase the equipment you need at a good price in our guide.

Conduct a Training for Employees

Your employees need to understand what to do in the event of a power outage in the workplace, especially if you plan to use backup power sources. Team cohesion and understanding of their steps will help avoid many potential problems.

Conduct appropriate training and prepare printed instructions (remember that in such situations the Internet may not work). If your employees work remotely, you can provide SMS-distribution.

Consider How to Reduce Energy Consumption

In terms of saving electricity in the country, your company can make a significant contribution:

1. Optimize working areas by reducing, for example, the number of rooms to be heated and lit.

2. Refuse to illuminate external signs and lights during non-working hours.

3. Reduce the temperature in the room by 4-6 degrees during non-working hours. According to the US Department of Energy, this helps reduce energy consumption by 30%.

4. Optimize work processes and discard excess. It is more profitable to outsource some tasks, and to abandon some altogether. For example, polygraphy can be ordered from a specialized company, and instead of printing documents, switch to electronic document management.

5. Schedule the rest of the work processes in such a way that the most energy-consuming tasks fall on the time of the least load on the power grid. According to DTEK reports, this is between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Some processes, such as cleaning, washing, baking, can be moved to the night hours, after 11:00 p.m.

6. Save electricity in the simplest actions:

- - turn off the lights when you leave the room (up to 30% of energy is spent on lighting empty offices);
  - use sockets with timers that stop working at a specified time;
  - remove the plugs from the socket when the battery of the phone or other equipment has been charged;
  - pour as much water into the electric kettle as you need at a time, etc.

If you are interested in the long-term perspective of economical use of energy resources, you can learn more about alternative energy sources in Ukraine, choose office premises that better maintain the temperature regime, give preference to optimal heating and ventilation systems (for example, heat pumps for heating instead of central heating), buy equipment with high energy efficiency indicators, etc.

All these tips will help you save the country's energy resources in this difficult time, and save your company's money for future more useful expenses.

The article was prepared based on Yulia Kuvitanova's material: https://www.epravda.com.ua/columns/2022/10/26/693051/