Sustainability: business, life, environment

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the summer heat is here and that usually translates to higher energy consumption and expenses at our homes and businesses.  The added load of air conditioning in combination with traditional consumption can place high demands on the grid as well as our pocket books.  So what can we do to beat the heat, manage our energy bill, and help the environment?

Working as a professional consultant in the Energy Industry for many years, I have been privy to my share of discussions on the topic of energy.  In most instances, eco awareness is not a sustainability concept that has gone unnoticed.
 
Taiga Company’s small business resources and personal consulting advises clients to focus on solutions that have immediate and long term impact.  While there is a myriad of energy efficient technologies available today, the sustainability concept of energy conservation is a solution within everyone’s budget and circle of influence.
 
The first step in any sustainable improvement is to understand where you currently are in the process.  In this case, it is important to understand the what, how, and when of your current energy consumption. 

•    Which appliances and/or equipment are consuming the most energy?
•    How are these high energy consumption items being run (simultaneously, non-efficiently, etc.)
•    When are these high energy consumption items running (when not needed, during peak load times, etc.)

Conservation and active energy management means that you are aware of the answers to these questions and can make the optimum decision on what, how, and when your consumption takes place.

•    Run non-essential high demand items during off-peak hours to minimize usage charges.
•    Stagger your high demand equipment to minimize your demand charges.
•    Evaluate the efficiency of your high demand equipment to improve your power factor.

Active management of daily consumption can stabilize energy expenses and contribute to an overall business sustainability plan and a sustainable lifestyle.  Whether you have the capital to invest in alternative energies for your business or the desire to use less energy, the decisions you make have real impacts on your business, life, environment.  At Taiga Company, we help clients identify mitigation strategies as well as understand the nature of their consumption.