In honor of National Small Business Week, we are putting energy saving tips for small businesses in the spotlight. Most of us tend to me the most concerned about our home energy bills. However, when you own a small business, those energy bills can be outrageous. Cut down on overhead costs in your small business office with these tips:

-Use natural light whenever possible. Putting in skylights can help keep your office bright without lights! You can also mimic a lighter area by painting the walls of your office bright colors. When you do have to use bulbs, be sure to use LED or CFL bulbs.

-Change the normal light switches to motion sensor switches. This way when you or an employee are out to lunch or not at work, you don’t have to remember to turn off the light – it will turn off all by itself!

-Be sure to upgrade to energy efficient equipment like printers, copiers, and heating and cooling systems.

-Get on a preventative maintenance schedule for your heating and cooling systems. Changing the filters, nozzles, and getting regular cleanings and maintenance checks can all help to save you money on your energy bills and can lengthen the life of your equipment!

-Invest in a programmable thermostat and energy efficiency fans to help keep your employees comfortable while cutting down on energy costs.

-Avoid keeping computers and other machines on after the end of the business day. You can also get energy saving power strips to help prevent phantom energy usage.

Running a small business in this economy is difficult enough without having to pay more than you need to for your energy bills. The tips above, as well as getting an energy audit to pinpoint energy loss can help save you money and make your business more successful!