Nowadays, it is becoming more popular for businesses to focus on environmental sustainability and eco-friendly practices. It has become more important to use energy-efficient measures. Car garages are part of one of the busiest and most energy-consuming industries in the world. There are many benefits to creating and initiating a culture of energy efficiency in these workspaces. This article explores seven tips on how car garages can become more energy-efficient businesses while also looking at the benefits that come with it.
7 Energy-Efficiency Tips
1. Energy Audit
Doing an energy audit will determine a car garage’s energy efficiency. The garage can do its own energy audit or hire a professional to come out to the business and do a more thorough inspection. This person will use specifically designed tests to look at the building and energy systems, as well as energy bills and other documents. The audit report will give an assessment of the garage’s energy consumption, showing where energy is being used and what it is being used for. An energy audit will determine if the garage is being charged a fair energy tariff and being billed accurately. The audit will also show where energy is being wasted, along with tips on how to become more energy-efficient. The auditor can also follow up on the garage’s efforts to become more energy-efficient.
2. Compare and Switch Supplier
The garage can use an energy comparison company to make sure that they are getting the best energy deal for their budget and needs. This company will look at all the deals and tariffs that are available along with their benefits and put together a list that the garage can choose from. By using a comparison company, it frees the garage employees up to do their work instead of having to do the research themselves. The garage should try and get a better deal from their current supplier first. If a different supplier offers a better deal, it might be best for the garage to switch suppliers. Most of the time, the comparison company will help the garage with the process of switching suppliers.
3. Involve Employees
Without employee involvement, any energy-efficiency measures will most likely fail. Employees need to be educated about the importance of energy-saving and the benefits that come along with it. They need to receive the necessary training so that they can become as involved as possible. This training will help employees get used to the necessary changes that will affect their work routines. Every person that works at the company should receive this training, whether it is the owner or the cleaner. The garage needs to have a way that employees can give feedback about energy-efficiency systems, and they can give any ideas that they might have. Give one person the task of running and monitoring efficiency initiatives and keeping everyone on track. Use posters to remind people to save as much energy as possible. You can use incentives as a way of motivating your employees to save energy and to change their behaviour and attitudes.
4. Equipment
Always turn equipment off and unplug it when you’re not using it. You should make sure that the garage’s equipment is cleaned regularly. You also need to set up a schedule so that equipment is maintained frequently. This will ensure that you get the most use out of your equipment. If any issues are found, you need to repair them as soon as possible. This will prevent more expensive breakdowns in the future. When equipment is well taken care of, it will perform at its best and use less energy to make up for problems. If any equipment needs to be replaced, you should try and invest in more sustainable and energy-efficient models.
5. Heating and Cooling
The entire garage needs to be well insulated against draughts and air leaks. Instead of keeping the bay doors open the entire time and letting air conditioners or heaters work overtime, you can install a regular door that people can use to enter and exit the area while the big doors stay closed. The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system needs to be maintained on a regular basis so that small problems can be fixed before they become too big and expensive. Make sure to clean air filters that can block airflow and make the system work extra hard, and use more energy than needed. Keep the temperature in the right setting. If you install programmable controls, it will be easier to change the temperature depending on the time of day.
6. Lighting
Replace traditional lights with LED bulbs that use less energy and give off less heat. These bulbs are also cheaper to replace than ordinary ones. If an area isn’t being used, the lights have to be turned off. You can install sensors that will turn the lights on when it senses movement and off when it doesn’t. If timers are installed, they will keep the lights on for a preset time and only during certain times of the day. Use as much natural light as possible. The bay doors can be made of glass and covered with shutters when the garage is closed. Skylights are also a good way to make use of natural light.
7. Go Green
Your car garage can use alternative energy sources to generate energy instead of getting it from the National Grid. Some of the renewable energy sources are solar, wind, hydro, tidal, geothermal, and biomass energy. You can get green energy through your energy supplier, which gets it from large-scale energy farms. Another way to get renewable energy is to use microgeneration. This is when your garage invests in its own renewable energy generator, like solar panels on the roof or in the parking garage. Small-scale wind turbines can be put on poles outside of the garage. This energy-saving method is a big investment, but it will pay off in a short amount of time.
Benefits of Energy-Efficiency
The most obvious benefits of car garages becoming more energy-efficient are saving money and reducing financial risk. Being more energy-efficient improves the working conditions of everyone working at the garage, including the safety of workers. The health benefits of people working at the garage have increased. Employee loyalty and productivity increase as well.
Being energy-efficient increases the garage’s brand awareness with people who are more interested in businesses focused on sustainability. It introduces the business to an entirely new potential customer base. This leads to increased competitiveness among different car garages in the same area. By using renewable energy sources, car garages have more independence from the national energy supply, which means that they are also not that bothered by energy interruptions. Naturally, being more energy-efficient is also good for the planet.
Conclusion
This article looked at seven different ways that an energy-efficient culture can be created in car garages. These included energy audits, comparing and switching suppliers, involving employees, equipment, heating and cooling, lighting, and going green. The benefits of being energy-efficient were also discussed. You can find more information about car garages by visiting https://www.keepdriving.com.
