Energy
Energy
Did you know that non-transportation energy use accounts for nearly three fifths of Westchester County’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions? Of this, residential and nonresidential energy-related GHG emissions are at similar levels. The business sector can undertake the actions below to improve its energy efficiency and reduce their demand for fossil fuel.
Use our interactive scorecard and refer to the county's action plan to evaluate your progress to date in this area and get linked to specific tools and resources to help you implement the recommended actions below.
| Determine your energy usage baseline | ||
| Establish an energy usage baseline from 12 months worth of your utility bills. | ||
| Perform an energy audit | ||
| Conduct an energy audit to determine the sources of your energy usage, and generate ideas of where you may be able to conserve. | ||
| Develop energy reduction goals and timetable | ||
| Set energy reduction goals and an implementation timetable based on your usage and reduction opportunities. Set a goal of at least 10% reduction. Implement at least one reduction measure. | ||
| Shift electrical usage to non-peak times | ||
| Shifting to non-peak usage helps keep less efficient plants from coming on line and with some energy plans it can also save money. Utilities bring on line less efficient plants which results in higher GHG emissions when energy demand is high. | ||
| Reduce lighting | ||
| Reduce lighting when daylight is sufficient. Put signs over light switches such as “Turn off when leaving.” | ||
| Purchase CFL or LED lights | ||
| Replace incandescent bulbs at your business with compact fluorescent or LED lights. | ||
| Install common area and personal work space lighting timers or sensors | ||
| Utilize timed lighting or occupancy sensors in all common areas (supply closets, kitchens, etc.) and personal work spaces. | ||
| Remove one fluorescent bulb from certain fixtures | ||
| If fluorescent light fixtures (electronic ballast only) in the facility have three bulbs, remove one from each. | ||
| Install energy-efficient exit signs | ||
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Install LED or energy efficient bulbs in exit signs. |
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| Reduce light pollution | ||
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Survey the amount of light pollution generated by your business and implement one or more reduction strategies. |
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| Assess HVAC efficiency strategies | ||
| Assess strategies to better manage your thermostat settings, and increase the efficiency of your heating, cooling, and ventilation system, and implement at least one of these strategies. | ||
| Inventory your business appliances/equipment | ||
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Create a list of all your business appliances/equipment and record whether or not they are energy efficient. |
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| Write an ENERGY STAR purchasing policy | ||
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Establish a policy that when replacing or adding new equipment or appliances, they shall have an ENERGY STAR rating. |
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| Modify computer power-saving mode | ||
| Change the settings on all office computers to go into sleep mode after a set time of non-use, discontinue the use of screen savers, and/or implement a "Computer Shut Off" education campaign. | ||
| Modify copier/printer power-saving mode | ||
| Reduce copier/printer power consumption by using stand by mode after 15 minutes of non-use and completely turn off at the end of the day. | ||
| Make your vending machines more energy efficient | ||
| Implement "off-hours" shutdown schedule or install devices to automatically reduce vending machine energy use. | ||
| Install renewable energy | ||
| Install renewable energy such as solar, wind, and geothermal, where appropriate. Take advantage of existing financing opportunities. | ||
| Purchase renewable energy credits or CO2 offsets | ||
| Purchase CO2 offsets or renewable energy credits for 10% to 25% or 50% and more of electricity usage. | ||
| Adopt green building practices | ||
| Adopt green building practices for new buildings and infrastructure and major renovations. | ||