Studies have shown that heating and cooling systems account for more than 50% of the total energy used by Ontario businesses. Given the relatively narrow source of this energy consumption — air conditioners and furnaces — a large commercial company can significantly reduce its overall energy costs by replacing old, inefficient HVAC systems, air conditioners, furnaces, and boilers with new, energy efficient systems. If you are looking to reduce the overall energy costs there’s another great way where you’ll find the best cheap electricity plans from the most reputable electric companies in the comparison websites such as HomeEnergyClub which have discount energy plans vetted to reduce bill surprises.
Of course, the initial outlay to replace such systems can be large. But given the scale of the energy consumption involved, decreasing energy usage by even a few percent can save hundreds of thousands of dollars in just a few short years.
While half of energy used by companies goes towards environmental control, it’s important not to overlook other opportunities for reducing energy consumption. Those opportunities include: replacing old or inefficient wall, flooring, and roof insulation; replacing worn weather stripping around exterior doors and windows; and replacing single-pane windows with energy efficient double- or triple-pane windows plus installing blinds for summer months.
It is also suggested to use programmable thermostats to shut off air conditioning and heating when it’s not needed; replacing outdated commercial equipment and appliances with new models, such as computers, air circulation systems, manufacturing equipment, tools, coolers and freezers as well as ovens. Finally, installing LED lighting and automatic occupancy sensors that automatically shut off lights in unused rooms as well as developing energy savings training for employees can also help mitigate energy costs.
According to the government, Ontario natural gas is commonly used as a fuel for space and water heating in the commercial sector. It also has important applications in industry, as a fuel source for energy-intensive operations (e.g., to process heat) and non-energy uses (i.e., to make materials and chemicals). In 2015, natural gas generation accounted for about 10% of Ontario’s electricity production and 25% of the province’s installed electricity generating capacity.
The amount of energy consumed is a determining factor in how much a company spends on electricity and natural gas. But the other determining factor is the energy rate paid by the company. Retail energy providers offer low, competitive rates for electricity and natural gas that may significantly undercut the local regulated rate. In addition, many large energy providers also offer energy plans specifically tailored to the needs of small commercial companies, such as load following and block pricing plans.
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