Home office energy efficiency
We all know times are tough right now and it’s not only consumers who are pinching pennies. Even businesses are tightening their belts. With this in mind, sometimes, being energy efficient means doing our part to help the environment but it also means saving ourselves – and our home businesses – valuable dollars. As usual, there are government resources available to provide direction and assistance to small and home business owners.
Energy Star
Virtually any small or home business can improve its energy efficiency easily and cost-effectively, using the numerous resources that are available both from Energy Star and a wide variety of other organizations. Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. Energy Star rates and recommends products that can save you – even putting a sticker on these products so you recognize them. But check out the site for lists of products, great tips, etc.
Home Business Energy Savings & Free Government Tools
Saving energy for your home-based business may seem like a challenge, but there are some simple, no-cost or low-cost steps you can take to reduce your energy bills by as much as 30%. Here are things you can do for free to save your home business money immediately:
- Turn up or turn back the thermostat during unoccupied times.
- Consider buying a programmable thermostat.
- Turn off lights or office equipment at night and over the weekend.
- Take advantage of daylight.
- Use e-mail instead for faxes and paper memos or letters.
- Disconnect unnecessary equipment.
There’s also a very easy, web-based energy efficiency tool. The Home Energy Saver is designed to help identify the best ways to save energy and find the resources to make the savings happen. The project is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), as part of the national ENERGY STAR Program (mentioned above), for improving energy efficiency in homes, with previous support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s PATH program, and the California Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program.
Tax Credits
There are federal tax credits available, too. A tax credit can provide significant savings. It reduces the amount of income tax you have to pay. Unlike a deduction, which reduces the amount of income subject to tax, a tax credit directly reduces the tax itself. Tax credits are available for home builders, manufacturers, commercial buildings, and they are available on fuel efficient vehicles as well.
The US Department of Energy (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy) has a database that captures state and federal laws and incentives related to alternative fuels and vehicles, air quality, fuel efficiency, and other transportation-related topics. State-level information is updated annually after each state’s legislative session ends. To access state information on this site is simple – you just select a state from the map on the site. Federal information is updated after enacted legislation is signed into law. Select the Federal Incentives and Laws link to get the latest federal-level information.
Other References
Energy Savers Tips for Saving Money
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