Posted By 
By Sia Hasan
Special to the Financial Independence Hub
No one likes the sting of putting out money for building repairs, but if your initial investment could save you hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars, it’s well-worth the momentary pain. These same upgrades will also help you avoid costly damage that would end up making a bad situation even worse. If you’re the owner of a business or company, here are six commercial upgrades that could keep you in the green.
Get into hot water
Most people try to stay out of hot water, but the fact is that everyone needs it and it can get expensive if your heater isn’t efficient. When your hot water tank is old, rusty or leaking, don’t try to squeak by for another year. For example, if you live in California, contacting a water heater company in Granada Hills and changing out that old tank, or selecting a newer “tankless” system, will start saving you money right away. Once you’ve got a new tank in, always remember to keep the water temperature just hot enough and never on the highest setting, and you’ll see the difference in your bill.
Change out your bulbs
Changing out your company’s lighting is the easiest tip you probably never thought of. In a place of business, lights are in use all day, every day, so why not save every penny you can? Switching your regular incandescent bulbs to energy-saving LED bulbs will use 75% less energy. They also last 25 times longer than regular bulbs! In a building where the lights are on all day and possibly all night, switching to LEDs will save you significant money.
Weatherize the Building
Just like you save energy at home, you should do the same at your workplace and weatherization is just the ticket. For example, you know that drafty area everyone complains about? That’s hard-earned money going right out the window. Before you lose any more, now’s the time to seal up or replace those loose fitting windows and doors, making the building attractive as well as efficient. If your office gets extremely cold during chilly days, consider brand new insulation or adding to what you already have.
Take advantage of the Sun
More and more businesses are deciding to harness the energy of the sun to help with costs. Using solar power can greatly reduce your electric bill, but is most compatible with larger establishments that have the space to install an adequate size system.
Using solar energy also makes your company look good and lets clients know you care about the environment by reducing your carbon footprint. This could bring new partnerships your way with other green “like-minded” companies.
Landscape the Grounds
Did you know landscaping can save you money? Immaculate grounds can certainly help attract new business, but if you’re smart in your designing, it can save you money, too. Planting quick-growing trees can shade your business reducing cooling costs. Likewise, trees, shrubs and hedges carefully planted on the north to northwest side of the building can be a useful windbreak saving you from storm damage.
Check the Furnace
A furnace that’s not running well can suck every last dollar from your wallet. Updating your HVAC unit will lower your bill and also allow you to implement a programmable thermostat. That means you’ll be able to control the temperature in different parts of your business or turn it off where it’s not needed. If you’re dealing with a standard oil or electric furnace, you could switch to natural gas and save even more money. Remember to replace filters and have your unit regularly serviced.
Reap the Savings
When you’re trying to save money for your business, you might be tempted to go with the cheapest option to score a bargain, but this isn’t a wise idea. Putting off expenses like a hot water heater, weatherization or a furnace can result in damage and even more expense. Instead, invest now and reap the savings for years to come.
Sia Hasan is a tech entrepreneur by day, and a freelance writer by night. Her passion lies in business technology, efficient and sleek programming, and customer relationship management. When she doesn’t have her nose pressed against her computer screen, you can find her spending time with the loves of her life, her two dogs, Pixel and Vector.
