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No-Cost Ways to Cut Your Energy Costs In Uncertain Times

image of lights in a building next to a bank of windows.

We’ve teamed up with our local BC-utility companies, FortisBC and BC Hydro, and are offering free energy assessments for businesses in the Thompson Okanagan region. If you are a business in the Thompson Okanagan region, contact us to schedule your free energy assessment. 

If you are outside of the Thompson-Okanagan region, fear not. We’ve compiled a list of no-cost tips for cutting your energy costs during times of reduced levels of operation or temporary closures: 

Heating and cooling

  • Reprogram your thermostat to reflect adjusted operating hours. 
    • Recommended thermostat heating temperatures, health permitting, are 68°F / 20°C when the building is occupied, and 58°F / 14°C when unoccupied.  
    • Recommended thermostat cooling temperatures, health permitting, are 68°F / 23°C when the building is occupied, and 58°F / 28°C when unoccupied.
    • For larger businesses – reprogram your building management system to reflect your building’s new operating schedule.  Put the building on “Holiday/Break” mode if unoccupied for an extended period.
    • Turn off radiant and unit heaters when the building is unoccupied.

Hot Water

  • Turn down water heaters when the building is unoccupied for a longer period of time.

Appliances and Electronics

  • Turn off and/or unplug idling appliances, electronics, and equipment when not in use. 

Electronics

  • Turn off computers, printers or, at minimum, place in sleep and hibernate modes when business is unoccupied.
  • Turn off the power strip when electronics aren’t in use.
  • When not in use, unplug small appliances and electronics, like coffee makers and printers. 

Lighting

  • Turn off lighting, including outdoor signage and display cases (if appropriate), when the building is unoccupied.
  • Reprogram lighting controls to reflect adjusted operating hours.

Food Service-Specific Tips

  • Turn off empty refrigerated display cases and refrigerators, leaving the display case door open when the restaurant is unoccupied.
  • Turn off stoves, fryers, grills and boilers when the restaurant is unoccupied
  • Turn off booster heaters and dishwasher water heaters when the dishwasher is not in use and when the restaurant is unoccupied.
  • Turn off kitchen exhaust fans when the restaurant is unoccupied.

We understand how hard the tourism industry is being affected by COVID-19. Wellness, health, and safety are key to sustainability and to that end, we would love to help you to amplify your messages of how you’re handling this situation. 

Now more than ever, it is important that we gather around and lift each other up. With so many travel restrictions being put into place, and as soon as “the curve” is flattened, people will be seeking local and regional experiences to maintain and restore their connection to the community. Please share with us any stories of resiliency in action so we may spread the word and promote you and your COVID-19 plans through our channels.