By TRACEY DRURY
tdrury@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1609

The majority of new office buildings and company facilities are now designed as a matter of course with all kinds of energy efficiencies built right in, in addition to appliances or machinery that fit federal Energy Star guidelines.

But maximizing energy efficiency and lowering energy costs are attainable goals, too, for companies operating out of older facilities, including renovated homes or churches.

"You can reduce your utility costs by probably 20 percent by paying attention to the operational parameters of your building," says Michael Conway, general manager for C.J. Brown Energy P.C.

With cooler weather on the way, following are a series of easy tips - many of them common sense - that will help make sure utility bills decline along with the thermometer.

• Turn off the lights when no one is in the room. This one goes back to what your mother always said, but it can be made easier by using motion-control sensors that automatically turn off the lights when movement in the room ceases after a period of time. But pay attention to settings: If someone hits the off button to over-ride the shut-off, it's worthless.

This also goes for other electronics, including computers. A computer monitor uses twice as much energy as the computer. If you tend to forget at the end of a long workday, try setting the computer to automatically return to set-back or sleep mode after a certain time of day or a period of inactivity.

"It's simple, common-sense things that we forget about," Conway says. "These can actually reduce operations costs with minimal to no expenditure."

• Lower water temperatures on the hot water tank. Many companies have shower facilities or machinery that rely on water flow, but don't necessarily need temperatures to be as hot as they may have been in the past. If the user needs to add cold water to make the water temp more comfortable, that's a good sign the hot water tank is turned up too high, burning energy more often than necessary.

• Seal up cracks and crevices around doors, windows and around pipes and air conditioning units. Insulate openings with appropriate weather stripping; and make sure to use insulation, especially in older buildings. Try passing a lit candle around cracks to check for leaks, or hire a professional to bring in a thermal imaging unit or a depressurization testing unit.

"One of the most cost-effective energy savings is to make sure the house or office has enough insulation," says John Fragale, president of Home Insulation & Supply Inc., Lancaster. "It really pays you back in the long run and is by far the cheapest thing."

• Perform an energy audit, either through a professional or on your own. Sometimes it's the simplest thing that can make a huge difference in your energy bill, but until it's checked off on a list, it's ignored.

The state offers an array of audit programs through NYSERDA's Energy Smart program, which focuses on saving energy and reducing utility costs. The program offers financial assistance to help small businesses, nonprofit groups and schools make better-informed decisions. C.J. Brown Energy is designated by NYSERDA to deliver such audits in Western New York.

• Replace light bulbs. Using energy-efficient, compact fluorescent bulbs instead of standard incandescent ones can save 75 percent on electricity costs. Use floodlights only when needed: According to NYSERDA, they use 2.5 times more electricity than indoor lights.

• Consider the facility. Companies located in renovated residential homes, including sole practitioners who operate from home offices, should check out additional resources for residential and consumer audit programs. Additional rebates or discounts may be available for such structures.

For these business owners, Fragale recommends reviewing home utility bills over several years to look for changes that could indicate newer problems, such as a hole in the roof or attic leaks - both easily fixed once the problem is identified.