A great majority of people in the United States have an inherent bias against energy efficient products. In fact, one study showed that 4 in 5 consumers believe that eco-friendly products are much more expensive compared to “normal” products.
This can, of course, be true. The initial investment in energy efficient buildings & products can be more expensive. However, the cost savings, in the long run, is huge!
The same study from earlier also showed that a majority of people would use & buy these things if there were cost savings involved.
That being said, business owners can make a huge impact on their commercial energy efficiency, on their bills, and on the environment by making a few changes and implementing eco-friendly practices.
Let’s look at the benefits of energy efficient buildings & products for business owners.
Save Money with Energy Efficient Construction & Buildings
We actually just covered the topic of energy efficient construction and its benefits in a recent blog post. But let’s give you a little overview here as well.
If you’re looking to build a new building or a remodel, energy efficient construction practices can reduce your project’s energy use. This can also reduce your overall energy use (and, thus, your energy bills) for as long as the new energy efficient building is in operation.
For example, using energy efficient fuel sources during construction can save a lot of money. This can also reduce the emissions of your construction project.
With about 5.7 percent of construction budgets dedicated to fuel & energy costs, reducing your use can greatly reduce your overall project spend.
To put it simply: going green during construction saves you a lot of green during a construction project.
Another one of the benefits of energy efficient buildings is that the building will, overall, use less energy once the project or upgrades are complete.
Energy efficient building materials, lighting, HVAC, specialized electrical systems, and more can be more costly compared to “normal” options. However, the eco-friendly options are an investment that will pay off over time.
Choosing to invest in the right materials, equipment, and features can greatly reduce energy use, which will benefit you in the long run.
Take Advantage of Rebates and Incentives
Something that holds back many business-owners from implementing commercial energy efficiency is the initial cost.
However, every business and building are going to have costs associated with it. Choosing to install energy efficient upgrades, materials, and appliances will reduce those costs in the long run.
Businesses that choose energy efficient products also have the benefit of using incentives to reduce costs.
For example, Mass save rebates in Massachusetts offer coupons, rebates, and more to get commercial business owners to opt for greener options without breaking the bank. This reduces your initial investment costs, which means that you get to the payoff much quicker.
Environmental Benefits
Of course, there are also environmental benefits to going green as well.
Commercial and residential buildings use 40 percent of all energy in the United States and account for over one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions as well.
Opting for energy efficient building options is one of the key ways that business owners can make huge impacts on the environment.
Attract Employees
No business can exist or function without dedicated and hardworking employees. And the fact of the matter is that today’s employees want to work for companies that are going green.
About 40 percent of millennials say that they chose the company they work for based on their sustainability practices. Some of those surveyed said that they would even take a pay cut in order to work at a business that practices sustainability and commercial energy efficiency.
Energy efficient buildings and products within your business not only saves you money. It can also help to attract the best candidates to your company.
Benefits of Energy Efficient Buildings & Products: Final Thoughts
The benefits of energy efficient buildings don’t end there!
Even with you saving money, helping the planet, and getting great employees, there are many other benefits that we didn’t go over. Safety, brand image, reputation… the list goes on.
To learn more about how you can start improving your efficiency, check out our energy efficiency projects page. There, you can see how we were able to implement these practices in a practical way.
You can also contact us to set up a consultation or ask any questions.