Getting Started
Here’s a basic plan of action to reduce your energy use and costs:
- Assess the impact of energy use on your bottom line. Use the ComEd Business Energy Analysis Tool to better understand how and where your business uses energy. By answering a few simple questions about your facility and type of business, you can learn how your energy consumption breaks down by end use, where the low-cost energy saving opportunities are, how your usage compares to that of similar businesses in Illinois, and how much you can save by making energy efficiency upgrades.
- Set energy reduction goals. Clear goals guide daily decision-making and are the basis for tracking and measuring progress. Communicate and post your energy reduction goals to motivate staff to support energy reduction efforts throughout the business.
- Identify and implement strategies for reducing your energy usage. Basic strategies for energy reduction include automating your energy functions, weatherizing your building, cleaning or changing fan filters regularly, and buying ENERGY STAR® and other energy-efficient equipment and products. For more strategies and implementation ideas, explore the tips and tools on this website and the “Additional Resources” listed on each page.
- Track and measure your progress. Identify the data (“performance metrics”) you will use to track the progress of your energy-reduction strategies. Then track the data, comparing your actual performance to the established goals. Determine what worked well, what didn’t and why, and adjust your strategies as needed.
- Recognize good performance. Recognize the contributions of individuals and teams within your organization that helped you successfully reduce your energy usage.