When it comes to facility maintenance, there seems to be an endless list of things needing repair or improvement. Here is a list of easy and obvious ways to save energy that you may have overlooked this summer:

7 Ways To Save Energy

1. Turn your lights off at night.

This is one of the easiest ways to save energy and money, yet many buildings keep their lights on throughout the evening. Cut the lights and save a few bucks.

2. Change your light bulbs.

According to Energy Star, nearly 70-percent of light sockets in the U.S. are home to inefficient light bulbs. Energy Star LED bulbs and other efficient light bulbs will conserve energy and last longer, meaning fewer expenses on replacements in the future.

3. Make sure your windows are properly sealed.

Cool air will pour out of poorly sealed windows. Fortunately, the fix is easy with the proper sealant.

4. Lower blinds and shades at during the day.

Glass is a poor insulator, and these barriers help to keep you building cool during the day.

5. Use power strips.

By having all of your power cords plugged into one source, you can easily turn off all devices with the flick of a switch. Some power strips even detect when a device isn’t being used and turns off its power consumption.

6. Don’t keep your refrigerators so cold.

Fridges are a huge drain on energy, but most office refrigerators don’t need to be kept at sub-Arctic temperatures. Make sure your fridges are kept at appropriate temperatures and no colder than they need to be.

7. Keep track of work orders and maintenance checks with a computerized maintenance management system.

One of the easiest ways to pinpoint energy inefficiency in a building is to look at components that need constant repair or receive numerous resident complaints. Drafty rooms and temperature adjustment requests are just a couple of signs that your facility is wasting energy. Keeping track of routine maintenance can also help lower facility maintenance costs by addressing problems before they get out of hand.