While summer brings to mind green grass, long days and warm temperatures, it can also mean extreme heat, high humidity and sudden storms. Is your business ready? Take steps now to optimize energy savings and ensure a comfortable and safe business environment all summer long.
Your cooling system
Hot, humid weather can strain your cooling system and make your indoor environment less comfortable. Take these measures to optimize system performance.
- Hire a qualified professional to inspect and clean your cooling system. A tune-up will help spot any problems and ensure your system operates efficiently.
- Increase building temperatures after hours to avoid wasting energy and keeping your empty building comfortable. Optimize savings and convenience by installing smart thermostats, which automatically adjust temperatures based on your operating schedule.
- Keep vents unobstructed by furniture or equipment to improve airflow and increase cooling system efficiency.
Your facility
Air leaks in your building envelope — windows, doors, roof and walls — can compromise comfort and make your cooling system work harder. Take these steps to seal in comfort and savings.
- Check windows and doors for leaks and seal them with caulk and weatherstripping. Seal and insulate ductwork. Air leaking through ducts reduces cooling system efficiency.
- Consult with a qualified insulation contractor to make sure your walls and ceilings are insulated to levels recommended by building energy codes for your climate zone.
Your people and operations
Summer storms and lightning can damage your facility, interrupt operations and endanger staff. Take these steps to prepare your business.
- Review and update your emergency response plan. The plan should include procedures for building evacuation and crisis communications, as well as business closing and reopening.
- Install power quality protection, such as surge protectors or UPS devices, to safeguard sensitive electronic equipment during summer storms or other power quality events.
- Make sure that you have a reliable source of backup power, such as a generator, available and in working condition. Perform all recommended testing and maintenance procedures.
- Stay informed by signing up for outage alerts in our app or website to get the latest power outage information delivered to you by push, text, phone or email.
With these steps, you'll be ready to optimize operations and stay in business no matter what the summer weather has to offer.