Imagine for a moment that someone waltzed into your office and demanded 30% of your bottom line every year — no explanation, no real reason. They just wanted it, and you were being forced to fork it over. What if I told you that there is a strong possibility that that’s happening to you right now? According to Energy Star, the average commercial building wastes 30% of the energy used — energy that you pay for month after month.

What if I told that didn’t have to be the case? You don’t have to be the “average” utility user. Instead, you can take action and take back part of your bottom line.

There are multiple ways to increase the efficiency with which your company uses energy. Some of these practices you can start as early as the next business day, while others may require a more significant amount of time and effort, though they’ll pay off in the long run.

You can begin by considering these five energy tips:

Start With The Little Things

The notion of energy savings, at least when your business is concerned, typically conjures up images of massive equipment or costly structural updates. While those changes certainly are included in the overall plan, it’s often the little things, like light bulbs, personal fans, personal heaters and appliances left on that eat into your energy budget.

A great place to start is by replacing lighting fixtures and bulbs with more energy-efficient and planet-friendly alternatives. Though the impact may seem small on a month to month basis, it can easily accumulate to hundreds of dollars saved over the course of the year.

Similarly, when lights, printers, monitors and computers are left on after working hours, you’re footing the bill for energy wasted. Implement an energy-saving policy that urges employees to take ownership of these energy liabilities and you may see a marked decrease over time.