Last month IT Computer Support of New York gave you some ideas on how Green Technology can save you money. This month we hope to provide you with more direct ways to save money and improve efficiency. Often times the best way to cut costs is to reduce your overall energy bill. Business CFOs often overlook the small monthly expenses and instead focus on the large ticket expenditures. The problem with this is that over time these smaller expenses add up to thousands of dollars wasted due to the lack of an energy efficiency plan.

Overhead lighting makes up 15-25% of the overall energy bill in medium-to-large-sized businesses. Artificial light has become such a standard in the modern business world that most people don’t even consider ways to cut its use. Installation of motion control sensors in underutilized areas will cut a large percentage of your overall energy bill. Areas such as stairwells, bathrooms and parking garages are great areas to start with, because through most of the day, they will be vacant. In areas where lights cannot be shut off remember that you can still replace lights with more efficient LED or CFLs.

The next great energy saver is one we’ve touched on before: Virtualization. Virtualization will drastically cut the number of data servers your company requires. The upgrade to new storage technology, such as an iSAN™ environment, will reduce your energy bill and provide a more efficient hardware configuration. Old storage methods require multiple servers that spin multiple disks, and are usually operating at less than 20 percent capacity. This older strategy incurs many expensive on-going operating expenses. These expenses can be eliminated completely utilizing iSAN™ Virtual Storage Technology. Consolidating storage and servers cuts power and cooling but also manpower, backup and disaster recovery expenses dramatically. If your company currently has tens of servers the savings can be exponential. The elimination of legacy and inefficient hardware will also better prepare your company for the future.

The next steps won’t change the fate of an economically strapped company but they can help round your budget in a favorable direction. Reduce paper waste. While the obvious answer is to reduce what is thrown away, old printers and fax machines are often far worse culprits. Old or poorly configured printers are known for ink runoff errors which waste paper. Recycle old unused computers and hardware. Most communities have disposal programs for old computer systems without paying for expensive removal. Lastly, monitor your electrical savings. When you discover what works for your business use your saved money to reinvest in further electrical efficiency. Efficient hardware upgrades are a strong investment that will pay for themselves many times over the course of their life.

An energy efficiency plan is continuous. Save energy now and you will save money in the long run.