You’ll get a clear roadmap to the low-cost moves and bigger upgrades most firms use today to cut operating costs and lower emissions. Buildings and homes account for roughly 75% of U.S. electricity use and about 40% of primary energy and related greenhouse gas output, so small changes can make a big difference.

Start with quick wins: LEDs can cut lighting use up to 80%, and occupancy sensors can trim lighting costs by about 30%. Lowering heating setpoints by 1°C can cut fuel use near 8%, and shutting down idle equipment adds steady savings. Utilities offer audits that reveal priority upgrades and fast paybacks.

We’ll show you how to prioritize projects that deliver fast savings first, then move into longer-term work on HVAC and building envelope. For detailed guidance on design and codes for new construction, see new building guidance. By following a staged plan you protect comfort, reduce costs, and track measurable progress toward carbon goals.

Why Energy Efficiency Matters Now in the United States

With electricity prices rising and public targets for carbon tightening, your building decisions matter more than ever. Buildings and homes now account for roughly 75% of U.S. electricity and about 40% of primary energy use, so small changes can cut bills and emissions at scale.

Present-day drivers: rising utility costs, emissions, and business resilience

You face higher utility rates and greater price volatility, so protecting margins is urgent. Small operational fixes and smart products often deliver quick savings. For example, many SMEs trim bills 18–25% through targeted upgrades and habits.

User intent and outcomes: how you save energy, cut costs, and reduce carbon today

Start with visible wins: swap to LED lighting, shut off unused lights and equipment, and tighten schedules. A 1°C cut in heating setpoints can reduce fuel use by roughly 8%.

“Use an audit from your utility to prioritize projects by cost, payback, and risk so every dollar goes further.”

• Target quick wins first, then layer in controls and HVAC tuning.
• Benchmark with ENERGY STAR to track quality and performance.
• Run a pilot area, measure savings, then scale across sites and systems.

A Whole-Building Approach to Energy Efficiency

Treat the whole building as a single system to capture bigger savings and better comfort. Start by modeling how the envelope, HVAC, lighting, water heating, and appliances interact. That helps you pick cost-effective measures that work together.

Strengthen the envelope and right-size systems

Begin with insulation and air sealing. A tight envelope slows heat loss and heat gain, which often lets you downsize heating and cooling systems and save capital costs.

Sealing gaps around roofs, windows, and doors reduces drafts and stabilizes temperature in winter and summer. That improves comfort and lowers electricity demand.

Improve indoor air and lighting

Commission ventilation and filtration to balance fresh air and keep air quality high without overloading HVAC equipment. Tune temperature setpoints and controls to match occupancy.

Replace old fixtures with LEDs, layer ambient and task light, and use daylighting to cut consumption and enhance visual comfort.

Water heating, appliances, and monitoring

Choose efficient water heating and smart fixtures to lower hot water loads. Map plug loads and target the biggest appliance and office equipment draws.

• Sequence work: envelope first, then HVAC and controls, then lighting and plug loads.
• Use incentives to reduce upfront costs and speed payback.
• Track electricity and energy use after upgrades to validate savings and document emissions reductions.

Energy Efficient Practices You Can Implement in Daily Operations

Practical changes to daily routines help you capture savings fast. Small shifts in behavior plus a few tools cut waste across lighting, HVAC, and plug loads. Many SMEs trim bills 18–25% by pairing behavior change with targeted steps.

Educate your team to build a culture of energy savings and sustainable habits

Teach why small actions matter and set simple rules for shutdowns, lights-off, and temperature discipline. Use short trainings and clear signs so everyone follows the same routines.

Cut standby power: power strips, unplugging equipment, and laptop-first policies

Appliances and office devices can draw up to 50% of their running energy while idle. Use switched power strips for shared gear, unplug chargers, and favor laptops over desktops to lower plug load consumption.

Maintenance that pays: clean filters, clear vents, and tune lighting levels

Regular upkeep keeps systems working well and reduces consumption. Clean filters, clear vents, and retune lighting — light levels can drop 30% without care. Good maintenance can cut costs by up to 15% and save time on repairs.

• Label devices with on/off guidance to avoid confusion.
• Match schedules to occupancy; use sensors to automate lights.
• Standardize LED lighting to lower maintenance and improve comfort.

Smart Controls, Sensors, and Monitoring for Measurable Energy Savings

Smart controls let you match building systems to actual use so equipment runs only when it matters. That cuts wasted runtime and helps you stretch resources without hurting comfort.

Start with programmable thermostats to automate temperature setpoints by schedule and occupancy. These devices reduce runtime for heating cooling and keep your space comfortable on a predictable schedule.

Programmable thermostats and building management systems

Connect a building management system to zones, occupancy sensors, and weather data so the system runs only what’s needed, when it’s needed. That coordination lowers load on cooling systems and other equipment.

Occupancy and monitoring sensors

Deploy occupancy sensors to dim or shut lights in empty rooms and add daylight sensing to hold the right light levels with less consumption.

Submetering and energy monitoring on major equipment show real-time energy use and spot abnormal power draw early. Alerts tied to thresholds stop small issues from turning into big breakdowns.

• Standardize control templates across sites so winning sequences and settings copy easily.
• Make data visible to your team so facilities staff can adjust schedules and fix root causes.
• Update control logic seasonally and after retrofits, and document savings to support future investments.

High-Impact Purchases, Incentives, and Renewables

Smart buying and timely incentives let you cut costs while boosting resilience. Start by matching purchases to measurable returns so upgrades pay back faster.

Choose ENERGY STAR office equipment and efficient packaged systems

Pick ENERGY STAR products for printers, monitors, and appliances to lower plug loads—office gear can be about 10% of commercial electricity use.

When replacing HVAC, select right-sized packaged systems and modern controls to improve temperature control and reduce operational costs.

Leverage audits and incentives

Use an energy audit to rank projects by cost, savings, and risk. Then apply federal, state, local, and utility incentives to improve payback.

Don’t skip incentive windows—many programs have limited funds and annual cycles.

Add rooftop solar and onsite storage

Rooftop solar plus battery storage can shave peak power and cut demand charges. This combo also keeps critical equipment running during outages.

• Upgrade breakroom appliances and add water-saving fixtures to cut electricity and water together.
• Prioritize insulation and air sealing so new systems run less and last longer.
• Standardize product specs and log total costs and savings in a central register to guide future buys and carbon goals.

Conclusion

Close the loop by prioritizing actions that deliver fast payback and lasting gains.

Start with low-cost steps and use what you learn to guide bigger work. Tighten the envelope, tune HVAC, modernize lighting, add smart controls, and standardize equipment. These moves help you save energy and money while cutting electricity costs.

Use an audit to focus capital where it matters. Track a few clear metrics—energy use, consumption per square foot, costs, and emissions—to prove results and refine your plan.

Reinforce habits like lights-off and regular maintenance. Scale wins across similar home and commercial sites, add renewables or storage where useful, and budget each year for continuous improvement.

Act now, measure often, and share gains to keep your team engaged and the savings growing.