This year, instead of just singing “Summertime and the living is easy,” take some basic proactive steps now. By summer’s end your song will be, “Summertime, there’s no strain on ma’ wallet.”

With energy prices starting to climb again, it’s a good time to focus on energy efficiencies. And, the good news is that taming your cooling bills in the summer does not require big investments in new equipment, software or fancy controls.

The secret is basic maintenance. EPA just published some reminders on how businesses can control their electric bills and improve their environmental footprint at the same time. Remember, when you cut your electric bill, you’re also cutting air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

To get your company and employees to go green this summer, EPA recommends:

1. using programmable thermostats so you don’t waste money cooling the building after hours when nobody’s working
2. making sure managers are using facility controls properly, and
3. inspecting and maintaining cooling system equipment because cooling and ventilation accounts for 20% of your electric bill in the summer.

And, if you do decide to buy new equipment, such as printers, fax machines, computers, shop for Energy Star qualified products.

Click here to get the Energy Star fact sheet on how businesses can cut summer power bills. For energy management at buildings and plant management, click here.

Specific ideas on how to get employees to do their part to be green and help control the air conditioning bill this summer, are on the Energy Star site — click here.

Tags: energy efficiency, energy star, greenhouse gas, office equipment