Quick Wins, Big Impact: Low-Cost Strategies for Business Energy Savings
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Quick Wins:
Easy, low-, or no-cost actions you can take now
Quick Wins, Big Impact: Low-Cost Strategies for Business Energy Savings
By Connie Conductor
Picture a thriving distribution company in Gloucester Township, New Jersey. Business is booming, orders are steady, and the team is growing. But rising energy bills are quietly cutting into profits.
Looking for a smarter way to manage costs, the owners start small with a lighting upgrade. That one step grows into a full energy strategy, reducing energy waste, lowering operating expenses, and freeing up funds for new equipment and staff.
The result? A fast payback and lasting benefits.
Energy Efficiency Pays Off
Cutting energy costs is one of the most effective ways to boost your bottom line. With the right mix of no-cost actions, smart operations, and strategic investments, the average commercial building can save up to 30% on energy bills.
Whether you’re aiming for immediate savings or planning long-term improvements, a well-equipped energy efficiency toolkit can help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
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Big Impacts:
Higher-return investments with long-term payoff
Each section includes a toolkit in action
Real examples of how businesses like yours are turning strategy into savings.
Start with an Energy Audit
Before making changes, it’s important to understand how you use energy and where your energy is going.
- Schedule a professional energy audit with Atlantic City Electric—we offer no-cost assessments to identify where energy is being wasted and how you can save.
- Use audit findings to build a long-term energy strategy that includes a prioritized action plan based on the highest-impact equipment upgrades.
Toolkit in Action
Across New Jersey, businesses are taking advantage of Atlantic City Electric-supported energy assessments tailored to their building size. These businesses receive energy audits and product installations, as well as access to incentives that significantly reduce equipment upgrade costs.
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Bright Ideas for Better Lighting
Lighting is one of the easiest ways to save energy and offers a major return for minimal investment.Bright Ideas for Better Lighting Lighting is one of the easiest ways to save energy and offers a major return for minimal investment.
- Turn off lights in unoccupied areas
- Use natural daylight when possible
- Encourage lighting best practices among staff
- Install occupancy sensors in restrooms and break rooms
- Upgrade to LED bulbs—up to 90% more efficient and 10 times longer lasting
Toolkit in Action
At Five Below’s 1-million-square-foot South Jersey distribution center, upgrading 3,000 fixtures led to brighter lighting, and a projected $2 million in savings over 10 years—all for a fraction of the original cost with help from the Energy Solutions for Business program.
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HVAC Hacks That Add Up
Your HVAC system is a major energy user, but small adjustments and low-cost fixes can reduce electricity use by 20% to 50% compared to when those areas are in use.
- Adjust thermostats seasonally
- Power down systems an hour before closing
- Seal windows and doors with weatherstripping or caulk
- Use blinds to help regulate indoor temperatures
- Install smart thermostats and improve insulation
- Schedule regular HVAC maintenance
- Upgrade to high-efficiency models
- Retrofit rooftop units
Toolkit in Action
Anco Ace Hardware in Villas, New Jersey, used incentives through our Energy Solutions for Business program to cover nearly 80% of project costs—including installation of new rooftop units and advanced controls that improved comfort and cut energy use.
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Cooler Costs With Smarter Refrigeration
Because refrigeration equipment runs 24/7, even small changes can produce big results.
- Clean condenser coils regularly
- Replace worn door seals
- Keep refrigerators between 35 and 38 degrees
- Avoid overpacking refrigerators and keep doors closed
- Upgrade to energy-efficient refrigeration units
- Install anti-sweat heater and floating head pressure controls
- Add plastic strip curtains to walk-in units
Toolkit in Action
Grocery stores, restaurants, and convenience shops across South Jersey are saving thousands thanks to incentives through the Energy Solutions for Business program. These incentives include up to $1,000 per unit for variable speed compressors and $75 per ton for floating-head pressure controls—helping systems run smarter in all conditions.
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Kitchen Efficiency: Slice Costs, Not Quality
Simple behavior changes and high-efficiency upgrades in commercial kitchens can cut energy use by 10% to 30% without sacrificing service or quality.
- Turn off idle equipment
- Train staff in energy-efficient kitchen habits
- Use pot lids to retain heat and shorten cooking time
- Upgrade to high-efficiency kitchen appliances
- Install electric igniters on gas stoves
- Keep equipment well maintained for peak performance
Toolkit in Action
At multiple Pat’s Pizzeria locations across New Jersey, the owner upgraded kitchen equipment and lighting with incentives through our Energy Solutions for Business program. These incentives covered nearly 80% of costs, in turn saving over $10,000 a year and creating a more comfortable and inviting dining experience.
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Office Tech Tune-up
Office equipment is often left on for longer than needed, quietly draining energy. But simple changes and smarter habits can reduce energy waste.
- Set computers to sleep mode when inactive
- Power down unused devices
- Unplug chargers when not in use and decommission idle servers
- Use advanced power strips to eliminate phantom loads
- Virtualize servers to reduce hardware needs
- Train staff in IT energy management
- Replace old tech with certified energy-efficient models
Toolkit in Action
South Jersey businesses are improving office efficiency with Building Operator Training and Department of Energy tools like the Low Standby Power Product List to identify energy-smart equipment.
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Keep an Eye on Energy Use
You can’t manage what you don’t measure. Monitoring tools (many of them free) can help you spot opportunities to save, fast.
- Use free energy tracking tools from your utility or state
- Conduct regular walk-throughs to spot energy waste
- Use monitoring-based commissioning programs to pair with your building automation system and identify energy-saving opportunities
- Invest in an energy management system to monitor usage in real time
- Use real-time data to guide operations and future upgrades
Toolkit in Action
At Armada By-the-Sea in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey, 107 air conditioning units were tuned up with help from Atlantic City Electric’s Energy Solutions for Business program, reducing waste, saving over 45,000 kWh annually, and costing the hotel nothing out-of-pocket.
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Claim Your Incentives and Rebates
Many energy-saving upgrades become even more affordable when you tap into available rebates, instant discounts, and financing programs.
- Research rebates and tax credits before starting a project
- Contact Atlantic City Electric to learn more about available energy efficiency programs
- Pair incentives with capital upgrades to lower up-front costs and shorten payback.
Toolkit in Action
Goodwill Industries upgraded lighting across three stores, replacing 1,140 fixtures—with our Energy Solutions for Business program incentives covering 97% of the total project cost. The result: brighter spaces and lower energy bills.
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Bottom Line: Smart Strategies, Real Results
Energy efficiency doesn’t have to be expensive. With the right mix of quick wins and big-impact strategies, you can cut costs, improve comfort, and support a more sustainable future.
Start building your energy-saving toolkit today—and see how far your savings can go.
