In today’s modern world, with energy usage and efficiency such important concepts for businesses and individuals everywhere, there are real costs to not having a handle on the energy usage in your home or building. This is known as “energy blindness” by some in the energy world, and it’s not a desirable quality at all, especially if you’re in charge of a business that could benefit from greater energy insights.

At Onsite Utility Services Capital, we’re here to help. We offer a diverse range of energy management and procurement programs, applicable to industries ranging from healthcare facilities through grocery stores, manufacturing plants and numerous others. What is energy blindness, why is it a problem for many, and what can be done about it? Here’s a rundown.

Basics on Energy Blindness

Simply put, energy blindness refers to a general lack of knowledge on energy usage and efficiency in any setting, though it’s most commonly used in commercial facilities where multiple people or departments are making decisions that affect the property’s energy usage. It can also refer to a failure to properly understand how different equipment or processes use energy, and how those costs compare to others on the market.

As a building owner or manager, do you have a rough idea of your general electrical and energy costs each month? Have you gone through your specific energy bills carefully, to see what areas may be heating up your costs or using more energy than necessary? Do you have a good grasp on how the various aspects of your building are performing from an energy efficiency standpoint? If any of these questions give you pause or take time for reflection, you’re likely experiencing a general sense of energy blindness.

Unfortunately, energy blindness is quite common. Studies show that as many as 60 percent of commercial building owners and managers operate with some degree of energy blindness, which can be a costly mistake.

Why Energy Blindness is a Problem

If you’re energy blind in any significant way, you’re not alone. But, it’s the damaging effects of being energy blind that are most significant in today’s climate. There are numerous ways to save money and be a more sustainable, green facility, yet energy blindness can keep you in the dark on these important factors.

First and foremost, there’s the money that could be saved by stepping back to take a closer look at your building’s energy usage patterns. Energy costs are rising across the board as electrical grid infrastructure ages and demand increases, so it’s only getting more expensive to use energy in any way. A commercial property that is using more energy than necessary and paying a premium for it is literally throwing money down the drain, as many are wont to say.

Beyond financial savings, there’s an important sustainability factor at play with energy blindness. It becomes harder and harder to be green when you’re not even aware of how you’re using energy, or if you’re letting certain aspects of your facility just operate at an inefficient rate. With energy blindness, it’s difficult to understand and implement changes that result in lower usage rates and greater efficiency, making any efforts at sustainability more difficult to achieve.

Moving Past Energy Blindness

So what can be done about energy blindness? Here are some concepts we often speak to our clients about in this general area:

• Identification: One of the toughest parts about energy blindness is the fact that those dealing with it often aren’t aware that there’s even a problem. The first step in overcoming energy blindness is identification: becoming aware that the issue exists and that it could be negatively impacting your business. This requires a willingness to take a step back and really assess your current energy situation, which can be difficult for busy professionals.
• Evaluation: Once you’ve identified that energy blindness might be present, the next step involves some evaluation. This can take many forms, from looking at historical energy bills to seeing how your building stacks up against others in terms of usage and efficiency. You might also consider conducting an energy audit, which can really help to shed light on where improvements need to be made.
• Action: The final step is taking action to address the issues that have been identified through the identification and evaluation process. This might mean making changes to the way your building is operated, updating equipment or appliances, or revamping processes to be more efficient. No matter what form it takes, taking action is the only way to truly overcome energy blindness and improve your overall situation.

A common form of action many business owners take in such a situation: Employing energy management professionals like ours at Onsite Utility Services Capital. We work with commercial property owners and managers to help them overcome energy blindness, achieve their sustainability goals, and save money in the process. We conduct comprehensive energy audits, offer recommendations on how to improve your energy usage, and provide ongoing support to ensure that changes are made and that they result in the desired outcomes.

Not only that, but we also offer a suite of other services to help commercial property owners and managers get a handle on their energy usage. We can provide solar solutions, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, energy storage systems, and more. We’re here to help you move past energy blindness and take control of your building’s energy usage in a way that makes sense for your business.

For more on how to avoid energy blindness and maximize the energy efficiency resources available to you, or to learn about any of our energy management systems or programs, speak to the team at Onsite Utility Services Capital today.