A Quick Guide for Interior Designers: Reducing Utility Costs

Interior design and makeovers are great. However, if you are an interior design business owner, the design isn’t the only thing on your mind. You also need to worry about the business end of things, such as increasing your profit margins. One simple solution is by implementing energy-saving practices that can save you money. You can use this information to save money on utilities for your business as well as share these ideas with your clients.

Make the Call to Your Utilities Provider

Contacting your utility company is a great way to learn about current programs or incentives they offer to save money. If you want to get a jump start on your savings, resources such as PowerSetter can help. They offer businesses ways to achieve significant savings by cutting back on utility costs.

Switch to Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs

You may not know this, but switching to CFL’s (compact fluorescent light bulbs) is a good way to cut back on energy costs. They will use less energy than traditional light bulbs helping you save up to $80 per bulb. After you make this switch, you will notice that you have to replace light bulbs less frequently, and your electric bill will also be lower.

Programmable Thermostats Are a Must-Have

Whenever you leave your office, you want to turn down the temperature a few degrees. This may seem a little tedious. However, you’ll become used to it and love the low utility bill! Investing in a programmable thermostat will take care of this for you. We encourage you to install one in your workplace if you haven’t done so already and invite your clients to do the same to make their home as energy-efficient as possible.  

Upgrade Window Coverings

Talk to your clients about regulating the temperature of their home according to the seasons. For instance, in the winter they should keep blinds open during sunny days. This will naturally warm the space preventing their heater from working too hard. Of course, the heater will still need to be on and running. However, it will be at a lower temperature setting.  

Consequently, during the summertime, keep blinds shut during the day. Even consider adding some heavy curtains to prevent too much sunlight from coming into the area. Reducing the amount of heat that comes into the space will lessen the workload of the A/C system.

Consider Low Flow Fixtures

This is a great solution if your client wants an interior design that lowers their water bill! Replacing existing fixtures like the shower head, kitchen faucets, or bathroom sink to a low-flow fixture option will reduce the amount of water used, and consequently, the water bill. It’s surprising how small changes like these make all the difference.

Lesson Work for Appliances

Speak to your client about the appliances they are using in their home. If they’re not looking to upgrade them to smarter options, share these quick tips with them:

• Don’t rinse dishes before placing in the dishwasher. Most dishwashers can handle food residue just fine without this extra manual labor. This will conserve water and even save you some work!
• When doing laundry, wait until you have a full load before washing. Suggest steering away from hot water and only use cold or warm water since washing machines consume more energy heating the water.

Unplug Electronics

Last but not least, unplug all electronics when they’re not in use. This includes the toaster oven, microwave, TV, or video game console. For your office, this can include computers, lamps, appliances in the employee kitchen, etc. Unless these electronics are being used every single day, we suggest unplugging them as this will lower monthly energy costs.

We hope this guide has served you well with tips for reducing the utility bills of your business as well as providing an energy efficient home design for your clients! Happy saving!