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Businesses are always looking for ways to save money, and the most successful ones find ways to do so without cutting back on services to their customers. One of the easiest ways to cut costs is by using energy efficient lighting for your workspace. Consult with a commercial lighting services provider to design a lighting solution that can maximize your business' electricity-related savings. Bulb Selection Upgrading your business' lighting starts with selecting the right type of bulbs. One of the newest products on the market is LED lighting. According to Energy Star, LED lighting uses at least 75 percent less energy and lasts 10 to 50 times longer than incandescent lighting. It also produces very little heat, which translates to cooling cost savings. For larger spaces, such as a warehouse, high bay fluorescent lighting is a good solution for energy efficient light. System Controls Even after selecting energy efficient bulbs, there are still more steps you can take to save on energy costs. Talk to your commercial lighting services provider about completing your system with controls. Occupancy sensors can automatically turn off lights when no one is in the room. This is an ideal solution for spaces that are seldom used, or used in unpredictable patterns, such as conference rooms or restrooms. Additionally, daylight controls can shut off electric lights when there is sufficient lighting from windows. Tax Credits Changing your company's lighting to an energy-saving system can also help actualize savings in the form of tax credits. Unfortunately, state and federal incentive programs are not well publicized. A recent survey conducted by a large national accounting firm found that an alarming number of companies are not taking advantage of incentives offered by state and federal governments to adopt sustainability efforts, like energy-efficient bulbs. The survey found that 16 percent of companies developing sustainability or environmental initiatives were doing so with the involvement of their tax department, and 37 percent of respondents were not aware of the tax incentives available for green efforts. Tax professionals advise that companies involve their finance or accounting departments in planning your eco-friendly efforts. Grants, credits, subsidies, and other incentives are available to help your company's green strategy. While it is difficult to determine how much money can be saved through these programs, they are certainly worth researching. In an effort to make more companies aware of the tax advantages offered by energy efficient programs, the Department of Energy launched its Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency. Some of the perks available at the federal level include a tax deduction for energy-efficient commercial buildings, an energy reduction tax credit, and an energy-efficient tax credit for builders. At the local level, some utility companies offer rebates to businesses that generate their own power and sell back electricity to the utility. Depending on your business' electricity use, this can result in a reduced electricity bill, or even money earned. A commercial lighting services provider can work with your business to find out what types of lighting and controls make sense for your business. Involving a tax professional in those discussions can help you maximize your energy-related savings potential. To learn more about their options for commercial lighting services, Kansas City businesses should visit http://www.worldwideenergy.com/.
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