How To Manage Your Energy Costs During a Holiday Shutdown or Slowdown

For many commercial and industrial facilities, holidays and seasonal slowdowns bring a welcome break from daily operations. But while your team may be away, your building can still rack up high energy costs. That’s because buildings can continue to consume significant power, even when they’re largely empty, if HVAC, lighting, and equipment aren’t properly adjusted.

If your facility experiences reduced occupancy during holiday periods, now is the perfect time to reassess your energy usage. Smart planning can help minimize waste, reduce costs, and create a more efficient operation heading into the new year.

The Link Between Occupancy and Energy Use

Heating, cooling, and lighting are the largest drivers of building energy use. When fewer people are inside, those systems should too, but many facilities unknowingly maintain “business as usual” temperature settings and lighting schedules. Thermostats aren’t adjusted for setbacks, and critical equipment runs continuously, keeping spaces comfortable when nobody is around. This leads to wasted energy and unnecessary costs – particularly in the Northeast, where heating loads surge in winter.

Tips to Reduce Energy Waste During Holidays

While adjusting HVAC schedules is a start, optimizing your energy procurement and on-site systems can deliver even greater savings during shutdowns or slowdowns. Here are ways cogeneration (CHP) and retail electricity solutions help optimize energy costs when building occupancy drops:

• Leverage cogeneration systems efficiently
  If your facility uses a CHP system, ensure all other mechanical systems—like boilers, pumps, and ventilation—are scheduled appropriately for lower occupancy. Setting timers for these systems aligns their runtime with actual building usage without sacrificing critical heating or power needs. Optimizing run times or loads ensures you don’t pay for excess energy when demand dips.
   
• Review your retail electricity contract flexibility
  Work with your retail energy provider to ensure your contract structure matches your usage profile. Certain rate plans or demand charges can penalize you if your load drops unexpectedly. Planning ahead for known slow periods helps avoid unnecessary costs tied to minimum demand clauses.
   
• Monitor energy consumption
  Using energy management tools linked to your CHP system, allows you to track real-time energy use, ensuring continuous and efficient operation through all occupancy periods.
  
  
• Plan energy procurement around seasonal usage
  Engage early with your service provider to evaluate upcoming market conditions and renewal timing. They can help you identify opportunities to lock in contracts at favorable rates that consider your holiday or seasonal slowdown energy needs.

Why Proactive Energy Management Pays Off

Reducing energy use during shutdowns doesn’t just lower your bills – it reduces your facility’s carbon footprint and improves overall operational efficiency.

By aligning your retail electricity strategy and on-site generation with actual building needs, you’ll avoid surprises on your utility bills and keep systems running optimally when operations resume.

Ready to Optimize Your Holiday Energy Strategy?

Catalyst Power^® partners with commercial facilities to build customized energy strategies that minimize waste without compromising comfort or safety.

Whether you’re exploring retail energy management, on-site power options like cogeneration, or energy audits, our team can help you manage costs and operate more efficiently year-round.