Winter weather has a way of changing customer behavior overnight. A forecast calling for snow, ice, or extreme cold can turn a normally busy day into a quiet one, with fewer customers walking through the door and shorter operating hours. 

For many businesses, energy use barely changes. Lights stay on, equipment keeps running, and heating systems work just as hard as they would on a fully occupied day.

At UGI Energy Services, we believe turning winter energy waste into savings starts with understanding why energy consumption often stays high when foot traffic drops and what businesses can do to change that. With the right strategies, low-traffic winter days can become opportunities to control costs and improve efficiency.

Why Energy Use Doesn’t Automatically Drop on Snow Days

When customers stay home on a snow day or during a winter weather advisory, it seems logical that energy use should fall dramatically. In reality, many businesses operate on fixed routines that don’t adjust automatically to changing conditions.

Lighting schedules are often set for normal hours, regardless of occupancy. HVAC systems continue heating large, mostly empty spaces. Equipment that could be powered down remains on “just in case” business picks up. These habits create a gap between need and usage.

Winter weather can also increase baseline energy demand. Cold outdoor temperatures force heating systems to work harder, especially in older buildings or facilities with poor insulation. Drafts, frequent door openings earlier in the day, and heat loss through windows all contribute to the load, even when there are fewer people inside.

Lighting for Low Traffic Days

Lighting is one of the easiest areas to adjust during snow days, yet it’s often overlooked. Many businesses illuminate their entire space at full brightness regardless of how many customers are present.

On slow winter days, consider reducing lighting in unused or low-traffic areas. Storage rooms, conference spaces, or sections of a sales floor that aren’t in use don’t need full illumination. Zoning lighting controls or using occupancy sensors can help ensure lights are only on where they’re actually needed.

For businesses without advanced controls, simple procedures can still make a difference. Assigning staff to shut off unnecessary lights during slow periods and before closing helps prevent wasted energy. Over time, these small changes add up, especially during long winter months. Additionally, ENERGY STAR provides detailed guidance for optimizing lighting on low-traffic days.

Equipment Usage: Breaking the “Always On” Habit

Many businesses leave equipment running out of habit rather than necessity. Snow days provide a perfect opportunity to reassess what truly needs to be on.

Office equipment, displays, kitchen appliances, and specialized machinery often remain powered even when customer volume drops sharply. Identifying which equipment is essential and which can be shut down or cycled off during slow periods can lead to immediate savings.

Creating a winter-specific equipment checklist helps standardize this process. Staff should know which systems can be powered down during low-traffic days and when they need to be restarted. Clear guidelines reduce hesitation and prevent unnecessary energy use, turning winter energy waste into savings!

Heating Smarter, Not Harder

Heating is often one of the largest winter energy expenses, and snow days can magnify inefficiencies. When occupancy drops, heating the entire building to peak comfort levels may not make sense.

Adjusting thermostat setpoints slightly on low-traffic days can reduce energy use without sacrificing safety or comfort. Even a one- or two-degree adjustment can significantly reduce heating demand. Zoned heating systems are especially effective, allowing businesses to focus heat on occupied areas while reducing it in unoccupied areas.

Preventive maintenance also plays a critical role. Clean filters, properly sealed ductwork, and calibrated thermostats ensure heating systems aren’t working harder than necessary. Addressing drafts around doors and windows can further reduce heat loss on cold, windy days.

Using Winter Downtime Strategically

Slow days don’t just reduce revenue; they can also free up time for tasks that improve long-term efficiency. Winter weather offers a chance to review energy bills, monitor usage patterns, and identify areas of waste that might go unnoticed during busy seasons.

Comparing energy usage on normal days versus snow days can reveal surprising trends. If consumption remains nearly the same, it’s a clear sign that systems aren’t responding to real-world conditions. These insights can guide future upgrades, such as programmable controls, energy-efficient lighting, or improved insulation.

Staff training is another valuable use of downtime. Educating employees on energy-conscious practices like shutting doors promptly, turning off unused equipment, and reporting drafts or malfunctioning systems creates habits that last beyond winter.

Planning for the Rest of Winter with UGI Energy Services

Snow days are unpredictable, but preparation isn’t. Businesses that plan for low-traffic scenarios are better positioned to respond quickly when the weather turns severe.

As winter continues, turning winter energy waste into savings serves as a reminder that energy efficiency isn’t just about busy days and peak demand, but about matching energy use to real conditions, especially when customers stay home.

Partnering with UGI Energy Services ensures your business is prepared, efficient, and ready to save, even on the snowiest days. Contact our energy experts today to see how your business can reduce energy waste and maximize savings this winter.