There are many good reasons for saving energy, but nothing makes more sense than the fact that it is great for the environment and great for your bottom line. Use these handy practical tips to cut down on waste:
1. Be vigilant
If you notice that people at work are wearing summer-friendly clothing, turn the heating down a bit. If lights are constantly on in rarely used meeting rooms, install a sensor. Take a stroll around the office and look for energy wasters such as machinery that is left on when not in use
2. Get everyone involved
A culture of energy saving is only effective when everybody is on board. Appoint ‘energy champions’ in each department and get them to hold monthly meetings to brainstorm fresh ways of cutting down on energy use.
3. Conduct energy audits
Take regular meter readings and compare consumption over a number of months. If you’re in the business of manufacturing, start measuring energy use per product item. You’ll soon spot patterns and identify areas where savings could be made.
4. Flip the switch
Task everyone with doing a final check before they leave the building to ensure that machines and equipment in their department are switched off overnight. Fit a timer on shared equipment such as photocopiers and water coolers to make sure that they are switched off after hours. Invest in a product that will allow your network administrators to remotely power down PCs when they are not required. Ensure that air-conditioning, extraction, compression and ventilation units are turned off if there’s nobody in the workplace to benefit from their use.
5. See the light
Fit lights that sense movement and link motion-activated lights in toilet facilities to the extractor fan (if you have one). Label equipment and control switches so that it’s clear how to switch something on when it’s needed.
6. Turn the heat down
Unless it’s too cold for comfort, try to keep your thermostat at 19C. Encourage employees to wear warmer clothing if they are feeling the cold.
7. Get the boss on board
If you’re not the boss, ensure he or she is on board. At the very least, investigate getting your electricity from a renewable source.
8. Be realistic
Energy-saving measures that are difficult, inconvenient or impractical are likely to be ignored. Suggesting your business installs solar panels on the roof tomorrow may meet with some resistance but asking people to switch equipment off when they go home in the evening will not.
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