With wildfires still burning in Australia and global climate crisis concerns making the headlines on an almost daily basis, businesses are more focused than ever on finding ways to save energy and cut their carbon footprints. Cynical though we might well be, companies boosting their green credentials can also expect a great consumer loyalty in the future. There really is no reason not to. So, if you’re looking for ways to make your office more eco-friendly, here are our 5 IDEAL tips for saving energy in the workplace.
MAKE THE SWITCH TO MORE EFFICIENT LIGHTING
Did you know that, on average, a quarter of a business’s electricity costs come from lighting? This is according to the Energy Saving Trust, which also noted that making the switch from traditional bulbs to LEDs can reduce a businesses’ lighting costs by as much as 80 per cent.
Another way to bring your lighting bills down is to install motion sensor lighting systems that mean bulbs don’t remain on when they’re not needed. As business utilities specialist Utility Bidder highlights, these systems are best used with LED bulbs because the action of turning them on and off doesn’t affect their operating life.
UPGRADE TO AN INTELLIGENT HVAC SYSTEM
Are your workers constantly complaining about being too hot or cold in the office? That optimum temperature is so difficult to achieve, and let’s face it, you can’t keep everyone happy. Getting heating and air conditioning controls right can be an ongoing cause of tension in offices, and if you’re not careful, things could end up getting a little, erm, heated.
Seriously though, you could end up spending much more than you need to, trying to keep your workspace at the right temperature. To avoid this, consider upgrading to an intelligent heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system that can be automated to keep temperatures at the optimal level while using less energy in the process.
REPLACE OLD EQUIPMENT
Outdated office tech can be a big energy drain. You’ve felt the heat coming off that antiquated photocopier, right? That can’t be good for the environment, inside or out. Yep, now might be the time to invest in some new equipment; an initial outlay, we know, but in the long run an energy, and therefore, money, saver.
When you’re replacing devices in your workplace, whether it’s your PCs, printers or kitchen appliances, make sure you look out for models with impressive energy efficiency ratings; these are measured from G (very bad) to A+++ (that’s the guy you want). You’ll find these scores on a sticker attached to the appliance, as well as in the appliance’s manual and on any reputable website’s description of the item.
MOVE TO THE CLOUD
Running multiple servers and keeping data centres cool takes a lot of electricity, make no mistake. So, unless you need to have servers on-site for technical or security reasons, moving all storage to cloud-based IT systems could cut your energy usage significantly. There might be many reasons for your business to move – or not move – to the cloud, but make sure you take energy consumption into account when you’re making this decision.
EDUCATE AND MOTIVATE YOUR STAFF
Your workers have a major role to play in making your office more energy efficient. For example, simply making sure that their PCs or laptops are turned off at the end of the day, – at the plug, too – rather than being left on overnight, can have a big impact.
To get colleagues on board with your power saving plan, it’s important to educate, motivate and include. Strategically positioning posters or stickers with energy saving tips around your office could help, and you might want to appoint an ‘energy champion’ who is a naturally good communicator and will help to shape habits in your office.
Hey, if you came to this piece thinking the title referred to your own vitality and vigour, then don’t worry, we’ve an article for that, too; check out our tips on how to feel more energised.