Time to be more Energy Efficient in the Workplace

As always we need to cut our costs, at home and most certainly within our business environment. In the past, many firms have simply ignored any thought of being energy efficiency, but by reducing their dependence on energy, businesses can cut costs, improve reputation, and stay one step ahead of environmental compliance.

Listed below are tips on how to be more energy efficient.

Assign an energy efficient ‘prefect’
Simple changes, such as cutting energy use when the firm is closed, are often overlooked if someone isn't in charge of implementing them. Firms should ensure there is responsibility within the organisation for implementing improvements and cutting costs. Staff should be able to put forward ideas that will enhance cost cutting. There are various ways in which all employees can contribute:

Turn off PCs

It’s a myth that screensaver software saves power when your computers are not in use, so by leaving them on all night, and even all weekend, as many offices do, is simply a waste of money. The Government estimates that if all your PCs were turned off overnight and at weekends, they would save £63 a year each. So, for a business with 100 computers, that’s an annual saving of £6,300.

Lights out

Encourage members of staff to turn off all lights and electrical equipment at night and over weekends. Many offices have fluorescent lights, but it is a myth that they use less energy if they are left switched on. While, they use a lot more energy in the few seconds they take to start up than they do in the equivalent time of running, in 15 minutes a fluorescent light will have used 500 times the energy it uses in coming on.

Heating controls

Taking control of your heating can make a huge difference to your bills. Your firm could save around 10 per cent of its energy simply by turning down the office thermostat by one degree, while a new boiler could be up to 40 per cent more efficient, and regular maintenance of your heating system will help, too – especially if it is well insulated.

It might sound obvious, but simply adjusting your heating to the seasons can make a big difference too. When it’s warm in the summer, open windows instead of turning on the air conditioning; if it’s too warm in the winter, turn down the heating, don’t open the windows and allow heated air to escape.

Don’t heat areas that aren’t in constant use, such as corridors and store rooms, and make sure radiators aren’t blocked by furniture.

Water

Don’t leave a tap dripping. Each cubic meter of water costs nearly £2. Ensure water temperatures are set correctly. Water should be heated to 60°C to protect against legionella. Water at hand washing sinks should ideally be blended to 43°C. Check urinal controllers are fitted and operating correctly.

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