There are numerous costs associated with running a business with some of them coming with a larger price tag than others. Energy is one of those big-ticket items and that’s why it’s necessary to conserve energy in the workplace.
While it is not too easy to make people more interested in saving energy at work, everyone at work should play their part in being more energy-efficient, especially when this is not considered to be the highest priority task in most cases.
You get tons of energy-saving tips with a swift Google search, but here are some top picks. Others need preparation and investment, others can be implemented with common sense and in a matter of minutes for free.
Table of Contents
Go for Laptops Over Desktops
Compared to desktops, laptops usually consume less energy, so when purchasing your office equipment, consider that. Whenever possible, choose laptops.
The monitor size also leads to the quantity of energy used. Although graphic designers and employees with similar fields of work do not work on tiny screens, your company has a lot of other workers whose job does not rely on big monitors.
Make all the right selections, and when it comes to monitor preference, keep the screen size at a reasonable level. Less will be spent with smaller displays.
Use Energy-Saving Bulbs
Most companies do need to depend on artificial lighting, particularly in the colder, darker months, even though natural light is perfect for keeping the office nice and bright throughout the day.
By using energy-saving LED bulbs rather than traditional incandescent ones, you can cut your lighting costs. LEDs use 90% less energy and last considerably longer than standard lightbulbs.
They may be pricier, but over the last few years, prices have dropped dramatically, meaning they are now cheaper to buy than ever before.
Go Paperless
Not only do photocopiers and printers use energy; they also use paper, which is yet another valuable and expensive resource that you and the environment could profit from saving.
In your office, having a “paperless” policy saves the energy you would have spent printing off sheets of paper for discussions or reports.
Rather than printing out a copy, simply send an email, and add any documents you want to share to a shared drive with others!
This also implies that as the files will stay in their documents or inbox, no one would have to re-print any documents they lose.
Upgrade All Outdated Equipment
Old electrical equipment that no longer functions at its maximum efficiency can only take unnecessary power, which will charge you more money. It is better to change your old office appliances with new energy-efficient appliances.
Make sure you get rid of your old equipment in an efficient way such as recycling it. There are many businesses that deal with this sort of waste recycling.
You just need to locate an electronic waste recycling company near you and contact them.
Unplug Equipment When Not in Use
When not in use especially during weekends and holidays, make sure you turn off and plug out all the equipment just like with lights. This involves air conditioners, printers, copiers, coffee makers, hand dryers, microwaves, and scanners.
Even if they are plugged in, these electrical devices begin to consume electricity. This is also referred to as standby energy consumption or energy vampire.
Annual electricity bills contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to this form of energy use.
Conclusion
It is the duty of every business owner to think about realistic ways to make strategic changes in the workplace. It is also crucial that this energy-saving effort includes everyone in the organization.
When workers feel involved in making changes to their workplace, they feel like a part of the team and will do a better job making the vision come alive.