There is a huge movement towards making businesses more eco-friendly and sustainable.
This can be a part of the business ethos but it can also be from a genuine desire to not negatively impact the environment.
This can be a huge selling point for customers who would prefer to go with a business that is greener.
As a business owner, you might consider making your business more energy efficient because it can reduce your utility bills.
Cutting down on utility costs is a common way to reduce business spending.
There are various ways a business owner can save money on energy bills.
The various solutions range from being very expensive to very cost-effective.
There are many paths that can be taken to see an actual reduction in energy bills.
We’ll break down a few of the areas where you can make changes to cut down on your energy bills:
Lighting
Lighting is an easy area where energy usage can be cut down.
One of the best ways to reduce energy usage is to switch to LEDs and energy-efficient lighting.
LEDs use less energy than traditional light bulbs and they also have a longer lifespan.
Aside from spending less on electricity, you’ll also spend less on replacing bulbs.
Lights that come with a dimmer can also be more energy efficient because the amount of light needed can be adjusted.
Another way to use lighting to reduce energy usage is to consider getting motion sensors installed.
Some lights don’t need to be on the entire time.
For example, lights in hallways and meeting rooms that aren’t constantly being used.
Having motion sensors installed will ensure that the lights are only used as much as necessary.
This is also the same idea behind getting a timer switch where the lights will come on and off at set times of the day.
Heating & Cooling
Draught proofing is a great way to save on energy bills.
This ensures that you’re not unnecessarily losing heat from the office.
It will also ensure that you can keep all cool air inside on a hot day.
Draught proofing can be as simple as making sure that windows and doors are tightly sealed.
The arrangement of furniture can also help you save on your energy bills.
Making sure that the furniture is arranged in a way that allows for good airflow and not obstructing any vents.
Obstructions can result in using more energy to heal or cool a room than you need to.
Natural Light
Consider maximizing the natural light in the office for both lighting and heat.
Making sure the windows are unobstructed can allow more light in and result in less use of the actual lights.
Using natural light to warm the room can reduce energy spent on heating.
Having more natural light in the office can also create a more pleasant environment.
The vitamin D will ensure that your employees feel happy at work!
Equipment
One of the easiest ways to make the workplace more efficient is to turn off equipment when not in use.
This includes all appliances in the office such as office equipment like printers and other appliances like fridges and microwaves.
Leaving appliances on stand-by can be a huge drain of electricity.
It’s better to just switch the appliances off when they’re not in use.
This means switching them off at the end of the day at the plug point.
This can also mean turning them off during lunch breaks, but that’s up to you and what works for the office.
Another way to make sure your equipment uses less energy than you’d like is to upgrade the appliances and equipment.
Modern technology has come a long way, most appliances and equipment now are more energy efficient.
It can be a big initial expense to upgrade appliances and work equipment but it can lead to a huge drop in usage and utility bills.
Especially when it comes to big appliances like printers and fridges.
You should buy equipment that has good energy ratings.
Reminders
Send out reminders and put up posters reminding staff to turn off equipment and lights when not in use.
This is the best way to make sure that effective changes are implemented and that more energy is saved.
Also, ensure that all staff is aware of which switches turn off the equipment.
You might even consider creating a schedule and assigning the responsibility to someone daily.
Final Thoughts
There are several areas in the office where you can start to decrease your energy usage.
Most changes are small and easily made but they require the combined effort of everyone in the workplace.
Some changes will require a little spending in the beginning but there will be huge savings on the other end.