A combination of the pandemic and global tensions sparked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine has raised skyrocketed energy prices in the last few years.
Many businesses are starting to feel the pinch and are being forced with the difficult decision of absorbing the increased operational costs or passing those costs onto the consumer.
An energy-efficient workplace will massively reduce your overall operating costs, increasing your profits in the process.
With the state of the energy market right now and the cost of living climbing to levels that are higher than ever before, it’s time to take a look at your energy expenditure and think about ways to reduce it.
While we can’t do anything about the international cost of energy, there are a few things that you can do to reduce your energy costs.
Here are just ten of them.
- Upgrade your equipment.
Okay, this may require a fairly substantial initial investment, but the long-term savings will be more than worth it.
The world has become increasingly eco-conscious, which has forced manufacturers to create more energy-efficient equipment in order to stay competitive in the market.
This means that businesses looking to upgrade are spoiled for choice. Modern equipment uses less energy, is often far more powerful, and has the added benefit of making the lives of your employees easier.
- Reduce usage during peak demand hours.
Peak demand hours are usually between office hours (9-5), and energy is more expensive during those hours.
If possible, stagger your work hours, and make sure that all non-essential electrical equipment (lights, HVAC, etc.) is switched off in rooms that aren’t being used. If possible, adopt a hybrid or work-from-home working model so that there are fewer people on the office premises, and consider running heavy equipment during off-peak hours (early in the morning or after hours).
- Use energy-efficient lightbulbs.
In areas where the lights have to stay on (bathrooms, hallways, break rooms), consider switching to energy-efficient lightbulbs so that they use electricity during operation. Even the smallest change can make a big difference over time.
- Natural light!
Don’t use your lights when you don’t have to. If you’re lucky enough to work in an office with lots of natural light, then use it!
- Use fans where possible.
Fans use significantly less power than HVAC systems. If possible, consider making a switch to fans and only use the air conditioner when absolutely necessary.
- Use surge protectors
Laptop and cell chargers, printers, computer monitors, and a wide variety of other electrical equipment can still drain energy even after being switched off.
This “Phantom Energy” can dramatically harm your energy efficiency.
Circumvent it by connecting all peripheral computer equipment to powerstrips (surge protectors) that can be used to switch off multiple electronic devices at once.
- Plant trees!
Think outside the box. If you’re in charge of the landscaping outside your office, then plant trees that can provide shade, and block wind, keeping your office cool during summer and warm during winter.
Every little bit helps.
- Educate your employees about energy conservation.
You can only do so much on your own, and it doesn’t help if your employees are boiling a full kettle for only one cup of coffee. Train your employees to switch off their computers when they’re done using them, double-check that the lights and air conditioners in their offices are off when they leave for the day and pull out any chargers when not in use.
Offer incentives, and be patient. It may take some time for everyone to catch the vision, but they’ll get there.
- Regularly check electrical equipment.
Faulty, damaged electronics have to work harder to produce the same results. They use more energy than they should and drive up your electrical bill while bringing in nothing in return.
Check frequently used electrical equipment quarterly (computers, kitchen appliances, lightbulbs, HVAC, etc.) and less frequently used equipment every six months or so to make sure that everything is running as it should.
This will save you a lot of money in the long run.
- Get an Energy Reduction Assessment from Negawatt Energy Solutions!
For more than 20 years, our team of experts has been assisting businesses to save on energy expenditure by helping them identify areas of improvement and adjusting their commercial energy usage policy so that they can become more energy efficient without having to sacrifice the quality of their products or services.
Our Smart Energy Approach will help you optimise your energy usage and reduce overall maintenance and repair costs through an honest, transparent and independent energy analysis that helps you identify improvements for predictable energy demand and gives you the leverage you need to reduce your energy costs.
We look for opportunities across total energy usage in your building to give you an estimate of cost, savings and payback with recommendations for more efficient energy consumption.
Sign up for your Energy Reduction Assessment here: https://www.negawattenergy.com.au/contact-us/