The office is an environment where we spend a lot of time, and it’s important that we make it as comfortable as possible. Whether you’re working from home or in a traditional office setting, the last thing you want is to feel like you’re wasting energy or money when using appliances, lighting fixtures, and other devices in your workspace. Luckily, there are simple steps you can take to improve the energy efficiency of your office space without making any major changes:
Turn off your lights.
Turning off your lights is a simple action that will save you money and energy. When you walk into a room, turn on the lights and then turn them off when you leave. Motion sensors can be set up to automatically turn off lights when they aren’t in use, saving even more energy.
If you’re using a computer or screen during work hours, make sure to use a screen saver—it turns off after ten minutes of inactivity—and if possible, shut down your computer at the end of each day rather than leaving it running overnight or while out at lunch.
Install a timer on your water cooler.
If you have a water cooler in your office, it’s smart to install a timer that turns off the machine while it’s not in use. This can save major energy and money—while also reducing the risk of broken pumps and overflows from an over-full tank.
Swap out your incandescent bulbs for CFLs or LEDs.
You and your employees probably spend a lot of time in the office, so it’s important to make it as comfortable, functional, and energy-efficient as possible. One way you can do that is by switching out incandescent light bulbs for CFLs or LEDs. Incandescents are one of the most inefficient ways to illuminate a space—they take more energy than they produce, leading to wasted money and higher carbon emissions.
Recycled paper towels.
Recycled paper towels are also a great option. These are made from post-consumer waste and can be composted, so they don’t produce any disposable trash. This is an effective way to reuse materials that would otherwise go into landfill or become part of our growing landfills.
Use a refillable coffee mug and water bottle.
Reusable coffee mugs and water bottles are a great way to reduce the number of disposable cups you use and save money at the same time. You can get a reusable coffee mug or water bottle that is designed for hot or cold beverages, so you can use it for both.
Turn down the heat/air conditioning.
To make your office space more energy efficient, turn down the heat or air conditioning. This can be as simple as setting it to 78 degrees before you leave. If you have a programmable thermostat that allows you to change the temperature setting on a schedule, consider doing this automatically so that when no one is around, the building doesn’t needlessly spend money heating or cooling itself.
Conclusion
There are many ways you can cut down on your energy consumption and save money, but we hope these suggestions will get you started down the right path. You can also get in touch with Business Energy Comparison to get the best energy rates for your business.
