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No matter what kind of business you’re running, maximising energy efficiency is crucial to saving money and reducing your carbon footprint. From installing a metre to setting monthly goals, find seven simple ways to manage your business’ energy usage below.
Measure your energy usage
You can’t manage what you haven’t measured, so first things first, calculate your organisation’s energy usage. This will give you a clear idea of how the business uses (and wastes) energy on a daily basis and will give helpful clues on where and how to cut back.
This transparency will also shine a light on which individuals to hold accountable.
Install an energy measurement system
You can manage your gas and electricity usage by installing meters which will help you to understand how much energy your business uses as a whole and how much energy different systems and pieces of equipment use.
For larger businesses, an energy management system is a great way to monitor and control energy usage.
In order to successfully monitor performance, it’s a good idea to allocate the responsibility of auditing the data to one staff member or to hire a specialist. In order to get an accurate picture of how the company uses energy, compare the data to your baseline and business activity. It’s important to keep an eye out for abnormal spikes, too, as these may indicate that equipment needs repairing.
Set goals for your business
The next step is to set targets for your company, whether daily, weekly, or monthly. Having goals in place will help you to understand where the business is succeeding and where there needs to be further improved.
Create a rewards scheme
It’s not just up to you to ensure that the business manages its energy usage efficiently, as every staff member needs to play their part. For example, to boost morale, you could run competitions with prizes for the teams which cut their energy usage back the most.
Another great way to inspire others to get on board could be asking local experts or campaigners to deliver regular talks in the workplace on the importance of cutting back on energy usage. At the same time, a monthly newsletter that highlights the company’s achievements or latest energy-saving initiatives will also help spread the word.
Use hibernation features
Turning off laptops, computers, and monitors is a great way to save energy, but you don’t need to wait until the end of the day to make a difference. For example, using hibernation features on staff computers will save energy when employees head to a meeting or go on their lunch break.
Instead of turning the computer on and off, users can simply pick up where they left off.
Control the temperature
Heating and cooling your business is responsible for approximately half of your energy costs, so it’s essential to adjust the thermostats in accordance with the season.
Small changes such as blackout blinds during the summer months will keep the morning heat out while ensuring all door and window cracks are sealed in winter will keep the warmth in.
Insulate your space
To save energy (and money) in the workplace, make sure to insulate the building. By sealing draughts and insulating the roof, walls, and floors, you will prevent heat loss in winter and stop heat from entering the property come summer. In turn, the business will reduce the need for excess heating or air conditioning.
With smart technology and a greater awareness of our environmental footprint, it’s never been easier to manage your energy usage in the workplace. Adopting these simple measures will not only cut costs and reduce energy but will create a positive space for your employees.
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Image source: Pixabay.com
