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 Simply educating your employees and building occupants and asking them to help save energy can be one of your most effective energy saving efforts. Here are some simple tips for reducing energy use that everyone can do:
Heating and Cooling - Close blinds in the winter at the end of the day to reduce heat loss.
- Close blinds during the day in the summer to avoid the heat of direct sunlight and keep your business cool.
- Spot radiant electric heaters can sometimes provide heat to employees more efficiently in large spaces.
- Encourage employees to dress warmly and in layers that can be adjusted for comfort during the winter.
- Keep doors and windows closed to eliminate outside air from altering the temperature.
Office Equipment and Appliances Some people believe that equipment lasts longer if it is never turned off. This is not true and leaving equipment on wastes energy. - Assign employees to turn off the photocopiers and other office equipment in each work area at the end of the day.
- Monitors account for most of the energy used by computers. Turn off computer monitors when not in use and at the end of the day. Adjust settings on ENERGY STAR monitors to turn off the monitor screen when it is not in use for a given period of time. Eliminate the use of screen savers which can increase energy use.
- Turn off all tools, office machines and appliances — like hot plates, coffee pots and other small appliances — when not in use. Put them on power strips to make turning off these items easier.
- Equipment with remote controls such as televisions and VCRs should be unplugged when not in use because they still use some power even when turned off.
Lighting - Encourage employees to turn off lights when they are out of their offices and cubicles. Turn off lights in unused common areas such as copy rooms, break rooms, conference rooms and restrooms. Place reminders near light switches.
- Turn off lights near windows that provide sufficient light and turn off all lights at night, including lamps and office lights.
- Replace incandescent lights with compact fluorescent light bulbs. Compact fluorescent lamps use ¼ as much energy and last 10 times longer.
- Replace any halogen torchiere floor lamps with compact fluorescent models.
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