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Cut the carbs in the office - save money and save the planet
By Biba hartigan
Did it really take the threat of catastrophic climate change to wake us up to the opportunity of energy efficiency? Or is it rather that rising fuel prices have made alternatives and efficiencies more attractive? Either way, there is a great opportunity for businesses to maximise energy efficiency and reduce their carbon burden, saving money while saving the environment.
Simply by signing up to a 100% renewable energy supplier you can eliminate carbon from your electricity use. Check out www.ukpower.co.uk and get competitive quotes. However, only a fraction of the energy we need is provided from renewable sources, so it is vital to reduce demand.
A good starting point is to contact the Carbon Trust, www.carbontrust.co.uk, to see if you qualify for a free energy survey. This will identify where you can make the most savings in energy and of course cost.
Lighting and computers have the highest energy consumption in office environments with potential to save up to 70%.
And going green doesn't have to cost. Just talking about energy use can make a big difference. The key to conserving energy is in staff behaviour. Raising awareness amongst staff enables them to become part of the move towards a greener office. Although laptops use around 70% less energy than your average PC and 'energy star' rated machines are more efficient, even the most efficient computer left on all the time will use more electricity than a standard PC which is switched off when not in use. Electrical equipment left on overnight and at weekends could account for 70% additional use.
It's a matter of putting the systems in place. Appoint, 'energy champions', members of staff responsible for monitoring lighting, electrical and computer equipment. Posters and notices may soon be ignored, but computer pop ups provide effective reminders to turn off monitors if you are leaving your desk for more than ten minutes, to switch off even fluorescent lights if the room's empty for more than 15 minutes and to unplug everything at the end of the day. Plug in timers are good for computers and other devices which use energy even when switched off. Seven day timers are particularly useful to ensure that things are not left on at night or over the weekend - apart from essential security devices and server equipment of course.
Lighting can be further controlled with photocell sensors which turn off the lights when there's enough daylight and occupational sensors which can be used to reduce lighting in toilets, store rooms etc. And there are other more obvious solutions. Replacing incandescent bulbs with energy savers could save up to £100 in electricity costs over the life of each bulb, so is well worth the effort. When fluorescent strips expire, replace them with tri-phosphor coated ones to save 10%.
Of course, some of it comes down to simple housekeeping. Just cleaning windows and maintaining lighting systems can save up to 15% of lighting costs.
Top tips
- Sign up to a 100% renewable energy supplier for zero carbon electricity.
- Contact the Carbon Trust to see if you're eligible for a free energy survey.
- Up to 70% energy saving with seven day timers to switch off lights and equipment overnight and at weekends.
- Photocell sensors turn off the lights when there is enough daylight to reduce unnecessary use.
- Clean the windows and service lighting systems for up to 15% cost saving.
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