In a world where climate change and rising energy prices are never far from headlines, it’s no wonder more of us are looking to optimise our energy usage in the workplace. If you’re wondering whether now is the time to look into your own energy efficiency strategy, it may help to know that British Gas estimates an energy-efficient office can save a whopping 65% on its utility bills. And let’s be honest - lowering your carbon footprint never looks bad in your sales pitch.

In this article we break down the four steps your business can take to become more energy efficient.

Step 1. Conduct an energy efficiency audit

In order to make improvements, you first need to know where your problem areas are. An energy efficiency audit is a great way to help you understand where you can make some quick wins, or may need to invest in longer-term solutions. Your two main options are:

• Hire in the professionals: A professional audit of your office energy usage will provide an in-depth identification of problem areas and a priority list to work through. These can, however, be costly, and aren’t always necessary for smaller businesses.
• Do it yourself: A DIY audit may not be as comprehensive as a professional one, but for SMEs and start ups it can be just as effective. Installing an office smart meter offers a budget-friendly alternative that identifies energy usage for specific areas of the office.

Step 2. Implement key energy efficiency improvements

Your audit will highlight areas where you need to make changes. Below, we’ve broken down some ideas for improving key systems and equipment in your office.

• Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC): HVAC systems are the biggest energy consumer in a workplace. Maximise efficiency by investing in smart thermostats, using zone control, and setting temperature ‘dead bands’ to ensure your heating and cooling systems aren’t fighting each other. Something as simple as reducing your thermostat temperature by 1 degree can reduce your heating bill by 8%.
• Lighting systems: Lighting is the next biggest energy drain. Improve efficiency by designing your office layout to make the most of natural light sources, switching to LED lightbulbs, and installing motion sensors to turn lights off in unoccupied areas.
• Equipment and appliances: Smarter choices when upgrading office equipment and appliances can make a big difference - did you know that laptops use up to 85% less electricity than a desktop? Energy efficient models in the kitchen will keep running costs down, and smart plugs help stop wastage outside office hours.
• Building wide initiatives: Implementing a building management system that integrates HVAC, lighting, and security helps to monitor and minimise power consumption. Automated doors, for example, can minimise heat loss.
• Servers: Server rooms take a lot of energy to run and keep cool, yet research shows a substantial amount of servers in data centers are not actively used. Consolidate your servers, switch to virtual, or turn off dormant machines to reduce energy waste.
  

3. Maintain your energy efficiency

Unfortunately, energy efficiency is not a one-and-done fix. Once you’ve made your improvements, continual upkeep is needed to ensure your systems are operating efficiently. We’ve outlined the two key steps to successful maintenance below.

• Schedule routine checks: Plan routine checks for systems and appliances around the office, including HVAC and lighting, appliances and server rooms, including regular cleaning, filter replacements, and checking air flow in ventilation systems.
• Commission annual services: Annual services for heating systems, fridges and printers can ensure your equipment is running efficiently and extend its lifespan.

4. Educate and engage your employees

Reducing overall power wastage is great, but without employee buy-in it’s likely that inefficiencies will creep back in. By educating and engaging your workforce in energy-saving initiatives, you’ll have the best chance of succeeding at lowering emissions.

• Set clear policies: Make it as easy as possible for your employees to adhere to energy-saving best practice by setting out clear policies and procedures. A simple ‘turn off your computer when going home’ rule can save up to 75% of its energy.
• Provide training: By educating your teams about why saving energy is important and how they can play their part, you empower them to make smarter decisions.
• Shift the culture: Build energy conservation into your culture from the ground up, and watch as it naturally flows through your team’s values.

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to energy efficiency in the workplace, and there is no one-size fits all approach. Hopefully this article has given you some ideas of how to tackle your own energy efficiency strategy, and start to reduce your consumption, waste and operating costs.