Making a more energy efficient office

Image credit: Eric Anada from Pexels

Many business owners are thinking about the ways they can make running the business more sustainable, less wasteful, and better for the environment. However, for many, the problem still lies in energy consumption above all else. What are the changes, little and large, that can make your office more energy efficient?

Say goodbye to paper
There are some records that should be kept in paper forms, such as financial accounts and any documents relating to the legal formation of the business. Otherwise, however, it’s becoming easier and easier to go entirely paperless. Not only does it cut on paper waste, but you don’t have to pay as many printing costs (for the printers themselves as well as the ink and repairs), and you don’t need to use as much space in the office to store papers.

Take care of your big appliances
When it comes to any means of heating, air conditioning, and ventilation, then it is essential that you routinely hire professionals to take care of them. With maintenance of air source heat pumps, you are not only potentially saving money down the line by preventing breakages. You are ensuring that the appliances that heat the entire workspace are working more efficiently, thereby allowing them to heat up or cool down the office while consuming less energy.

Going green with your energy
You can make sure that your appliances are working as efficiently as possible is one thing. But one of the biggest changes you can make is to change where your energy comes from in the first place. Not every location is going to benefit as much from the installation of solar panels, so it’s important to do your research and find out how much energy you’re likely to get with such installations before you make that decision.

Choosing eco-friendly partners
How you manage the energy efficiency of your business isn’t just about how you operate. It’s also about who you partner with. Finding reliable suppliers and service providers is crucial. While it perhaps shouldn’t outshine their performance and cost-effectiveness, it might be worth considering what eco-friendly operational methods your suppliers and partners undertake. It might be worth paying a little extra for a supplier that uses recyclable packaging for instance.

Beware of vampire energy
It might sound like a relatively small tip in comparison, but turning off all lights and electronics when a room is not in use can make a big difference to your energy bills over time. Even leaving computers in standby can be more wasteful than you might imagine. Make it a policy to ensure that appliances are turned off at the wall unless you know for a fact that you’re coming back to use them very soon and never leave lights on in an empty room.

Energy efficiency might seem like a conundrum, but if you’re making the changes effectively, then you can end up saving the costs of the investment in terms of energy saved. It always pays to look out for government schemes to help install energy-efficient measures with a discount or part of the costs covered, as well.