The amount of energy your business uses may never have crossed your mind, but we are here to tell you that you NEED to be aware. Your energy bill is expensive, not only that but you are probably wasting energy, therefore, are contributing to the environmental changes that we are currently going through (e.g. climate change, sea levels rising, damage to the earth etc.) We are here to tell you 6 unsuspecting items in your office which are using a LOT of energy, perhaps unnecessarily.
Computer monitor - Did you know one computer and monitor which is left on for 24 hours every day will cost around £45 a year. You may be thinking well that isn't too expensive, but we urge to ask yourself this: how many computers are in your building? Yep, it adds up. Not only will turning them off when unused save around £10 a year per computer, but it will also make your amount of wasted energy come down considerably.
Printer - Similar to the computer, the amount of energy consumed when unused is scary. Therefore, we suggest enabling sleep mode when left idle for 5 minutes and make sure to turn it off at the end of the working day. If you are wary of accidentally leaving it on, you can install timers which will automatically turn the machine off at certain times of the day. Did you know a printer/photocopier which is left on overnight wastes enough energy to make 30 cups of tea?
Lights - You must always remember to turn off the office lights at the end of the day or when not necessary. Perhaps one of the strongest energy consumers, turning off the lights should be a priority in your end of day routine. Why not invest in sensor lights, they will automatically turn off if no movement has been detected for a certain amount of time, only providing light when you need it. The is particularly useful for bathrooms, restrooms and meeting rooms as they will not constantly be in use, therefore, should not constantly have their lights on.
Air conditioning - Regulating temperature in the office is essential, but when staff are not on site it is not needed. Remember to turn off your air conditioning system at the end of the day and over the weekend to save you £££ and energy use. Did you know regulating temperature for an extra hour per day over one month will use enough energy to power a TV for a year?
Phone and laptop chargers - Leaving a charger plugged in and switched on without actually using it will still consume energy. Always remember to unplug your chargers when not in use to save energy. It costs on average 1p to charge a phone for 8 hours, but if you keep the charger plugged in and on you are increasing the cost.
Vending machines - If your office has a vending machine, make sure that it is not colder than what it should be. A difference in 1C could make a HUGE difference in your energy costs and consumption, therefore check and regulate the temp to meet the guidelines. Another way of reducing energy expenditure is to dim their lights slightly or remove the lights if not necessary to efficiently brighten the machine.One of the best ways of being more productive in your energy management is to install an energy management system. It highlights areas which could have reductions in the amount of power used and when. By installing an EMS you can reduce costs by up to a third! Something all businesses want to hear.
Here at WINNS Services, we pride ourselves on exceeding expectations and working with clients to offer the best solution to their queries. If you have any questions regarding the energy management systems offered at WINNS or would like a quote, please do not hesitate to call us on 01702 719100 or email us at info@winnsservices.co.uk.
