As a business owner, there are several reasons you might want your facility to be more energy efficient. In addition to helping you save on your monthly operating expenses, reducing energy consumption can also help you operate a more eco-friendly business. Fortunately, conserving energy in the workplace is easier than you might think. Consider making changes that won’t alter the working environment or impede productivity.
Consider Developing Remote Work Opportunities
The best way to reduce energy consumption in your office or facility is by using it less frequently. Even if it’s impracticable for your business to work remotely on a full-time basis, you can look for positions that can be done remotely on a part-time schedule.
For example, some of your office personnel, such as HR or accounting, may be able to work from home three to four days per week. You could require them to come in on those other two days to complete tasks that need more personal attention.
When employees work from home, you can power down their workstations and redirect environmental resources from those areas. If employees have private offices, you won’t need to use lighting, computers, or HVAC systems in those rooms on the days they work remotely.
Change How You Light Your Workspaces
An important change that many business owners overlook is how they utilize lighting in their work areas. If you install blinds on your building’s windows, you can let more natural light into the office without allowing sunlight to directly hit your employees or their desks.
You should also switch to LED lighting since incandescent bulbs use much more energy. The traditional incandescent bulbs also burn hotter, increasing the ambient temperature and forcing the HVAC system to work harder. To increase energy efficiency even more, consider adding motion sensors to your light switches. This will ensure the lighting only stays active while the work areas are in use.
Stop Using Your Old HVAC System
If your building has an older HVAC system, it’s probably time to consider replacing it before it fails altogether. Rather than buying another big commercial or industrial system, consider switching to Mitsubishi ductless units. These wall-mounted units are much smaller, and they use far less energy to operate. Since they don’t use your building’s ducts, the installation will be quicker.
The ductless system is also powerful enough to treat the air in almost any room, which means you can use them throughout the building. You’ll find it easier to cool or heat your work areas without paying energy bills that are as high. Simply keep the filters clean and schedule seasonal maintenance to keep your ductless units operating like new for years to come.
Test for Air Leaks
Much like you would do in your residential home, you should look for places in your commercial or industrial building where treated air is escaping. You may want to hire a commercial HVAC technician to help you test your building.
Depending on your business type, you may need to keep certain doors or bays open, but you can identify other areas where you can prevent treated air from escaping. Every step you take to reduce air leaks helps lower your energy usage by easing the workload on your heating and cooling system to maintain the desired temperature.
Unplug at the End of Each Day
It’s not enough to power down your office machines and other equipment. If the power strip is still on, electricity is being drawn from that outlet. To ensure your facility isn’t using electricity when your office is closed, unplug nonessential equipment.
The only things still running when you leave for the day should be your security system, fire safety equipment, and emergency lighting. Everything else should be powered down and unplugged until your staff returns for their next shift. Even a small energy drain can waste a great deal of electricity and drive up your operating costs.
You can turn your energy-efficiency endeavor into a morale-boosting project by asking your staff for input. Consider offering prizes for the best energy-saving ideas. This will help your employees feel like they’re valued members of the organization, and you might discover ideas that you hadn’t previously considered.