Roads Towards Reduced Energy Consumption in the Office
Commercial buildings are among the biggest energy consumers anywhere in the world. This is quite understandable when the number of office workers, the multitude of equipment used and the amount of office hours is taken into consideration. On top of that, even when the offices are closed, the energy is being spent, either for cleaning purposes, equipment standby mode or heating and cooling systems. Having all this in mind, it was high time one of these roads towards reduced energy consumption in the office was taken.
- Turn off the office equipment when unused
The majority of offices are filled with a plentitude of office equipment. Moreover, even the pieces that are used quite rarely are plugged in and running all the time. Change this. Next, whenever it is not used, put your computer into the hibernate mode. When you leave the office, always shut down all the equipment and never leave it on standby. This will bring substantial energy savings. Finally, you could also reduce the paper use by printing double-sided, as well as switch to online communication and cloud storage. By doing so, you will further help the preservation of the environment.
- Lighting adjustments
Making lighting adjustments is another easily implemented way to reduce energy consumption. First of all, maximize the amount of natural light you have. Get rid of thick curtains and use those made of lighter materials or do not use them at all. Painting the walls with nontoxic and light colors will improve the reflection and provide a healthier interior. Lastly, according to the guys behind Sydney Electrician, the greatest difference in energy consumption will be seen once you replace incandescent and CFL bulbs with LED ones. LEDs consume up to 80% less energy than incandescent bulbs and 50% less than CFLs, while having several times longer lifespan.
- Heating and cooling
A large amount of energy consumption in the offices comes from the use of heating and cooling systems. Luckily, there are ways to remedy this by implementing several smart improvements. To begin with, using shades during hot summer days will lower the use of the cooling system. Additionally, caulking and weather-stripping will make sure that the energy used both for heating and cooling is consumed more efficiently. Double glazed windows will also make a difference in both areas. Using exterior and interior green walls will significantly help maintain the right temperature during summers and winters alike, and at the same time improve the air quality, the noise reduction and the environmental care.
- Water consumption
Water consumption is usually not regarded as an area where energy savings can be made. However, given the fact that both water scarcity and the amount of energy needed to deliver it to the offices have become a huge issue lately, something needs to be done. The first and often the most important step in optimizing water consumption is the regular maintenance. Perform checkups regularly and make sure there are no leaks. Alternatively, you could also replace the traditional toilet with an ultra-low flush one and use low-flow faucets and shower heads. The results will definitely be quickly visible.
Taking any of these energy saving roads will be beneficial, no question about it. However, the largest and the longest lasting improvements will be made if proper attention is given to all these areas simultaneously. Still, the most important thing is to have patience. It is highly unlikely that the results will be immediate, but in the long run, this kind of frugality always pays off. All one needs to do is withstand this long run.
These are some great tips!! We can definitely all help by doing our part to reduce energy consumption! Thank you for putting together this helpful post!
HI Andrea,
Thanks for stopping by and reading my tips. Glad you found them useful. Have a healthy, happy & blessed weekend!