Energy consumption will be a major issue for many companies this coming year and for many years to come. This is why it would be wise for you to start looking for ways to reduce your energy consumption right now.
If this has never been a pressing issue for you, the good news is that you probably have tons of areas where you can improve. Only making a few additions or subtractions could allow you to save lots of money while becoming a better ecological citizen. Let’s take a look at a few ways you could limit your business’s energy consumption.
Downsize and Allow for Remote Work
If you’re operating from a big office, one of the simplest ways to cut your energy consumption would be to downsize. If you can’t see yourself doing this with your current staff, consider allowing some of them to operate from home. Marketing and sales teams don’t necessarily have to be on the premises for most businesses to run, so see if you could move some of these people off your site and go for a smaller, less energy-hungry space.
Install MVHR Ventilation
Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery is one of the best technologies you can use to reduce your air conditioning and heating needs. MVHR systems pull air from the outside and mix it with inside air that is either heated or cooled through an air exchanger. This reduces the amount of energy that needs to be expanded to maintain the room’s temperature.
These systems can be expensive, but you can expect to get a return after a few months, so start looking at your options and see if this kind of system could work on your premises.
Go for LED Lights and Smart Sensors
You should replace all the lights you currently have with LEDs if you don’t have them already. Not only are they the most cost-efficient option, but they last forever and integrate pretty well with smart systems. If you’re looking for a great place to buy LEDs in bulk, powerpointelectrics.co.uk is a great place to start.
The next step would be to install sensors in areas like corridors and closets that only need to be lit when people use them. It would also be a good time to consider getting smart thermostats for the winter. These would allow you to do things like turn on the heat at a distance so your office can be at the perfect temperature when you come in and turn the heat down a few hours before everyone leaves so you can benefit from residual heat.
Have a Shut-Down and Unplug Policy
Plugged-in equipment and appliances will use energy even when unused and can have a big impact on your energy bills. This is something that you could easily solve by asking all employees to shut down and unplug whatever equipment they’re using at the end of the day. You should also invest in energy strips to cut current to any unused appliance fast.
All of these things should be considered if you want to cut your business’s energy consumption and carbon footprint. There are many other things you could do, however, so keep researching as it could allow you to significantly increase your bottom line with little effort.