Small steps
10 ideas for saving power in the office
Green Ideas editorial team
Print off these tips and pin them up in the office!
- Connect lights to sensors in areas like stairwells and bathrooms so you don’t waste power lighting them when no one is there.
- Put the air-conditioning on a timer. Have it start 30 minutes before staff arrive, and stop 30 minutes before they leave.
- Combine functions when buying new devices. There’s no point having a separate printer, scanner, fax and copier all drawing power if one unit can do everything.
- Set a policy of buying only high Energy Star-rated computers and other devices.
- Switch to LED lighting!
- If you have a hot water cylinder, make sure it has an insulation wrap and the first metre of pipe is lagged. If any part is hot to the touch – insulate it!
- Turn the hot water off over the Christmas break.
- Consider using a kitchen water heater instead of a jug for hot drinks.
- Don’t put the fridge or freezer in the sun or next to an oven.
- Employ a company such as Energy Solution Providers (www.espnz.co.nz) to capture real-time data on your company’s energy use. With hard data you’ll be able to work out exactly where you can improve, and start setting savings targets.