Some people have well and truly embraced environmentally friendly ways of life, but others are less convinced. Here we look at a good way of convincing the doubters, by illustrating how their businesses could save money by adopting environmentally friendly practices. There are a number of excelent ways that you can reduce your business energy costs. Consider whether you can implement these in your workplace.
Switch off unnecessary appliances
Switching off a computer and monitor when not required can cost as little as 30 per cent of the cost of leaving them on 24 hours a day.
Timers can be installed to turn off photocopiers and other equipment when not in use.
Take care to switch off lights when the last person leaves, and leave lights off in unoccupied areas. Also consider areas where lighting may not be required all day, for example close to large windows. Where lights may only be required for occasional short periods, such as in bathrooms, you can install motion sensors that switch the light on when someone enters.
Energy-saving bulbs can use up to two thirds less energy than conventional bulbs.
Reduce paper dependence
Think about any records held in paper form – is it feasible to store them on computer? You may well find that a paperless office is more efficient anyway: it will be less cluttered and it is less likely you will lose an important document.
Consider whether you can print double-sided, and thus use only half the paper you do now.
Recycle more
Just about any kind of paper can be recycled, including junk mail and envelopes. Place your recycling bins in prominent areas and ensure employees are aware of what can be recycled.
Insulate your premises
Keep doors and windows closed, especially when the heating or air conditioning is on. Use draught excluders, and consider installing loft insulation. Enquire about whether you may be entitled to any grants to insulate your premises.
Consider having double glazed windows. Around one fifth of the heat lost from a building can be through the windows, but double glazing can reduce the loss by half.
Control your heating
Turning the central heating down by one degree Celsius in winter can reduce your heating bill by as much as 8%. In the summer, substantial reductions can also be gained by increasing the temperature at which the air conditioning comes on.
Take care not to place furniture in front of radiators, as this will reduce their effectiveness. Also avoid placing cooling vents near hot office equipment such as computers and photocopiers, as then the cooling system will need to use more energy.
Consider areas of your premises where there may be less need for heating. These could be areas where people do not usually spend long periods, such as store rooms, corridors or bathrooms; or areas where physical work is carried out.
Use renewable energy
In the United Kingdom non-renewable energy used by businesses is taxed under the climate change levy, but renewable energy is not. Non-renewable energy bills can increase suddenly. With renewable energy you will not have this worry.
The Carbon Trust offers interest-free loans to businesses wishing to embrace renewable energy, and tax breaks under the Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme for those investing in certain types of renewable energy equipment.
Most modern energy companies also offer a green tariff nowadays like this npower Juice tariff, a certified green energy tariff with electricity that is matched to 100% renewable sources.
Steps you could take to embrace renewable energy include:
Installing a wind turbine: Payback period – the time before you recoup the cost of converting to renewable energy via cost savings – could be as little as four years, but these require planning permission, and the wind is not guaranteed to blow all the time.
Installing solar panels: Can generate a large proportion of the energy you require. Solar energy can also be used to heat water as well as generate electricity. No planning permission is required for solar panels on a small scale, but again this is an intermittent technology as solar energy is not generated at night.
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