6 tips how to save on energy consumption
Energy consumption can make up a significant chunk of your expenditures, and it’s one area where you can always improve.
Adopting some energy-efficient practices can help you save money while improving your indoor environment for a better office. In this article you can find some tips how to improve your energy efficiency.
1. Lighting
On average lighting accounts for 20% of your electricity consumption, so even small improvements can add up to big savings.
Even though it might sound like a no-brainer, turning off lights in unoccupied rooms can help you save on energy consumption significantly. You can use motion sensors to ensure that lights don’t stay on when nobody is around.
Another simple but very efective way how to save on lighting is to switch from normal to LED bulbs. Energy efficient bulbs not only use at least 75% less energy, but they also have a significantly longer life span which allows you to save in the long term, too.
2. HVAC
Maintain your HVAC system regularly to ensure they are running effectively. This includes changing the air filters. Some manufacturers recommend changing them every month, but it’s important to check them regularly and change when they look dirty, no matter how long it’s been.
Smart thermostats enable you to reduce temperature after work hours and avoid unnecessary energy consumption on heating.
It’s also important to check for places where hot/cool air can escape. Leaks can increase your energy consumption and lower HVAC’s efficiency.
Implementing a building management system (BMS) enables you to control all HVAC systems and lighting remotely, which can come handy whenever you’re unable to physically access your building.
3. Insulate
Insulating plays a key role in lowering your expenditures by retaining heat during winter and keeping heat outside durring summer.
An insulated ceiling can make a big difference to your energy bills.
4. Energy-efficient office equipment
Energy efficient computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, scanners and copiers can run much more efficiently and automatically power down during extended inactivity.
Older equipment often runs ineffecively and consumes unnecessary amount of energy, which also costs you money. Replace old equipment with new energy-efficient one and save in the long term.
5. Prevent ‘Phantom energy’
Phantom energy is the energy consumed by computers and other appliances while they’re not being used, but remain plugged in. Great way how to prevent this is to connect multiple devices to a power strip so that you can turn all of them with a single flip of a switch.
You can also consider purchasing smart power strips which turn off automatically based on preset timers.
6. Energy management system
While implementing these enrgy-efficient practices it is important to keep track of the improvements and have data to compare. Energy management system helps you to identify leaks, reminds you when audits are necessary and shows you exactly how much you’re saving.
If you want to know how much you could save on energy consumption email us at info@enerfis.cz and we will be happy to assist you.