Tips to Reduce Energy Costs in Office
Rising energy costs are leading many businesses to have to think more carefully about the day-to-day running of their offices and how best to keep an eye on their energy bills in order to keep costs down. These considerations can include everything from the general layout of the workspaces down to the lightbulbs being used in each room. There are a number of things you can look at changing in order to reduce energy usage in the office.
Here are some of our suggestions on how to reduce energy prices in your office.
- Make use of natural light
Natural light is one of the easiest (and free) ways to save money and energy. By making use of natural light, you are minimising the amount of artificial light needed, as well as reducing electricity and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) costs. Here are some ways to make the most of natural light in the office:
Reconfigure workspace location
Making effective use of your workspace is essential in keeping energy costs low and that includes considering the location of each workspace. By moving workstations closer to natural light, you will have less need for artificial lights, whilst also improving the work environment for your staff.
Glass partitions
Whilst an initial investment upfront, introducing glass walls or partitions into the office will attract more light into the space, making you less reliant on artificial lighting.
- Consider Office Layout
Believe it or not, the layout of your office can also have a significant impact on the ability to reduce business energy costs. For example, open-plan offices can often be more energy efficient as they allow for natural light to flow throughout the space. That said, it is important to balance the benefits of natural light with the need for privacy and noise reduction.
A well-designed office space with partitions and noise-reducing features can provide both energy efficiency and office productivity and reduce a business’ carbon footprint.
- Invest in energy-efficient lighting
One of the easiest ways to reduce energy costs is by investing in energy-efficient lighting. LED lights use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 25 times longer. By replacing your existing bulbs with LED lights, you will not only save on the energy costs but will also reduce the need for frequent replacements, saving more money in the long run.
- Smart controls
Implementing smart controls, such as programmable thermostats and occupancy sensors can help to greatly reduce energy consumption in the office and subsequently keep costs low . By using a programmable thermostat, you can set the temperature based on office occupancy or outside temperatures, whereas occupancy sensors can adjust the lighting and temperature based on the occupancy of individual rooms or an open-plan office. This can really help monitor your heating and cooling costs by avoiding excessive usage of energy.
- Upgrade your HVAC system
Depending on the age and efficiency of your HVAC system, you may want to consider upgrading your system to something that will cut costs from your energy bill. Be sure to also schedule regular maintenance and cleanings to ensure that your existing system is running as efficiently as possible.
- Encourage sustainable thinking
Finally, although not a specific purchase or practical change to the everyday operations of an office, encouraging your employees to be energy-conscious can have a real impact on overall energy consumption. If smart controls or automatic sensors are not an option, sending out internal communications regarding turning off lights and electronics when not in use can make a big difference when trying to save energy. Introducing an incentive programme or an internal energy-saving competition could even encourage your team to think more sustainably in their everyday life.
Office Options’ Services
If you are looking to make changes to your office, the team at Office Options can advise and guide you on every aspect of your office design and layout. Contact the team if you would like to find out more about our office fitting services.