Introducing simple energy saving measures at work — through good tech and good energy management habits — can help your business save money. Your team has a direct impact on over half of your total bill, and straightforward changes can add up.

Empowering staff to make smart choices to avoid energy waste can have a huge influence on your energy use and the resilience of your business against rising energy costs and supply issues.

Good energy habits in the office

  • Use equipment mindfully

    Keep the fridge door closed, only run the dishwasher when it’s full, and switch off small appliances at the wall when not in use or at the end of the day. 

  • Report maintenance issues

    Keeping on top of simple maintenance tasks can help your equipment run smoothly and waste less energy. 

  • Switch off

    Switch off lights and equipment when not in use.

    Investing in lighting sensors or smart plugs that turn off automatically, is another option.

  • Use efficiency settings

    Ensure power management settings are being used on PCs, laptops, photocopiers and printers so machines are only on when needed.

  • Think before you print

    Go digital where possible to reduce energy used by printers and copiers. 

  • Use smart plugs

    Plug equipment into a smart plug to automatically shut down devices when not in use and take advantage of cheaper off-peak power. 

Make sure your heating system is working efficiently 

Keeping your office’s heating and cooling systems well maintained, and operating at the right temperature is one of the best things you can do to reduce energy use. Thermostats should be kept at energy-saving settings year-round, to keep the environment efficient and more comfortable for staff.  

Staff can keep this system running smoothly by:  

  • Keeping doors closed — Make sure unused areas, as well as windows, are kept closed (excluding emergency exits if necessary).  
  • Reporting inefficiencies — Notify facilities teams about areas that are too hot or cold, or losing heat through drafts. 

You can take this one step further with a Building Management System (BMS) to monitor energy used for heating and cooling — along with other equipment. This lets you respond quickly as energy demand changes and provides valuable reporting on energy use. 

Building management systems

Save energy with smarter lighting

Keeping your artificial lighting limited to where it’s needed, during office hours, can help avoid energy waste, make the most of natural light and contribute to keeping staff comfortable.  

Simple upgrades such as making the switch to LEDs and installing lighting sensors in areas with low foot traffic are a cheap and easy way to reduce lighting needs and energy bills. Switching to LEDS alone can save your business up to 70% in lighting costs. 

Use efficient lighting 

Foster an energy saving work culture 

Under half of business decision makers currently feel confident in managing energy use, according to research. Developing energy saving strategies and establishing a team with energy-saving as a focus can pave the way for long term gains.  

Depending on the size of your business, this could be a group of diverse staff who help promote and deliver energy-saving projects outside of their core roles, or a team-wide effort to adopt good habits. 

No matter the approach you choose, it’s important that senior leadership support is in place, and the area is appropriately resourced.