All businesses could do more to conserve energy. As well as reducing carbon emissions and helping to preserve the planet, it is an easy way for companies to cut costs.
Large businesses are bound by the UK’s Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) – a mandatory scheme aiming to cut carbon emissions by 1.2 million tonnes of carbon per year by 2020. But smaller firms also have a part to play, not to mention a great deal to gain, by curbing their energy use. And the good news is that even the simplest changes in everyday practice can make a big difference.
Monitor energy use
Once companies and their employees know how much energy they are using, they are more inclined to make changes.
“Many small businesses might be surprised to learn that waste can cost around 4% of turnover, and yet systematic action could save between £400 and £1,000 for each employee,” says Roger Papworth, a programme area manager at environmental charity WRAP.
“The first step is to measure and monitor resource use. Track the data on invoices for items such as paper, water, waste and energy, and use this to benchmark your performance year on year.”
The key then is to positively influence employee behaviour. “Set reduction targets, and reward staff when these are met (for example, with a staff barbecue or bowling evening),” suggests Paul Swift, an associate at the Carbon Trust and an expert on the lowcarbon workplace.
Lighting
An easy way for any company to save energy is to be more circumspect in its use of lighting.
The Carbon Trust advocates switching to LEDs or T5 lamps, which use less power to throw out the same light as traditional options. Other options include installing motion or ambient light sensors, and labelling light switches correctly. “Also, persuade anyone working late at night to converge in the same area to save on lighting,” Swift says. This is called ‘campfire working’.
At AA Accountants in Peterborough, switching the lights off has become second nature following the company’s decision to seek local council accreditation for environmental sustainability. As part of a whole series of efficiency improvements, the firm has replaced standard light bulbs with energy efficient equivalents, and its staff now routinely turn lights off when leaving a room.
Founder and director, Shaz Nawaz, says: “We’ve made lots of small changes. We wanted to be a responsible business, and felt it was important to practise what we preach, as we are in a position where we can influence a lot of other business owners.”
Everyday power use
Simply turning down the thermostat by one degree consumes 10% less natural gas, with big potential savings on the heating bill, according to the Carbon Trust.
More efficient energy use also includes not overfilling the kettle, and not leaving devices switched on for longer than necessary. Swift recommends attaching plug in timers (costing as little as £6 from a local electrical store) to items such as printers or water coolers. When buying new equipment, it’s important to choose products that are energy efficient, especially for appliances such as photocopiers or fridges that are left on for long periods.
AA Accountants claims to have saved around 20% on its utilities bills since adopting energy saving practices, according to Nawaz. As well as turning the lights off, the firm ensures computers are turned off properly using signs on doors to remind people.
Broadgate Quarter, a contemporary office space near Liverpool Street Station in London, has reduced its energy consumption substantially in just a couple of years. With help from sustainable workplace consultancy Hosking Associates and energy management company EcoMonitor, its property manager has implemented measures ranging from boiler optimisation to reducing the hours its air conditioning and heater units are running. It claims to have saved a “staggering amount of energy” as a result, and has been awarded the ISO 14001 certification for energy management.
Clever use of technology
“Thinking before printing” is another easy energy and cost saving measure any business can take.
AA Accountants runs a largely paperless office now, storing ‘soft’ copies of all of its documents rather than physical print outs. This has saved a lot of energy, not to mention the cost associated with printing. Nawaz says: “We used to spend astronomical amounts on paper. We’d get through five reams of paper in a fortnight, whereas now we can make the same amount last six months.”
Cloud-based technology services such as Dropbox (used to store and share content) are a great aid to this strategy. “It saves us having to print out documents to take to a client’s premises,” Nawaz says. “We also have a big screen in our meeting room so we can share the content that way, rather than each person needing to have a piece of paper in front of them.”
‘If it’s broke, fix it!’
In today’s throwaway society, it can be tempting to buy new when old equipment fails, especially if technology has moved on. But a ‘repair first’ strategy is another energy saving approach that can save money.
“Wastefully ploughing more and more resources into IT is not only a huge drain on company cash, but is using up valuable rare earth metals, and the redundant equipment is filling landfill sites,” notes Askar Sheibani, CEO of IT repair and support company Comtek. “Worse still, in some cases this equipment is shipped to developing countries and illegally dumped becoming a toxic hazard.”
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