If you work at an office, you should do what you can to conserve energy at work. Any energy you waste during the day increases your company’s electric bill and wasting energy is also very harmful to the environment. Use these tips and tricks to keep energy consumption down during your workday.
Unplug Devices at the End of the Day
One of the easiest ways to cut down on energy consumption is to simply unplug office devices when they are not in use. As long as a machine is plugged into an outlet, it can still use energy, even if it’s not in use. Some people refer to this as phantom power.
When everyone is done printing for the day, unplug the printer, so it doesn’t burn excess energy.
Use a Power Strip
You can use a power strip to make it easier to switch devices off at the end of the day. Power strips are effective tools because you can plug multiple devices into them. Once you are done working for the day, all you have to do is click the switch on the device to power everything off.
If you have trouble remembering to power down your devices at the end of a workday, this useful tool will help make the process a lot easier.
Switch to Energy-Saving Lights
Another effective way to lower energy use is to replace the lights in your office with more energy-efficient ones. Most commercial light bulbs burn through a lot of energy, and this can result in a much larger electric bill. Fortunately, many companies produce energy-saving bulbs that require less energy to operate.
The type of bulbs you should be looking for are CFL and LED models since they consume a lot less power while they are turned on. They are also designed to last, so you can use them for long periods of time without having to replace them.
Use Natural Sunlight
If you want to stop wasting energy at work, you should take advantage of natural light when the sun comes out. The natural light supplied by the sun is very powerful, and it can illuminate your office all on its own. When the sun comes out, turn off the lights in your workspace or office to use the natural light.
If you work in a room that doesn’t have windows, try moving to a room that has them. By keeping the lights off, you can save your company a lot of money in the long run.
Cut Down on Heat and Air Use
During the cold winter months and the warm summer months, you are probably tempted to adjust the office thermostat. Temperatures can be extreme during these months, so most employees like to adjust the air or heat in the office to stay comfortable. However, it’s not a good idea to overuse your office’s heating and cooling system because when its use is increased, it starts consuming a lot of energy.
Try not to rely so much on the central air system during the day, and adjust the settings when the weather is nice. Turning the heat down by one degree during the winter can be enough to reduce the system’s power output significantly.
You can also consider investing in a smart thermostat that can adjust the temperature on its own. This device will learn how you and other workers set the heat or air, and will follow this pattern in the most cost-effective way possible.
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