You can’t manage something you haven’t measured. Ensuring you have energy efficiency in the workplace is essential in an environmentally conscious world.
There are many ways to cut back on the energy you use. Here at Smarter Services, we know what you need to do to get a firm grip on your energy efficiency.
Monitor to manage
The first plan of action is to take regular meter readings and compare your energy use to previous months. Making a note of your findings will give you an idea of where you can improve.Keep in mind that:
- Take the seasons into consideration when measuring the energy you use to heat the building. How cold has it been recently? The colder it is, the more heating you will use. So, you’ll know for future use that energy costs are likely to increase during the winter period.
- Small changes can prove significant and often encourage big cost savings. Consider what equipment uses the most energy and whether you need to use them while the building is unoccupied. For example, make sure everything is switched off during non-working hours.
Using meters to your advantage
Whether you’re using advanced meters or smart meters, each can provide a measure of your energy use. Advanced meters can record how much energy is used every 30 minutes – which is ideal for analysing energy-use patterns throughout the day. Smart meters give real-time readings and comparisons which instantly shows how much energy used. Readings are automatically sent to the supplier, meaning bills will always be accurate, and you can rejig your consumption to take full advantage of cost savings. In an article from The Guardian, it’s expected that over the next ten years all businesses and homes will have a smart meter installed. Take the opportunity to get on board now and see your energy become more efficient as time goes on.Inspect your areas
A detailed walk-round will open your eyes to how much energy you’re using. It is a great way to assess your energy efficiency because you will discover which processes are not sufficient in line with your energy goals and expectations.Things to consider:
- Have you had your heaters/boilers serviced in the last 12 months?
- Are the timers working and on the correct settings?
- Are the room thermostats working and at the right temperature?
- Have there been complaints in regards to temperature?
- Is exterior lighting switched off when not needed?
- Are computers left on out of hours?
- What is still switched on out of hours?
- Enforce and encourage employee procedures
