EASY WAYS TO CUT YOUR ENERGY BILL. A money saving cheat sheet for busy offices

Transcription

1 101 EASY WAYS TO CUT YOUR ENERGY BILL A money saving cheat sheet for busy offices

2 Foreword For the majority of businesses, there are many costs that are necessary to keep your business running, energy being one of them. Energy can also be the one that accounts for the biggest outgoing every year - but we can help. At ScottishPower we understand the different challenges that SMEs face running their businesses and that they are time poor. This means that energy efficiency is often low on their list of priorities. What many companies don t realise is that there is help and advice available to them. That s why we ve teamed up with Resource Efficient Scotland, so that our SME customers have access to useful, relevant information and realistic solutions to help them with their business energy costs. These 101 ways to save energy are a great resource for busy office managers and shows that there are lots of simple, low cost ways to save energy and money. Helping to cut energy costs is at the heart of what we do for our business customers. Indeed, we re delighted to be a Resource Efficiency Pledge Ambassador to show our commitment to embedding resource efficiency in our business and our customers businesses - to help them achieve sustainable growth, and ultimately, contributing to the achievement of a low carbon economy for Scotland. Colin McNeill, UK Marketing Director, ScottishPower

3 Using less energy is not only good for our environment, it s also good for business. Yet, finding the time and learning the skills needed to take action can be a big challenge. That s why we ve put together this special guide. It contains 101 easy ways to save energy in your office. We ve included many of the opportunities we see every day in organisations across Scotland. Many of the ideas are so simple and straightforward that they won t cost you a penny and will help you to start saving money straight away. 101 easy ways to cut your energy bill - a money saving cheat sheet for busy offices Printable version available here. 3

4 Making the savings Where will you start? A typical office uses more than half its energy on heating. Computing equipment accounts for just 7% of a typical office s energy bill. 4

5 How a typical office uses energy 1 Heating (57%) Lighting (15%) 54 Cooling & ventilation (10%) Computing (7%) Hot water (6%) Catering (3%) Other (3%) 100 5

6 Heating With heating accounting for 57% of a typical office s energy spend, it makes sense to tackle energy waste in this area first. This section looks at the use of radiators, heaters, thermostats and timers and how you can warm your office, and keep staff comfortable, for less. 6

7 1 Try not to heat a room if the windows or doors are open. You are asking your system to heat the entire planet. 7

8 2 Avoid using supplementary electric heaters. These are one of the most expensive heat sources to run. 8

9 3 Find out how the heating system for your office works and make sure you are taking full advantage of built in energy efficiency functions. 9

10 4 Reduce your office temperature settings by 1 C. It s unlikely that anyone will notice and you could cut your heating bill by as much as 10%. 5 Try to avoid staff members tampering with your heating controls. Instead, appoint a member of staff to have responsibility for heating controls (and make sure all staff know who the appointed person is). 10

11 6 Use timers and temperature control sensors. For example, an optimiser sensor fitted externally to your office building can set heating controls to warm up the office before staff arrive and shut off heating controls once the building is at the optimum temperature, avoiding overheating or the need to open windows. 7 Set your heating controls settings to take account of shift patterns and different seasons that have different heating requirements. 11

12 8 Turn off heating in unoccupied areas (e.g. meeting rooms, storage areas). Only use the heating system when people are actually going to benefit from it. 9 Make sure fans and pumps do not operate when buildings are unoccupied, except where they are needed for preheating. 12

13 10 If your office requires heating and cooling, you could make big savings by properly specifying a dead band in which neither heating nor cooling system is turned on. For example, heating turned off above 21 C and cooling turned off below 25 C is a dead band of 4 C. A dead band of 0 C or 1 C will use significantly more energy. This is especially important if your office has heating and cooling provided by separate systems where there is an extra risk of the two working against each other. 13

14 11 Ensure heaters and radiators are kept clear by not covering them or placing furniture in front of them. This will enable them to heat up your office more efficiently. 12 Ensure that your radiator circuit is weather compensated to reduce overheating. If overheating occurs, make sure that the heat is turned down rather than opening the windows. 14

15 13 Clean heating surfaces and filters on warm air heaters regularly. Regular cleaning allows for the maximum amount of heat exchange between two surfaces resulting in better efficiency. It also helps to prolong the life of the equipment by preventing overheating. 15

16 14 Look out for water or discolouration of your radiator valves to identify any leaks. Fixing them will help ensure your heating system is operating efficiently. 16

17 15 Use window blinds. Encourage cleaners to close blinds and curtains at night to reduce heat loss when rooms are unoccupied. 17

18 16 Install heat reflectors to the walls behind radiators to improve their efficiency at relatively low cost. 18

19 17 18 Check for drops in the pressure on your boiler. Drops in central heating pressure can be due to problems with your boiler or the result of leakage. If your boiler pressure keeps dropping, you should seek technical advice. Regularly service your heating system - a serviced boiler can save up to 10% on heating costs. 19

20 19 Draught-proof roof lights, doors and single-glazed windows to stop heat escaping from your office. Lost heat is wasted heat. Your boiler will have to work harder than it needs to, using more energy and costing you more money. 20 Fit external doors with spring loaded door closers to make sure they are not left open. 20

21 21 Install thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) where there are large natural variations in temperature across your workspace. TRVs can be used to quickly restrict the heat being delivered to the warmer areas of the building whenever necessary. 21

22 22 Check that your office building is adequately insulated to prevent heat loss. 23 Insulate pipework under suspended ground floors and in the cavity above suspended ceilings as heat loss can be considerable in these areas. 22

23 24 Consider employee seating arrangements. Different parts of a building will often be different temperatures. It is also often the case that male employees prefer a slightly lower ambient temperature than female employees. To avoid behaviours such as staff using their own portable heating devices which can be inefficient and costly, try to cater for different people s needs by moving employees to where they would be most comfortable. 25 If you have staff thinly spread across your office, why not try hot-desking and encourage staff to sit together? This will make your building easier to heat (people generate heat) and also allow you to switch off heating in areas that become unoccupied. 23

24 26 Use physical barriers to separate areas you are heating. Divide your site into zones (e.g. corridors, meeting rooms, office space) which have different heating needs and set the ideal temperature range for each. 27 Give careful consideration to the positioning of thermostats for example, a thermostat next to a draughty door may result in your heating system working hard to heat a room that is actually warm enough. 24

25 28 If your office is being refurbished, consider installing double or triple glazed windows to reduce heat loss through your windows. 25

26 Lighting Lighting is the second biggest user of energy in a typical office, accounting for 15% of total usage. This section looks at using lights only when required by making it easier for staff to turn off lights, or putting systems in place to automate this process. 26

27 29 Be aware of over-lighting. Just as insufficient light causes problems, too much light can lead to glare, eye strain and headaches and wasted energy. 27

28 30 Areas where people work need to be bright enough to allow them to work comfortably. The same applies to areas where your customers visit. But have a look at other areas such as corridors and toilets these should not need to be so bright for as long or as often. Consider reducing lighting in these areas. 28

29 31 Encourage staff to only switch on the lights that they need rather than the whole floor area. 32 Switch off lights in unoccupied rooms such as store rooms, photocopier rooms, archive stores and kitchens. Get everyone into the habit of switching lights off when they leave these rooms. 29

30 33 Ensure lighting controls are clearly labelled, especially if they are grouped together. Labelling should be easy to understand to encourage staff to turn off lights on sunny days or when part of the office is unoccupied. 34 Run a switch off campaign. It s always cheaper to switch off lights no matter how short the time period. 30

31 35 Fit energy efficient lighting. If you fit energy-efficient lighting such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), slimline tubes or light emitting diodes (LEDs), you can typically make immediate savings of up to 75%. These products also last up to ten times longer reducing replacement and waste disposal costs. Using tri-phosphor coated tubes gives a more natural, brighter light. 31

32 36 Use time switches and daylight sensors. 37 Ensure timers and sensors are in good working order. They should be well-maintained and set according to occupancy times. 32

33 38 Make sure windows and skylights are cleaned often. 39 Lay out your office to make best of natural light. 33

34 40 Relocate any objects such as boxes, plants and paperwork that block light entering your office. 41 Relocate any objects that may be affecting sensors. 34

35 42 Make sure lights can be switched off manually (particularly near windows). Installing zone controls and daylight sensors ensures that lights are switched on only when necessary. 35

36 43 Encourage staff to open the blinds and use natural lights wherever possible, rather than turn on the lights. 44 Install daylight blinds that redirect light to the ceiling thereby preventing glare. Some also have perforated blades to allow a view of outside. 36

37 45 Install presence detector lighting controls in places not in constant use. Installing sensors in places such as toilets, store rooms and meeting rooms can provide savings of up to 30% on lighting costs. 37

38 46 For new installations, ensure you have several separate circuits so that lights in darker areas can be turned on independently of those in lighter areas. 47 Artificial lights consume power, while natural lights are free. When refurbishing, consider installing skylights to use maximum day light, and reduce the use of artificial lights in dark areas. 38

39 Cooling & ventilation In Scotland, it s not a great surprise that we spend more money on heating, than we do on cooling and ventilation. But even still, cooling and ventilation accounts for 10% of a typical office s energy bill. Many of the same actions that will reduce your heating bill, will also save you money on your cooling and ventilation costs. 39

40 48 Before you run your cooling system, consider if your office could be sufficiently cooled by opening doors and windows. 49 If your office has to be cooled with air conditioning, ensure that windows and doors are closed, otherwise you are asking your air conditioning system to cool the entire planet. 40

41 50 Ensure fans and pumps do not operate when buildings are unoccupied, except where they are needed for pre-cooling. 51 Turn off cooling systems in unoccupied rooms (offices, meeting rooms, storage areas). Only use the system when people are actually going to benefit from it. 41

42 52 You may not already be aware but there are energy efficient functions already built into many cooling systems. Find out how to correctly operate the cooling system at your site and take advantage of these features. 42

43 53 Have ventilation system filters regularly checked regularly to see if they are blocked or creating excessive resistance. Wellmaintained equipment works more efficiently and lasts longer. 43

44 54 Use timers and temperature control sensors to control output. 55 Your cooling system does not need to operate at full speed all of the time. Fit Variable Speed Drives they can reduce energy use by enabling the output speed of the fans to match your requirements. 44

45 56 57 Divide your office into zones (e.g. corridors, meeting rooms, office space) which have different needs and set the ideal temperature range for each. Separating and cooling these areas separately means that you are only heating the space that you need to. Think carefully about where you place your thermostats. A thermostat on a wall that gets direct sunlight may result in your cooling system working hard to cool a room that is already cool enough. 45

46 58 Fit external doors with spring loaded door closers to ensure they stay shut when your cooling system is working. 46

47 59 To avoid overheating in your office in the first place, fit horizontal blinds or external shading to windows. This can direct light away from staff s workstations and onto ceilings and walls. 47

48 60 Consider installing window interlocks on the air conditioning control system, so when the window is opened, the air conditioning system switches off, which avoids wasting energy. 48

49 61 To avoid staff using their own fans which can be inefficient, try to cater for different people s needs by moving employees to where they would be most comfortable. Men usually prefer a slightly lower ambient temperature than women and different parts of your office will often be at different temperatures. 49

50 Computing Every office has computing equipment, from laptops and desktops, to screens, printers, chargers and scanners all of which use energy when turned on. This section looks at using computing equipment only when required by putting systems and processes in place to encourage this behaviour, and making better use of technology to reduce energy waste. 50

51 62 Encourage staff to turn their computer monitors off if they are going to be away from their desks for more than 10 minutes. 63 Encourage staff to turn off their PCs, monitors and communal equipment at the end of the day. 51

52 64 Check brightness settings on monitors. When too bright it will use more energy (as well potentially causing eye strain). 65 Clean and service equipment regularly to keep parts free of dust and blockages that will cause them to work harder than they need to. 52

53 66 Some chargers continue to draw power when they re plugged in, so unplug them when not in use. 53

54 67 Replace personal printers with one large, energy efficient communal printer, to increase efficiency and reduce idle energy costs. 68 Print only when necessary. This will not only reduce paper wastage but also saves energy and extends the life of your printer. 69 Set up printers to print both sides of the paper (duplex printing), which saves energy by not printing more than necessary. 54

55 70 Purchase equipment with the EU ENERGYSTAR standard or similar. 71 Use laptops instead of desktop PCs - they use significantly less energy. 72 Replace cathode ray tube monitors with energy efficient flat screen monitors. 55

56 73 Use technology to hold virtual meetings. New technologies allow you to hold virtual meetings, give presentations and make long distance phone calls without even leaving the office. 56

57 74 Take advantage of technology that allow employees to work from home when appropriate. Modern computer technology allows employees to connect to office networks safely and securely. And with less employees in the office, you can spend less on lighting and heating/cooling. 57

58 75 Electronic equipment generates heat when in use. Computer and server rooms can get very hot and will therefore run cooling fans to avoid overheating. This uses energy, so try to make your computer rooms well ventilated in the first place. With specialist support, you could even look to capture the free heat from your server room, and use it to heat your office. 58

59 Hot water It takes a lot of energy to heat up water. In fact hot water typically accounts for 6% off a typical office s energy bill. It makes sense to be efficient in your water use and to keep your systems insulated so that your water stays hotter for longer. 59

60 76 Provide a washing-up bowl at the sink to minimise hot water use during washing-up. 77 Upgrade taps and shower heads. Water efficient taps and showers save water and energy. 60

61 78 Install instant water heaters where possible, otherwise reduce the temperature of stored hot water (to a minimum of 60 C to avoid Legionella bacteria breeding). 79 Purchase a dishwasher with an eco-cycle a full dishwasher, well-stacked, uses less energy than washing the same amount of dishes in the sink. 61

62 80 Insulate your tanks and pipes to prevent unwanted heat loss. The hot water in your pipes will remain hot for longer and you will save money. 81 Consider fitting solar thermal panels to heat water. 62

63 Catering Most offices have a small kitchen somewhere to make tea and coffee, or even for staff to take a lunch break. Energy use in this area typically contributes 3% to energy bills. In this section we provide you with ideas on where you can make energy efficiency savings in the facilities provided in a simple staff kitchen. 63

64 82 Do not over-fill kettles and saucepans. 83 Get back to basics with a tea rota for teams. Instead of boiling the kettle five separate times, take it in turns to go and make a big round. 64

65 84 Make sure vending machines are running at the optimum temperature and are serviced regularly. 85 Put timers on vending machines that display ambient drinks and non-perishable snacks so they are off overnight and at weekends. 65

66 86 Defrost your office freezer regularly to prevent the build up of ice which puts extra pressure on your appliance to use more energy. 87 Maximise the space in your refrigerator. They are most efficient when three quarters full, so that cold air can still circulate. 66

67 88 Minimise the loss of cold air from refrigerators. Check the seals on doors and replace these if damaged. 89 Ensure fridges and freezers have an EU energy rating of A or higher. 67

68 90 Compare the power rating and energy consumption of appliances before purchasing. 91 Keep equipment well maintained ensure heating elements, jets, sprays, thermostats, seals and drains are clean and unclogged. 68

69 Other There will undoubtedly be a number of others areas where your office uses energy and where cost savings can be made. Checking your bills, conducting an audit and running an energy efficiency campaign are great ways to find more energy saving ideas that are specific to your organisation. 69

70 92 Check your bills. Understanding your energy bill is a key part of setting up a measuring and monitoring scheme, but a quick check of your bills may also highlight some immediate savings opportunities. 93 To help create an energy efficient culture in your organisation, encourage staff to take part in brainstorming sessions and come up with their own innovative ideas to cut down energy costs. 70

71 94 Undertake a full energy audit to identify the main sources of wasted energy in your office, and work out how much you can save your business. 71

72 95 If you do not have one already, have a green champion. This person can undertake regular checks on energy waste in their department and produce informal reports on what can be improved, as well as help to engage other staff. 96 Provide staff with induction training so they understand how you save energy in your office. 72

73 97 Develop and share an environmental policy - it can simply be a few paragraphs outlining your organisation s commitment to managing the environmental impacts of its operations. 98 Encourage friendly competition in your office to save energy and money. Reward staff for useful ideas and taking action. 73

74 99 Provide staff with energy saving tips for their homes. This will help them to realise the benefits of energy efficiency and get them into the habit of saving energy behaviour which can be transferred to the office. 100 Take part in global energy awareness campaigns such as 2 Earth Hour. 74

75 101 Try The Savings Finder and get a free report highlighting the energy, water and raw material cost savings that you could make in your organisation. 75

76 Free support Resource Efficient Scotland can give you expert, one-to-one support to help you improve your resource use and save money. Funded by the Scottish Government, all our advice for SMEs is completely free, independent and confidential. Give us a call today on

77 1. Department of Energy and Climate Change - Energy Consumption in the UK Earth Hour is a global environmental movement by WWF. If you found this document useful, you can also download a compact printable version here.