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How to create a more energy efficient business

Most businesses use far more energy than they need to. Whether it be from leaving lights on all day, or by not considering energy-efficient equipment, it all adds up. Firstly, this is costing your business money. Energy bills are higher than ever, which is crazy when you consider all the things you can do to keep costs down. Furthermore, excess energy use is damaging for the planet.

If you’re in the position of owning the building your business operates from, you have a lot of options. Building management systems, for example, give you much greater control over energy use and also much more reliable systems. However, even if you’re renting or leasing a premises, there are plenty of things you can do to make your business more energy efficient.

Save on Heating and Cooling

Heating and cooling a business premises is costly, so it’s important to keep costs down where you can. If you’re in a position to do so, think about upgrading your air conditioning systems. The simple fact is, older buildings have older heating and cooling systems that aren’t well-rated for energy efficiency. By upgrading to a new system, you can make your business far more energy efficient.

At the same time, consider ventilation systems in your building. These can help the flow of air, which in turn takes pressure off your air conditioning systems. While this can be quite an investment initially, you’ll be surprised at how much you start saving on your energy bills now and into the future.

Energy Efficient Lighting

Making your lighting more energy efficient is one of the easiest things you can do. Firstly, switching out your existing light bulbs for more energy-efficient ones. Not only do the new, energy-efficient light bulbs last longer, but they use far less energy.

You can also think about the way you use lighting. Are you taking advantage of natural light as much as possible? Are your turning lights off in unused rooms? One way to increase lighting efficiency is with sensor-controlled lights. They will only turn on when people are in the room, and also when the natural light isn’t sufficient.

Energy Saving with IT

Most businesses have a pretty extensive IT setup. Computers, servers, photocopiers and even the phone systems. But have you considered how energy-efficient these items are? Firstly, if you’re buying new equipment, always look for energy-saving computer monitors. You can also make sure items like printers and photocopiers are used in an efficient way. If nothing is being printed, most machines have the ability to go into sleep-mode or hibernation.

The same can be said about computers. Make it an office rule that all computers are shutdown of an evening. If nobody is in the building, the computers don’t need to be on!

Electric Vehicles

Finally, try to think outside the box when it comes to energy efficiency. If you’ve got work cars for staff, consider choosing electric vehicles for your next lease. You can even install electric vehicle charging stations to make life easy for everyone.

These are just a few of the ways to increase energy efficiency in your business, but there are plenty more. Keep thinking about ways you can reduce energy use, and when it comes to building infrastructure, don’t hesitate to contact us at RCR for the right advice every time.

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