The effects of our impact on the environment have never been clearer: plastics churning in the ocean, extreme weather changes and toxic air quality meaning London hit its yearly pollution quota in less than a month. Now more than ever, the public and businesses are acutely aware of their responsibility to protect the planet for now and future generations.
For businesses, it can seem like a lot of extra work to stay energy-efficient and eco-aware. But along with keeping you compliant, maintaining a level of environmental awareness can cut costs in the long run. And you don't need to invest a lot of time or resources, as there are several ways to make your existing appliances and practices greener.
No overnight standby
If you have a fair number of computers, monitors, television screens etc, make sure your staff are shutting down their computers fully before leaving. Equipment left on standby can use around 50% of the electricity it would use when in operation. If it’s not going to be used for a while, the equipment should be switched off entirely.
Place signs in the office to remind employees to switch everything off before they go home for the day, and have a supervisor do a check around before they leave too. This simple tip will save your business money on bills, as well as taking a step towards being more environmentally-friendly.
A matter of degrees
Generally speaking, boilers have a lifespan of around 15 years. If your boiler isn’t that old yet, however, there are still steps you can take to make it more energy-efficient.
If you’re not already in the habit of having the heating turned off when the office is empty overnight, do so. Setting a timer for the heating to come on an hour or so before the first staff members arrive means no one will be walking into a freezing workplace.
If it is time to replace your boiler, be sure to look for initiatives such as the London mayor’s Cleaner Heat Cashback scheme, which supports small and medium-sized businesses in replacing older boilers with newer, eco-friendly options.
The office canteen
It’s easy to forget the appliances we have at work need the same care as those at home. A fridge should last for around 10 to 20 years before it needs replacing, but if you think your workplace fridge is past its best, be sure to opt for one of the many eco-friendly models on the market.
When was the last time the coils of your canteen fridge were cleaned? It’s likely been a while, but according to Architectural Digest, cleaning a fridge’s coils can make for a more energy-efficient machine.
The cleaning process is fairly simple:
Turn off the fridge
Put on gloves to protect your hands
Locate the coils (usually they are at the back, top, or bottom of the fridge)
Remove the base grill if the coils are on the top or bottom or pull the fridge out carefully to access the coils if they are located at the back
Take a refrigerator coil brush and clean out the dirt and debris that has accumulated on the coils
Clean the floor around the appliance before putting it back in place
Does your workplace canteen also have a dishwasher? It’s good practice to wait for a full load rather than washing in bursts, so encourage employees not to start it too early. For the last load of the working day, you could leave the door of the dishwasher open to let the dishes air dry overnight instead of using the energy-hungry drying cycling.
Office air-con
The office air conditioning system is an essential part of the workplace, as it keeps your staff working at a comfortable temperature. After all, working in a too-warm or too-cold environment will affect productivity and hamper morale.
Any unusual noises should prompt a call to have units inspected, but a qualified professional should inspect and service your workplace’s air conditioning system on a regular basis, to confirm it is still effective and running efficiently.
Newer models tend to be greener, but as you can see, your company’s current appliances can perform better with the proper care and attention. When replacement becomes unavoidable, however, view energy-efficiency as an investment, saving your business money in the long run.
