If you own a business or manage an office space, it can be frustrating to receive excessive energy bills at the end of the month. Don’t your employees understand the importance of energy efficiency? Fortunately, there’s no need to surrender to high electricity bills. With a few changes around the office and a little cooperation from your employees, you can greatly reduce what you pay for power and light.
For more information about saving on your electric bills, please call UGI EnergyLink at 800-797-0712 or contact us online today. In the meantime, follow these six easy suggestions for saving electricity around the office.
Purchase Energy-Efficient Equipment
Most offices feature:
- Computers
- Monitors
- Printers
- Copiers
- Fax machines
- Paper shredders
- Additional electronic equipment
As you shop for these items, make sure they have high efficiency ratings and low standby power consumption rates. Many office electronics are eligible for the ENERGY STAR® label, a certification that indicates up to 75 percent lower power consumption. Also, encourage your employees to use laptops instead of desktops if it’s feasible for their work.
Use Power Strips
The average office worker’s desk features a:
- Computer
- Monitor
- Keyboard
- Mouse
- Lamp
- External hard drive
- Additional electronic devices
The simplest way to manage these devices is to plug them into a single power strip. This way, you can easily turn everything off with the flip of a switch. Encourage your employees to do this at the end of each workday to prevent electronics from needlessly consuming power while in standby mode.
Use Power-Saver Settings
Most desktop and laptop computers feature settings that lower their energy consumption. Go into the “power options” or similar menu and put your computer in “power saver” mode. This reduces performance in certain areas to conserve energy. Unless you’re pushing your hardware, you won’t even notice.
While you’re in the power options menu, set your monitor to “sleep” after a specific period of non-use, such as 20 minutes. Skip the screensaver, which doesn’t decrease energy consumption.
Light Your Office Efficiently
Use compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) or light emitting diodes (LEDs) in desk lamps and overhead lights. These use 75 to 85 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, and they provide brighter light while generating less heat.
Then, install motion sensors in the office restrooms. These turn on automatically when someone walks in the door and turn off after a specific period of no movement, such as five minutes.
Heat & Cool Your Office Efficiently
Set the office thermostat to 78 degrees in the summer and 68 degrees in the winter. Heed employee complaints about discomfort and see if you can find a remedy that doesn’t increase power consumption, such as installing thicker window coverings to keep out the hot summer sun or sealing leaky windows to prevent cold drafts.
Then, remember the importance of HVAC maintenance. Change the office air filter regularly and schedule a tune-up once a year to keep your heating and cooling system running efficiently for lower utility costs.
Choose UGI EnergyLink for Commercial Electricity
The final way to save electricity around the office is to decrease the rate you pay per kilowatt. Switching to UGI EnergyLink for commercial electricity is the key to saving big! We can help you find the best prices in the Northeast, and we even allow you to lock in your energy rates to ensure predictable utility bills in the months and years to come.
If you’re ready to save on electricity around the office, please contact UGI EnergyLink at 800-797-0712 and learn more about our services today.