Save Money

Energy efficiency is one of the smartest, safest and most responsible investments a business owner can make. Are you not the owner but an inspired employee who wants to make a difference?  There are plenty of ways for us all to be more energy aware in the workplace.  Here’s a simple list to get you started.

  1. Don’t give juice to unused electronics – put computers and printers on easily accessed power strips and turn them off overnight!  What appliances in your home have phantom loads?
  2. Be smart about lighting: take advantage of natural light as much as possible with day-lighting controls, turn off lights when not in use, and use occupancy sensors indoors and photocells outdoors to turn off lights automatically!
  3. Use the RIGHT lights: CFLs in lieu of standard incandescent bulbs, T-8s or T-5s instead of the outdated T-12s, and LEDs are now available for many outdoor lights! See our Guide to Energy Efficient Lighting to help answer your questions.
  4. Caffeinate efficiently by putting your coffee makers on a timer that will turn off the otherwise ALWAYS on internal hot water tanks! Better yet, use a thermos or thermal carafe to keep your coffee hot for hours.  
  5. Adopt a workplace energy policy to encourage better energy awareness and $avings!  For a sample policy, go to www.akenergyauthority.org/eec-leadbyexample.html.
  6. Modernize your HVAC system for better efficiency, greater employee comfort, and of course savings on the bottom line!
  7. Feeling overwhelmed? GET A PROFESSIONAL ENERGY AUDIT!  This might cost you in the short term but it’ll save TONS in the long run (literally tons of CO2, not to mention a lot of money).

For a more detailed list of ways to save in the workplace, go here.

Other great sources of information relating to energy savings in the workplace

The U.S. Department of Energy announced the release of the first in a new series of Advanced Energy Design Guides (AEDGs) to aid architects and engineers in the design of highly energy efficient office buildings. The 50 % AEDG series will provide a practical approach to commercial buildings designed to achieve 50 % energy savings compared to the commercial building energy code used in many areas of the country. This 50 % AEDG for Small and Medium Office Buildings is the first in a series of four to be released in the coming months.  The guide can be downloaded for free here!

Energy Efficiency Tool Loan Kits are available for checkout at Alaska Energy Authority.  The kit is meant to help identify ways to save energy in your home or workplace.  

Energy Star: Wondering whether or not energy efficiency is affordable and feasible for your business?  Energy Star, a joint project of the federal Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency, has a plethora of resources to help you, including cost estimate and projected energy savings calculators. 

Green Star: This great, 4-page PDF gives some useful tips for energy efficiency and conservation in businesses.

Oikos: Confused about the right lighting for your workplace? In the home, it is easy to distinguish between compact florescent and incandescent bulbs when making lighting choices.  Lighting choices in the workplace however, can be a little less obvious.  To cut costs, make sure your office or workplace lighting is efficient.

BERT is a smart plug/timer that helps you reduce your energy management costs for any building by turning electric devices on and off on a pre-programmed schedule. BERT pays for itself in 6 to 12 months. And because it’s wireless, BERT is simple and easy to install and manage.

Energy Management 

Energy efficiency improvements save money and are good business practices. Demonstrate shared values with your community as well as building occupants with these tips:

Energy Star offers guidelines for improving (or beginning) energy management in the workplace.  

The City of Homer has been working hard with its employees to reduce energy use and save money.  Find examples and tips from Money, Energy and Sustainability handbook; A policy guide for City of Homer employees on reducing energy use and waste in local government operations here.

Greentech Media also offers ten steps to Effective Workplace Energy Efficiency here.