Ways to reduce energy costs in a small office environment

Running a small office brings with it unique challenges. Every clerical or admin environment has common

issues that need to be addressed, and being a smaller outfit can actually give greater chances to get

things right.

By looking at things differently, you can work out simple ways to save money and make real

improvements for you and your members of staff at the same time.

The cost of energy

Whether it’s a commercial business or a domestic situation, the cost of energy is one of the biggest

regular outlays that we make in the modern world.

Power for heating, lighting, cooking and, of course, all kinds of essential electrical equipment is the

lifeblood of a modern business, and the bills are unavoidable.

Fortunately, however, there are various measures that you can take to cut your energy usage, lower your

bills, and also be environmentally friendly. Not only can you boost your bottom line by saving money that

would otherwise go to the utility companies, but you can also get a PR hike by boosting your green

credentials.

Know your usage

The only way that you can work out how to make savings when it comes to energy is by knowing how,

why, and when you use it in the first place.

There are a great number of free tools available that can give you this information. Energy companies can

supply hardware that monitors the way you use their product, and even some online apps are great for

telling you about general trends where you might be able to make cutbacks.

Even though the data might only point to areas in which you can make small adjustments, the savings

can all add up to make a significant figure in the long run.

Avoid waste

Any waste in business means that you are paying for something that is not giving you a return in profit.

With energy, that can mean heating lost through windows, electrical equipment being powered up when it

does not need to be, or simply employees with bad habits that end up costing you money.

Some simple adjustments to your interior design, such as fitting high-quality window shutters, can make a

real difference to the way you heat your office in the colder months and cut back on energy literally going

straight out of the window.

Timer switches can be used effectively to make sure that equipment is not draining power when not in

use, and simple training techniques can help members of staff adopt good practices such as turning

things off instead of using standby modes.

All-round benefits

One of the main reasons that you should look into ways to reduce the cost of energy in your office is that

it can be a win-win situation in every way. Not only do you save money on bills, but you will also be doing

your bit for the planet and helping to cut down unnecessary waste and power generation.