ENERGY SAVINGS What FMs can do...

24 June 2013

Saving energy is set to become even more important than it currently is, and this is reflected in the advice offered by the likes of The Carbon Trust

From PCs to vending machines, office equipment of some kind or another is used by almost all UK businesses, and accounts for about 15% of all the electrical energy used in UK offices, the company says.

It's an area where huge savings can be made, as effective management of equipment can reduce its consumption by up to 70%. A breakdown of typical energy use in an air-conditioned office shows the biggest use is from air conditioning followed by heating, office equipment, lighting and hot water.

The Trust says you can start by focusing on the following three areas:

Upgrade existing equipment
Technology advances daily. New equipment with better energy efficiency ratings can lead to big savings. Upgrading old monitors can make energy savings.

Have an office equipment policy
Develop a set of guidelines to standardise operations and communicate it. For example: activate stand-by modes on PCs and set up printers to print both sides of the paper (duplex printing).

Maintain equipment
Well-maintained equipment is more efficient and lasts longer. So set up a maintenance schedule, keep equipment free from obstructions and prevent over-heating by cleaning filters and fans regularly.