We’re kicking off a brand-new series dedicated to a place where many of us spend a significant portion of our time: the workplace. While we’ve mastered mindful consumption at home, our offices, large and small, are massive energy consumers.
From running computers and servers 24/7 to lighting large spaces, office buildings contribute significantly to the commercial sector’s environmental footprint. Starting a workplace sustainability initiative doesn’t require a massive budget or a complete building retrofit. It starts with awareness and simple, collective action. This week, we focus on the lowest-hanging fruit: reducing energy consumption.
The Office Energy Drain
The biggest energy consumers in the average office are lighting, heating, cooling, and electronic equipment. Much of this energy is wasted due to outdated habits, such as leaving monitors on overnight or overheating/overcooling rooms because of manual thermostat settings. Tackling this waste is a direct way to save money and shrink the company’s carbon footprint.
Your Guide to a Green Workplace Energy Plan
Getting your colleagues and management on board is key. Here are actionable, low-cost steps everyone can implement today:
- Slay the “Vampire” Power:
- Unplug: Encourage everyone to unplug chargers and appliances (like coffee makers and desk fans) when they are not in use. Even when turned off, many electronics draw “phantom” power.
- Power Strips: Use power strips and encourage turning off the entire strip at the end of the day, especially for non-essential equipment.
- Optimize Lighting:
- Switch to LED: Advocate for replacing old fluorescent or incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LED lighting. This is the fastest way to reduce lighting costs.
- Use Natural Light: Keep blinds open near windows. Encourage employees to rely on natural light whenever possible and to use task lighting (small desk lamps) instead of overhead lights.
- Turn Off: Make it a shared responsibility to turn off lights in conference rooms, restrooms, and storage areas when leaving.
- Manage Computer Equipment:
- Sleep Settings: Ensure all computers are set to automatically enter “sleep” or “hibernate” mode after 15–30 minutes of inactivity.
- Power Down: Encourage a mandatory “shut down” policy every evening and before weekends/holidays, rather than just leaving computers in sleep mode.
- Printers: Shut down office printers and copiers at the end of the day.
- Heating and Cooling Awareness:
- Thermostat Discipline: If your office has a smart or programmable thermostat, ensure it is set to reduce heating/cooling automatically outside of core business hours.
- Block Drafts: Report windows or doors that have noticeable drafts to prevent conditioned air from escaping.
By making simple changes to our energy habits, we can transform the office from an energy sink into a sustainable space. These small, collective actions create a powerful impact that benefits the company’s bottom line and the planet.
Next time in our Workplace Wisdom series, we’ll explore how to tackle the paper mountain: Implementing a Successful Digital-First and Waste Reduction Policy in the Office.