All of the equipment in your office uses a significant amount of energy, which translates to hurting the environment and expensive bills. Every piece of technology you have is essential for the success of the company. You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to use them, though. Here are a few tips that can help you boost the energy-efficiency of your office.

Exchange Desktops for Laptops

Desktop computers are a common sight in almost any office. They’re affordable, have excellent storage space, and are versatile in terms of upgrades and add-ons. On the other hand, desktops consume a lot of energy. If a UPS is attached (which helps to protect data in the event of a power outage), they use even more.

Laptops use much less energy. They’re also much lighter and more portable. While you don’t have to replace every one of your desktops, replacing several can help to significantly reduce energy usage. Make sure to dispose of your old technology in an eco friendly manner.

Enable Power Saving

Chances are that you don’t use every piece of technology in your office at all times. Items that aren’t in use (but that are still left on) continue to eat energy. Most pieces of technology, including computers, copiers, printers, and the like, have power-saving features. Using features like sleep mode, dimming the lights, and having the screen turn off after a specified time of non-use can help to lessen your monthly energy bills.

Monitor Energy Usage

One of the best ways to decrease your energy consumption is to know how much you’re using. A power metering tool can help you do just that. By knowing how much power you’re using, you can implement strategies and monitor your progress. The tools can help you make sure your plans are working. If they aren’t, you can step back, reevaluate, and try something different.

Automate Where You Can

Your office HVAC is essential for keeping everyone inside comfortable. Your thermostat may not be the most energy-efficient tool, though. You can raise or lower the temperature a few degrees and alter the temperature before leaving for the night, but this requires a bit of work.

Automating your HVAC can make your life much easier, and lessen what you pay each month. You can invest in technology that enables your system to raise or lower the temperature based on the number of people inside the office. You can also set up a remote system so that you can control the HVAC from anywhere.

You can also automate your lights. Using motion sensors or setting up your lights to turn them on and off remotely makes them much easier to control. Take a look around your office and see where, if anywhere, you can automate.

Use Power Strips

Office equipment that’s plugged in still consumes energy, even if you’re not using it. “Phantom energy” still costs money. If you have numerous pieces of equipment plugged in, the costs can really add up.

One of the best ways to reduce phantom energy is to unplug machines that aren’t in use. It can take a lot of time, however, to unplug a bunch of machines and then plug them back in the next day. Instead, use power strips. A power strip enables you to plug a few pieces of equipment in at one central location. You can then unplug the power strip or simply switch it off when you don’t need the machines plugged into it.

Replace Your Breakroom Fridge

It’s not uncommon for offices to use old fridges because they cost less money. While more affordable, a used refrigerator may cost more over time due to energy-inefficiency. Rather than spring for the used fridge, consider investing in a newer model. If you don’t need a large unit, you can save money by purchasing a smaller (but still much more efficient) one.  

Just because you rely on a lot of technology in the office, that doesn’t mean that you have to spend a small fortune to do use it all. Taking steps to improve the energy-efficiency of your office can significantly reduce what you pay each month. It can even help to boost the productivity of your team.