Tips for Energy Management

Approximately 40% of energy used in commercial buildings goes towards heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to provide staff members and customers a comfortable environment to be in. But there are many ways to improve energy efficiency:

CORRECTLY ZONE ROOMS

If there is an area where heating and cooling is not required as often as others, isolating this area from others will result in less energy wasted. 

OPTIMAL OFFICE TEMPERATURES

Only heat to 20°C

This is a comfortable environment to work in. Heating further than this requires far more energy and takes a lot longer, resulting in an unnecessary amount of energy being used.

Only cool to 24°C

A cooler environment during times in peak summer weather. Cooling further than this level takes a lot longer and uses far more energy, resulting in an unnecessary amount of energy being used.

ENSURE HVAC SYSTEMS ARE REGULARLY MAINTAINED

Maintenance is an important part to ensure machines are operating efficiently. Cleaning and filter replacement means machines will run smoother and require less energy to do the same job.

SET YOUR HVAC TIMERS TO START AND FINISH WHEN YOU NEED THEM

This is a common mistake for businesses operating during standard business hours. Energy can be saved by turning off heating and cooling equipment when the premises is not in use. Using an automated timer means this could be a hassle-free approach to saving energy and reducing cost.

RESEARCH WHEN INVESTING IN HEATING, VENTILATION, AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC) SYSTEMS

Technology improves all the time, so when it comes to investing in a HVAC system it’s worth the time researching the best option for your business.

FURTHER ENERGY SAVING TIPS

• Provide a clear space around air conditioning (AC) and heating equipment – this ensures that it flows throughout the environment efficiently. 

• Avoid using small and portable heaters in large rooms. This requires large amounts of energy and is generally not the most efficient option. 

• Reduce energy loss by closing windows and exterior doors when using AC and heating. 

• Turn off unnecessary lighting as this also creates unnecessary heat. 

• Check thermostat settings regularly. 

• To get an accurate reading, avoid placing thermostats close to the HVAC source. 

• Insulate your heating and AC pipes to reduce heat loss/gain. 

• Timer controls for heating and cooling. 

• Use natural ventilation where possible. 

• Clean and replace air filters regularly. 

• Use blinds or screens to minimise over-heating from the sun.

Office equipment

Nearly 15% of the energy consumption in an office is consumed by IT equipment – PCs, servers and data centres. This is one of the fastest growing areas of energy consumption in offices. 

 

When it comes to office equipment, you are able to make significant reductions in the amount of energy used by purchasing highly efficient equipment, making sure it is being used properly and by switching it off when it is not being used.

USE AUTOMATIC ENERGY SAVING TECHNIQUES.

• Enable power management so as much equipment as possible switches to sleep mode when not used for a set period. For computers this could save up to 50%.

• Cut unnecessary printing costs by completing a printing process at the printer. This reduces waste.

• Placement of equipment is also important. Servers can waste up to 40% of their energy use creating heat and putting more pressure on air conditioning. Use natural ventilation where possible.

GENERAL TIPS

• Replace desktop computers with laptops. They are 50-80% more efficient.

• Use LCD screens instead or CRT monitors. LCD screens use a third less energy.

• Multi-purpose printers use half the energy than having separate devices.

• Ask staff to turn off their PCs and monitors each evening, weekends and when they go on holiday.

  • Over a year turning off the PC and monitor every evening can save $120 per PC, in an office of 20 people that is $2400 pa

• Ensure all equipment is regularly maintained to operate at maximum efficiency.

• Encourage staff to print in booklet format and double sided.

• Avoid the fridge being placed next to a heat source or in direct sunlight. Leave space around the back for air to circulate.

• Encourage energy saving behavior such as – only putting the dishwasher on when its full, keeping the fridge closed as much as possible, be conservative with hot water usage.

Lighting

Lighting is not only about aesthetics, but the right lighting needs to meet legal and staff requirements to optimize the productivity in your business. Poor lighting can present hazards and too much presents poor efficiency.

 

OFFICE TIPS

Many office buildings are over lit which results in higher than necessary costs. 

Using a lux meter (a device which measure the lighting levels of an area), is a good way to measure if you have the correct lighting levels. They are low cost devices that can result in great benefits for your business if lighting in an area is too high. 

It is important to design lighting to be right for your work space. This comes down to architecture and lighting layout. It is important to consider where offices and seating will be in an office before installing lighting. Using the correct layout for the work environment will provide the correct lighting for high productivity and minimse energy wastage.

 

MANAGE REFLECTANCE

Reflectance is the amount of light that bounces off a surface. Reflectance can achieve the same lighting levels required with less energy being used. Spaces with light coloured or reflective surfaces can require 70% less energy to light. For more information about the right lighting for your business premises go to
www.eecabusiness.govt.nz/content/right-light-level

GENERAL TIPS

• Regularly clean lights

• Include motion and light level sensors

• Replace lighting with efficient bulbs

• Refit lighting with newer, more efficient technology

• Include timer to turn off at non-required times

• Separate switches for rooms with a lot of lighting. This means businesses are able to power only required sections of big areas

• Repaint rooms brighter to improve reflectance

Staff awareness and motivation

Although a major solution to better energy efficiency is the purchase of energy efficient equipment, managing and motivating staff is just as important. Staff control the equipment and get things done while also having the most experience and knowledge with the day to day operations of the business. If you are able to motivate staff to become a part of an energy saving team, you are able to save costs daily.
Educating and motivating staff on energy efficiency is a proven way of saving that involves very little investment or cost.
 

STAFF AWARENESS AND MOTIVATION

Staff awareness and motivation is a key step towards lasting change in creating an energy efficient team. Staff need to understand why it is important to be an energy saving team, and then how they will go about creating one. In most cases staff don’t know how much energy they are actually using with each process, or how easy it would be to use less.

• Turning off a PC and monitor every evening can save approximately $120 pa per person. So for an office of 20 people it is quite feasible to save $2400 over the course of a year.

TOP LEVEL ENGAGEMENT

It is important to involve top level managers in order to promote leadership and commitment. Without their involvement, staff members may feel that the project is not worthwhile.