Tips to make your office more sustainable

As Brits are told to “prepare for the worst” this winter, households have been stocking up on blankets and air fryers in order to save energy, and seeing how long they can get away with keeping their hands off the thermostat.

For businesses, it might not be that straightforward. While some households can hold out on turning on the heat, it’s a different story if you run an office and need to care for your employees’ well-being.

Connor Campbell, a business energy saving expert at NerdWallet shares some tips and tricks to make your office more sustainable, and help you conserve energy through the winter while still keeping warm.

Turn appliances off when they’re not in use

Starting with the most obvious but often most overlooked: if you leave your laptop or desktop computer on overnight while you’re not using it, you’re wasting electricity. It might not seem like much, but turning off unused appliances when not in use can go a long way. The Carbon Trust estimates that by turning computers off at night and at weekends, you could cut the amount of energy these devices use by 75% per year, which could have a positive impact on your business energy bill.

Printers, TV monitors and even appliances such as microwaves in your work kitchen can also use energy in the background when they’re switched on but not in use. You could save money by turning these off at the electric socket when you’ve finished using them or overnight.

Get your employees on board

Saving energy in the workplace is a team effort. If you have employees, get them involved in the little nudges that can save your business money.

You may want to send weekly emails to staff about what they can do to help, or ask for their suggestions on how to improve energy efficiency in the workplace.

NerdWallet’s own research has shown that 31% of business owners have given advice to their employees on how to save energy at the office. Employees will know how much of a priority saving energy is, so they are likely to be understanding of your efforts.

Invest in green energy

As well as getting their employees involved, the research shows that 42% of business owners have invested in greener energy sources or greener alternatives for the workplace, such as LED light bulbs or more energy efficient equipment.

You could go even further and get some outside help. Ofgem has a list of schemes and grants, which can help your business become more energy-efficient without breaking the bank. For example, you may be able to get help from the government to pay for new energy-efficient equipment. Your energy supplier may also offer grants for small businesses to help with similar costs.

It’s worth checking what funding is available from a range of sources, as you might find that going green is easier or cheaper than you think.

Get a smart meter

Smart meters aren’t just for domestic energy customers. Small businesses can also use a smart meter to track their energy usage and send readings to their supplier. This helps to ensure that you’re accurately charged for just the energy you use.

What’s more, your smart meter has a display that can show you how much energy you’ve used over a certain period, acting as a visual reminder to keep on top of your energy usage.

You can check whether you’re eligible for a smart meter for business by contacting your energy provider, or by asking your landlord if you rent your business premises. Many small businesses, if eligible for a smart meter, can get one for free, though other charges could be applied by your energy provider.

Replace or repair inefficient appliances

How energy-efficient your appliances are has an impact on how much energy they use and, as a result, how much energy your business has to pay for. As mentioned in the first tip, many items in an office kitchen can waste power by simply running in the background unnoticed.

Although it may not always be possible when budgets are tight, replacing older, less efficient appliances with more modern, energy-efficient ones can help you save some money on your energy bill.

If you can’t afford to replace your appliances at the moment, it’s still important to have them regularly cleaned, checked and maintained. Also make sure they are serviced from time to time. Regular maintenance can help ensure that your devices work correctly and are as efficient as possible, keeping your costs down.

If any of this information is used, please credit NerdWallet with this link: https://nerdwallet.com/uk/business-energy/