To be more environmentally responsible, many office buildings are making the switch to energy-efficient solutions from their outdated fixtures. However, there are many more ways that your office building can reduce its carbon footprint, such as these 10 small changes:
1. Use less paper
The easiest way to save money on printing costs is to reduce the number of pages you print. The EPA says that an office building wastes up to half of its paper; 50% of paper is thrown away. You can reduce the number of pages you print by buying printers that come with features like double-sided printing and duplex scanning or make your employees print only if the document is double-sided. Better yet, you should use digital devices to view the documents that don’t need to be printed out.
2. Recycle old electronics
If you’re replacing your old computers, printers, cell phones and other electronics this year, consider donating them to schools or charities. You can save time by giving away your old electronics while giving others a chance to learn with them. But if you do throw your old electronics out, make sure you recycle them to minimize your carbon footprint.
3. Use energy-efficient light bulbs
One of the easiest ways to become energy-efficient is to switch out your light bulbs. LED light bulbs use up to 80% less energy than regular incandescent ones, and can last up to 25 times longer. That’s why you should make sure that you switch out your old light bulbs for LED ones. For example, you should change the 40-watt lights in your office to 10-watt LED lights, which are more efficient.
4. Work with a provider that uses renewable energies
Not only can you reduce the carbon footprint of your office building, but you can also reduce your personal carbon footprint by signing up with an electricity provider that uses renewable energies. Renewable energy sources are wind, solar and biomass, and they’re all free of greenhouse gases.
5. Install more efficient HVAC equipment
If you haven’t replaced your HVAC equipment since your office building was constructed, you should consider doing so now. Doing this will ensure that the equipment is more energy-efficient and won’t need to work as hard to keep your building at the perfect temperature. Afterward, you should make sure that they are well-maintained to keep them running efficiently.
6. Reduce water consumption
A lot of office buildings use too much water, which is not only wasteful but can also rapidly increase water bills. Installing low-flow faucets, toilets, and a greywater system are easy ways to reduce water consumption. Plus, you should also look into getting automatic water sensors for urinals, sinks, and fountains to avoid wasting water.
7. Adjust the temperature to save on energy costs
If you’re looking for ways to reduce your office building’s overall electricity costs, try turning down the thermostat by just one degree during the summer. According to the EPA, by doing this you can reduce your energy bills by 3% or more. This is because the temperature difference is usually enough to make you turn off the air conditioning entirely, even just for a short time.
8. Install motion sensors
Motion sensors are one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to save energy in any office building. They automatically turn off lights when no motion is detected and can reduce energy costs by up to 50%. Plus, you can buy your own supply from reliable online platforms like Banner Solutions to save on extra costs.
9. Buy recycled office supplies
If you think about it, everything in your office building was once something else. Buying recycled paper and other supplies is one of the simplest ways to reduce your office building’s impact on the environment. It also saves money, since recycled paper can be up to 75% cheaper than brand new paper.
10. Educate others about being more environmentally friendly
Not only can you learn how to reduce your carbon footprint, but also the carbon footprint of others. Educating others is one of the easiest ways to send them on the path of environmental responsibility, which can help reduce waste and energy consumption at work. So, tell the people in your office about what you’re doing to become more environmentally-friendly.
Office buildings use a lot of energy to keep employees comfortable and productive throughout the day. But, there are many things you can do to make your office building more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient. Here are just 10 changes you can do to make your office building better. Plus, you can also reduce your carbon footprint in the process by applying the same principles to your home.
