Topic author: rmb
Subject: energy management tips
Posted on: 12/01/2005 12:38:22
Message:

Office Energy Management Planning Tips

Businesses are aware about the impact of rising costs on the bottom line. That's why they're always exploring ways to manage, control, and reduce costs. You can improve your bottom line and do something positive for the environment by taking the time to develop an office energy management strategy.

Office energy management is about finding effective and efficient ways of reducing the amount of energy used. Did you know that lighting systems use 30 to 50% of the energy in offices? Or that a computer will use 75% less energy over one year if you turn it off at night and over the weekends? These are business-related expenses that can be reduced, often with little effort.

How the Energy Star program can help
Energy Star is a program dedicated to helping businesses, homes and individuals reduce the energy they use. Since 1982 in the U.S. alone, it has helped consumers protect the environment and save more than $10 billion in energy costs. It provides systems, resources, tools, supports and incentives, which, according to Energy Star, are necessary for any business looking to plan and implement a successful office energy management strategy. According to the Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation, improved energy management enabled Canadian businesses to avoid approximately $3.4 billion in purchased energy in 2003.

Business Benefits of Office Energy Management

The business benefits of a good office energy management plan include:

Cost savings just waiting to be uncovered. These savings can sometimes be eye opening. Imagine cutting your energy bills by 10% or more!

Enhanced positive image of your company. Recent studies by Innovest Strategic Value Advisors found that "leaders in energy management achieved superior stock and financial performance over laggards in energy management."

Employee pride in working for a company that takes environmental responsibility very seriously. Many up and coming post-secondary school graduates want to know they are working for an environmentally responsible company.

Personal pride in the knowledge you are doing something good for the environment. In fact, Energy Star states, "Small businesses can typically save as much money and prevent as much pollution, per square foot, as large organizations."

Guidelines for Energy Management

Planning and implementing an office energy management strategy could be easier than you think. Just follow these eight steps to begin to garner the cost and environment-saving benefits:
1. Make a commitment to reduce energy use. Hold a meeting with your employees and get them excited so they buy into the strategy. Tell them what you plan to do, and then acquire their insights into what they can do to help.
2. Assess your office's current energy performance. Look at everything in your office: the building, the windows, the lighting, the computers, etc. In fact, you may want to bring in professionals to do this. They'll know where to look and can tell you exactly where you need to make changes. And they will document their findings for you.
3. Set targets for the results you want to achieve. Be clear and realistic about what you want to achieve, and look at the potential savings over the long term. For example, "Shutting down the computers over the weekends and evenings will save us $X in our yearly energy usage."
4. Create an action plan to become more energy-efficient. Determine what you need to do, and start doing it. Outline your priorities. Make sure everyone knows what they need to do and how to do it.
5. Implement the plan over time. If you have to invest money in becoming more energy efficient, you may want to do this over a longer time period. Don't try to do everything at once, but realize that certain investments, once made, will have a pay-off over the entire lifetime of your business.
6. Evaluate progress against the plan at regular intervals. Don't just roll out a plan and forget about it. Sit down and ask, "How are we doing?" every few months. And be sure to communicate the results in hard numbers, whenever possible, to your employees.
7. Recognize achievements. Provide internal recognition and receive external recognition for your energy reduction successes. Look into taking part in Canada's One-Tonne Challenge for businesses that want to show leadership in reducing climate change. Communicating positive results will keep your people motivated and your clients proud to do business with you.
8. Occasionally reassess your goals, and plan to reset direction if necessary. You always want to make sure your plan is the right one. If you're not getting the results you're looking for, then reassess the plan and adapt it where necessary.


Calculate Your Own Cost Savings

If you're looking at ways to keep your expenses down, adopting an effective and efficient strategy for office energy management makes sound financial and environmental sense. Don't just take our word for it - go to the Energy Star's Energy-Intensive Calculator to estimate the potential energy and cost savings you could realize by implementing an office energy management strategy.

In addition, the Canadian government offers incentives to businesses that operate in an environmentally sound way. Here you will learn more about the Government of Canada's One-Tonne Challenge.
Web sites Where you can Learn About Office Energy Costs
To learn more about office energy management, visit the following Web sites:
Office of Energy Efficiency
Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation
emprove's Knowledge Centre
Energy Star
One-Tonne Challenge