Secret Savers: Tips for Office Energy Efficiency

As the temperatures continue to drop, it’s common for heaters, and with them electric bills, to rise. However, there are countless small steps that you can take to cut back on energy expenses. Here are a few simple ways to keep those bills from getting the better of you this winter.

Skip the Screen Saver

Screen savers certainly look nice, but they are actually a big energy waster! In fact, it can take as much as twice the energy to run a screen saver as it does for basic computer use. So this year, try skipping the screen saver and instead let your computer fall into sleep mode when you are not using it.

Unplug Before You Unwind

Did you know that an average of 75% of the energy used by electronics and appliances is consumed when they are plugged in, but not in use? That’s right! One of the easiest and quickest ways to save around an office is to not only turn off appliances, but to unplug them over weekends and holidays.

Printer Perfect

Everyone knows that printers are office essentials. What people are less likely to know is that the type of printer used can play a big role in your energy bill. Inkjet printers are much more efficient, using up to 90% less energy than their counterpart, the laser printer. Another easy change is to have all employees print to the same printer, meaning fewer printers to maintain and less energy used by printers that are on, but not in use.

Timed Right

Leaving lights on overnight and on weekends at the office can add more than $50 to your energy bill each month. One way to sidestep those charges is to install timers or motion sensors on lights around the office. This will ensure that you aren’t unnecessarily running lights when they aren’t in use.
Give Pieper a call to really amp up your energy efficiency at the office. We can make sure your electrical system is running efficiently, and help with other upgrades, like switching incandescent lightbulbs for significantly more efficient LED lights.