Energy efficiency is trending as a way for companies to save some money, if not in the short-term then in the long-term. Being energy efficient also boosts company credibility in their community as one that cares about minimizing their impact on the environment and energy consumption. Any business can become more energy efficient if the employees of that company set their mind to it; both front-line employees and executive level. Some companies are even eligible for tax credits for certain energy efficiency achievements in the workplace. Whatever the reason, here are some key ways to increase energy efficiency in the workplace.
 
Employees can increase energy efficiency before they even walk through the door by changing the way they commute to the office. Employees who live near each other can carpool and employees who live close enough to the office can ride a bicycle into work, for example. This may not be as applicable while large numbers of people are working from home but where applicable it is still a great option for increased energy efficiency. Next, computers are everywhere in workplaces across the country in modern times. For the computers that have monitors, shutting those monitors off when employees go home, are on vacation, or out of the office for an extended period of time will save much more energy than letting the monitors go to sleep.
 
HVAC is one of the biggest factors of an electric bill in most people’s homes and in most workplaces it is also a big factor. Similarly, raising the temperature on the thermostats a little during the summer and lowering the temperature a little during the winter can add up to significant amounts of energy conservation. Removing and/or selling old/unused office equipment can also lead to increased energy efficiency. Once upon a time it was necessary for some companies to have a fax machine on every floor of their building, for example, but as that mode of communication has diminished, why not remove most of them but keep a few here and there?
 
Thanks to advances in technology, data can be shared and transmitted in more digital ways than ever before. Gone are the days where data always had to be printed out (in analog form). Utilizing those digital ways of sharing data and only printing when absolutely necessary saves not only electricity, but also paper and ink. And since you’re printing less often, while you’re selling those old fax machines, why not get rid of some printers too?