How to save energy in the office and shop

HOW TO SAVE ENERGY IN THE OFFICE

From electric light to heating systems warm-up and cooling. From computers to printers. Waste in the office is just around the corner, while the environmental impact caused by the activities carried out daily in the workplace is truly significant. That's why reducing costs and energy waste Starting to adopt eco-sustainable behaviors must become an automatic behavior. Just as at home, even in the office it is possible to implement a whole series of gestures that, however simple, allow us to optimize energy savings e eliminate waste.

For example, how many times, despite the presence of various digital media, do we waste so much paper just to take a note or leave the lights on even when they're not needed?

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ALSO READ: Ideas for saving money at the office, from paper to electricity. And make way for plants.

ENERGY SAVING OFFICE

Let's see how then save energy when we are in office:

LIGHTING

• Office lights are not a mustThey should be turned on only when necessary, and when natural light isn't sufficient. Otherwise, it's pure waste, for which we pay dearly.
• Often it is enough strategically position workstations so that you can enjoy the sunlight for as long as possible, perhaps remembering to keep the shutters open until the evening, so as to turn on the lights only when really necessary.
• Try to use lamps ice These reduce energy consumption by about 80%, last 10 times longer than conventional bulbs, and save you about €70. We recommend using efficient T5 and T8 fluorescent tubes, equipped with power supplies that adjust their intensity by integrating natural light.
• Have some installed presence sensors in meeting rooms or bathrooms to ensure that the lights turn on automatically only if someone enters.
• Remember to turn off all lights when you leave the office and whenever they're not needed. This way, in one year you'll save as much energy as it takes to heat a house in five months.

STANDBY

• Remember to unplug all the plugs electronic devices when you go out in the evening as you will not need them again until the next day, because even if put on standby they continue to consume electricity.
• Use a power strip to which you can connect as many plugs as you want, so with just one switch you can turn everything off at the end of the day and especially on Friday evening, in preparation for the weekend.
• Also unplug all battery chargers and transformers because they also consume energy.

HOW TO REGULATE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING

• In winter, the temperature should fluctuate between 18 and 20 degrees, so turn on the air conditioning only if absolutely necessary. In summer, however, the temperature difference between inside and outside should not exceed 6°C. However, when it's very hot, never lower the internal temperature below 25 degrees. The right temperature ensures your well-being (cool in summer and warm in winter) and helps you reduce your energy bill. Also, remember to turn off the air conditioning half an hour before leaving the office. Energy savings can also be achieved by installing insulating glass in order to reduce the use of heating in winter and conditioners in summer.
• Beware of drafts: they reduce the energy efficiency of the systems, reducing the coolness in summer and the heat in winter.
• The reduce the space to be heated or cooled Opting for false ceilings can be an effective method to significantly reduce energy consumption.
• Always ventilate the room quickly, remembering to turn off the heating when you do so.

HOW TO USE THE COMPUTER

• If you want to make a break from the PC, activate the standby function either from the keyboard or from the operating system settings. If you have a Windows operating system, go to Start – Control Panel – Power Options and you can adjust the time it takes for the monitor to turn off, the hard drives to shut down, or the PC to go into standby or hibernation mode. In some cases, you can take advantage of the "power saving" function; therefore, you can set the power saving functions for the monitor only by clicking on the "display" icon.
• Turn off your monitor if you decide not to use it for a long time.The standby light, in fact, consumes more than 20 watts per hour. To avoid unnecessary waste, even for monitors, equip yourself with power strips with switches to which you can plug their sockets so you can turn them all off at once.

ALSO READ: How to save money and avoid wasting money on bills, gas, and groceries

HOW TO USE THE PRINTER

• Turn off the printer, of the office or network, at the end of the day and even more so on Friday evening.
• Prefer low resolution print mode.
• Print all the documents you need in a single session so you don't have to overheat the printer multiple times.
• Don't print documents in bulk, especially if you can send them via email. If you need to photocopy, choose the double-sided option. When your cartridge and toner run out, don't throw everything in the same bin, but separate it: 90% of office supplies are recyclable. Turn off your printer if you won't be using it for a long time (for example, during vacations or weekends).

HOW TO SAVE ENERGY IN THE STORE

• Don't keep shop signs on at night
• Keep the front door closed to allow heating and cooling systems to operate without waste.
• Check air barrier devices
• Lower the temperature in winter. Keep it around 18 degrees, and turn off the heating half an hour before leaving.
• Raise the temperature in summer and set it around 28 degrees
• Unplug electrical outlets when you close and leave
• Use screens or solar films
• Perform regular maintenance on your systems
• Install intelligent control systems
• Use only low-energy light bulbs

OUR TIPS FOR NOT WASTING ENERGY AT HOME:

• Keeping your home cool in summer, without resorting to air conditioning: tricks and simple tips
• Gas bills: tips for saving on hot water and cooking.
• Standby costs us 80 euros per family. And it can be eliminated with a simple power strip.