Planning
Energy efficiency means more than simply installing new technology.
It’s about planning how you will make your office more energy efficient, and involving your employees and enlisting their support. Why? Because the way people use equipment and their knowledge of energy efficiency can have a big impact on energy consumption.
As part of their commitment, 3CBDs Signatories develop and implement an Energy Action Plan to achieve and maintain their accredited ABGR rating. They also appoint an Energy Manager who is responsible for making the office more efficient and monitoring actual performance.
If you are a small commercial tenant you may not have the internal resources to elect a full time Energy Manager. The 3CBDs Greenhouse Initiative can demonstrate the many simple ways you can improve your greenhouse performance and reduce the cost of your energy bill at the same time.
In commercial office tenancies, energy is typically used in lighting (67 per cent), computers and equipment (31 per cent) and ‘other’ (2 per cent) such as kitchen equipment and hot water.
Tenant Energy Management
The Tenant Energy Management Handbook advises that the main opportunities for energy savings in tenancies lie with office lighting and the power used by equipment such as computers, faxes, copiers and kitchen appliances.
Upgrading equipment and lighting systems to take advantage of efficient modern technology can provide significant benefits. But strategies to improve energy efficiency are not just about new technologies. How people use equipment can have at least as much impact on energy consumption as the type of equipment used.
In order to achieve your energy efficiency goals, it is important to get support from staff. And you could make even greater improvements by getting your landlord involved as well. Ensure your project doesn't fall at the first cost hurdle by investigating innovative financing options.
Whenever an ABGR rating is completed ensure your employees are informed. Involve them as much as possible and emphasise individual responsibility for outcomes, so they are motivated to support the Initiative. You may need to consider special strategies to get continued management buy-in for new projects, especially if capital expenditure is required.
Things to consider
- how to communicate energy efficiency to staff
- where the best energy savings can be made
- how energy efficiency projects will be financed
- who will be responsible for tracking progress
Quick tip
- ENERGY STAR enabled products switch to a low-power mode when not in use, and use up to 75 per cent less energy than other products, saving money and helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. ENERGY STAR compliant office equipment includes computers, monitors, printers, fax machines and photocopiers.
Resources
Energy Performance Contracting
Lighting
Computers
ABGR website
