The recent extreme heat and the ongoing disruptions to the energy market are tough events to manage for every business. One thing we can do is take control of energy efficiency in the workplace with a green workplace strategy. Hopefully cutting costs and protecting the environment at the same time. 

Green Workplace Strategy

There are a number of small ways to improve your business’s energy efficiency with a green workplace strategy. Updating materials and equipment to more energy efficient models can make a lot of improvements. This is where a free energy audit can help you, which is offered regionally. Other ways to improve your energy efficiency may be making green workplace habits a company wide practice. 

Lighting

LED lighting is more energy efficient than older filament bulbs. Also consider the amount of time you are using your lighting. Your green workplace strategy could introduce sensors or timers to ensure lights go off in any rooms that are not being used. Perhaps desk layouts could be reconfigured so that you are only lighting one workspace at a time. 

Temperature 

A green workplace strategy can help you assess when you are heating your premises and pay attention to the effect the weather has. Draught-proofing your building can make big improvements to older buildings and consider the effect of automatic doors. Monitor the thermostat because even lowering the ambient temperature by 1°C will represent a saving. As long as your staff are comfortable. Consider adopting a less formal workwear policy where possible. It’s important your staff comfort is met whilst remaining professional. 

Electrical Appliances 

A smart meter is a great way to track your energy usage and make savings. This can help you assess and prepare for times when usage is high. Remind staff to turn off appliances and monitors at the end of the day to save energy. Make sure you are replacing any old or damaged equipment with newer more energy efficient models. 

How to Improve Your Business’s Cost Efficiency

Even if you implement all possible energy-saving measures with your green workplace strategy and cut your energy usage down to the minimum, there’s still a staple amount of energy you need to use to keep your business running. Consider other areas where you could be saving costs to contribute more funds towards the energy bill.

Water Consumption

Be mindful of water costs. You can use water limiting equipment such as  automatic taps to reduce water wastage. Depending on your industry there may be ways to reduce the amount of water needed for production, or recycling water. Consider how water is used in cleaning processes and if this can be adjusted with newer equipment. 

Go Paperless

Go paperless as much as you can and encourage others to consider this with a handy email signature. Although some paper will always be necessary for certain businesses. Overall paper is costly and heavy which costs you in delivery charges. Consider using recycled paper and paper generated from sustainable sources.

Hybrid Working

Millions of workers got used to working from home during the pandemic. Flexible working, sending more staff to work from home or scheduling fewer days when the office is full could save some energy costs. As long as this doesn’t negatively impact your team’s productivity. However consider the impact of one person working alone in the office with all the lights on, or late into the evening. Sharing productive office time together in one space utilising the same resources like light and heat without too much overlapping can help make savings. An effective energy audit should help to analyse what savings are possible. 

Green Web Hosting

Web hosting providers consume large amounts of energy to power servers and maintain data centres that provide support services around the clock. Other related facilities such as cooling controls and enhanced security setups also use a lot of electricity. There are a number of green web hosting services that help offset the impact on the environment by using 100% renewable energy sources and other environmentally friendly resources.

Green Finance 

There are a number of schemes to help with the cost of switching to more energy efficient technologies which can help you manage energy costs for small businesses. Some support that is available is a free energy efficiency audit, offered regionally. Businesses can also claim additional capital allowances when they buy new, energy efficient technology. Some of the big banks offer ‘Green Loans’ and ‘Green Asset Finance’ for the purposes of updating to Green technologies. The government recently brought forward their implementation of a green business rate exemption which came into effect from 1st April 2022. This was fast forwarded by a year to help businesses help businesses manage rising energy costs. 

Cloud Accounting

Using good software and accounting platforms can help you streamline your processes as well as reduce your paper consumption. Cloud based accounting reduces your need for storing bulky paper files and energy consuming servers. Additionally cloud accounting allows you to keep good records while you are on the go. Prestige Business Management partners Quickbooks provides an intuitive accounting platform. We are pleased to offer a preferential rate and full training to all of our clients helping you to implement a green workplace strategy and keep on top of your cashflow.

At Prestige Business Management we can help your Business

At Prestige Business Management we can help you understand and manage your business development and accounting. Find out what we can do for you. Call us today on 0203 773 2927.