Things you can do at work
For individuals
Switch off equipment when you're not using it
Computers, printers and photocopiers all carry on using energy when they are left on standby. Turn them off each evening and at weekends – and remind your colleagues to do the same.
Print as few documents as possible
Think before you print! If you have to print something off, make sure you use both sides of the paper.
Use your own cup
Bring your own mug for tea or coffee instead of having it in a polystyrene cup.
Turn off the lights
Adjust curtains and blinds to let in as much natural light as possible, and make sure to switch the lights off in rooms that are not being used.
Use the stairs instead of the lift
It's healthier, and will save energy.
Turn off fans
If you use fans to cool the offices down, make sure you switch them off when leaving, whether it is for the night, lunch or for a meeting.
Turn off Dripping Taps
Make sure you turn off taps fully: it takes a lot of energy to produce clean water, and even more when you heat it.
Think about travel
Why not save time by video or teleconferencing instead of travelling to a meeting. If you arrange your own work transport, can you use public transport, and work or catch up on reading while you travel? If not, can you share a car?
Suggest Improvements
The people who do the work know how to do it better. If you can see how you could do things more efficiently, let your employer know.
For Businesses
Get your employees on side
Getting your staff to understand how they can help make your business more efficient can have a major impact. Promote the tips for individuals to your workforce, and tell them what you’re doing too.
Join a Campaign
Business in the Community’s Mayday Network brings together organisations who are working together to reduce their footprint and become more sustainable for the future. Visit their website and search for mayday.
Visit: Business in the Community (external link)
Reuse envelopes
Invest in some address labels to allow your staff to reuse envelopes.
Recycle your printer cartridges
Most printer manufacturers run schemes for recycling or refilling toner cartridges.
Don't turn up the heating unless you really need to
Unless it's just too cold for comfort, try to keep your thermostat at 19°C. Your heating costs will go up by 8% each time you increase the temperature by just one degree
Leave plenty of space around radiators
Putting furniture in front of a radiator means it will need to work harder to heat the room.
Don't heat unused space
Storerooms or corridors don't need to be kept as warm as areas in which people spend long periods of time. And if people are doing a lot of physical work in a particular area, the heating can be turned down. You can also turn off or reduce the heating over the weekend, providing no one is in the building.
Keep doors and windows closed in cold weather
Don't let draughts in. If employees are too hot, try turning the heat down first. In warmer weather, when the heating is off anyway, you can let more air in.
Keep the thermostat away from draughts or hot and cold spots
These will all affect the thermostat and automatically increase your heating costs.
Don't put hot equipment, like photocopiers, near cooling vents
The cooling system will need to work harder to cool an area that is constantly being heated.
Maintain your equipment properly
If you don't regularly check your heating equipment, you could be adding as much as 10% to your heating bill without knowing it.
Turn off Dripping Taps
Make sure you fix any drips to ensure efficient use of water
Ensure you deal with waste efficiently
There are many available schemes around which can help you in ways such as partnering with other businesses or by selling your waste to be used as raw materials
Install water saving ‘hippos’
By installing water saving ‘hippos’ in toilets, you could save around 3 litres of water each time you flush. A typical cost saving will be £3 per employee per year – a £3000 saving if you have 1000 employees.
Replace your lightbulbs
By installing energy saving lightbulbs throughout your workplace you could cut your lighting costs by as much as 15%, and they last much longer than conventional bulbs.
Ask Suppliers about ‘take-back’ schemes
You may be able to get all or some of your money back from a supplier who offers a take-back scheme for any unused products you’ve ordered.
Save up to a month’s fuel costs over one year
Through smarter driving techniques such as reducing loads and good maintenance you could reduce your carbon footprint and save money whilst on the road. The Energy Saving Trust has Green Fleet advice for certain businesses.
Publicise the facts if your business is green
More than a third of customers would favour recyclable products or those with minimal packaging.