Cut Energy and Costs In the Office

In the U.S., buildings accounted for 39.4 percent of total U.S. energy consumption and 67.9 percent of total U.S. electricity consumption in 2002, according to the EPA. 

Companies and organizations that have adopted effective energy management strategies and programs have saved millions of dollars, reports the U.S. Department of Energy’s ENERGY STAR program. 

Here are a few examples of companies that have saved money provided by ENERGY STAR:

1) Ford Motor Company has saved over $75 million though effective energy management.

2) Eastman Kodak saved more than $8.6 million in operating costs in 2002 from its energy management efforts.

3) Hines estimates the difference in operational costs between its energy efficient buildings and inefficient buildings at more than $13 million.

If you’re interested in improving your building’s energy efficiency and cutting costs, the ENERGY STAR program provides “seven steps” for managing energy usage in office buildings. 

Here’s some quick tips to make your office more energy efficient now:

1) Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents and save up to 75% of electric costs.  EcoGreenOffice supplies a variety of CFLs.   

2) Shut down the computer when not in use and set it to energy-savings settings.

3) Connect the desk lamp, computer, printer, or the entire desktop setup to a power strip with an on / off switch.  Turn off the power strip at the end of the day.

EcoGreenOffice supplies the “SmartSockets Color-Coded Strip Surge Protector,” with six outlets and six feet of cord.

4) Of course, turn off the lights when you leave a room.

5) Dim the lights in the hallways and other spaces where bright light is unnecessary the majority of the time.    

Connect the desktop setup to a power strip that you can switch off at the end of the day.  Consider purchasing EcoGreenOffice's SmartSockets Color-Coded Strip Surge Protector pictured above.