You and your staff likely have plenty of meetings. While most meetings are valuable, others can be too long and unproductive. Did you know that you could also be wasting energy during your meetings? These simple savings tips and low-cost upgrades can serve as action items to make your meetings more energy efficient.
Get some sleep. While staff members are in meetings, computers at their desks may be wasting energy. Use power management “sleep” settings to minimize power to idle equipment.
Let the sunshine in. On sunny days, turn off the lights and open window treatments to let in sunlight. Natural light is free and helps create a comfortable atmosphere.
Lower the temperature. Some meetings can get a little heated — literally. Put a group of people in a small room and the space can really heat up. Lower the temperature; you'll save energy and keep everybody more comfortable. Some smart thermostat models can connect with remote sensors that can detect room occupancy, temperature and humidity and automatically make adjustments to ensure comfort and optimize efficiency.
Turn off lights. Turn off meeting room lights when everyone leaves to avoid wasting energy lighting an unoccupied room. Occupancy or vacancy sensors automatically switch off lights after the room is empty, making the process worry-free.
Agenda for long-term savings
Productive meetings require a clear objective, careful preparation, active participation and a focus on outcomes. The same can be said for improving energy efficiency. A plan for long-term energy savings should include measurable goals, along with a process for tracking progress and ensuring continuous improvement. It’s also important to get everyone involved and recognize achievements.
Start with a business energy audit. Our energy advisers can help with a free consultation. They’ll work with you on ways to understand and manage ways to improve energy efficiency at your business.