Energy efficient offices Getting your foot in the sustainable office door

By Ben O’Connell

“If every New Zealand household installed LED lighting, we’d avoid 82,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year – the emissions of almost 34,000 petrol cars.”

Businesses should optimise their lighting use where possible. Segment large workspaces with zone lighting to create spatial separation and cut costs.

Monitoring

It is incredibly hard to change something that you don’t measure. A business can control its energy consumption through regular monitoring and benchmarking.

For one, businesses can minimise their environmental footprints by grading the energy efficiency of their offices. Regardless of whether a business is looking to cut energy in an existing space or planning a new build, there are many ways to save both money and the planet.

Here is a basic guide to getting your foot in the energy efficient office door.

Lighting

Considering its entire lifespan, the most energy efficient lighting is often the least expensive. Using LED or CFL lightbulbs instead of traditional incandescent bulbs is a great start. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority is the government agency behind Gen Less – dedicated to turning Kiwis into leaders in clean and clever energy use [genless.govt.nz].

Gen Less says, “LED light bulbs use up to 85 percent less electricity than traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs and can last 15 times longer. They cost more upfront – but the long-term savings are worth it.

Maximise natural light and install light shelves, skylights, or light tubes. Measure light levels and install daylight sensors to manage brightness levels. Use occupancy sensors and automated controls to ensure lights are only used when and where needed.

Airflow

Improving airflow starts with controlling it. Fix and upgrade insulation in walls, roofs, and windows to reduce heat gain or loss in those spaces. Seal gaps, cracks, and air leaks to prevent drafts and maintain temperature control.

Make the most of energy-efficient windows with low-emission coatings and proper shading devices to minimise the transfer of heat.

No energy efficient office ignores its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Utilise programmable thermostats to regulate room temperature based on working hours and use.

Keep your HVAC systems clean and maintained to ensure they are running at peak performance.

Businesses could also consider using energy efficient HVAC technologies like energy recovery ventilation and smart controls to truly get the most from their HVAC systems.

Tracking progress, identifying problem areas that need improving, and setting energy saving targets are all great ways to do this. Installing energy management systems into your workplace will help to monitor and control consumption further.

These systems provide real-time data on energy usage and waste, and are an excellent way to finetune energy efficiency. Investing in energy audits is another option for businesses, although it is an investment. Make sure any reporting is accurate, clear, in context, and finalised by a professional.

Equipment

There is a wide range of energy efficient office equipment out there. Look for Energy Star certified products such as computers, printers, copiers, and other appliances.

These items meet strict energy efficient standards, with the number of stars showing you at a glance the emissions and costs each produces.

Sites such as eepl.co.nz, environment.govt. nz, consumer.org.nz, and the previously mentioned Gen Less have great resources to help you compare appliances and find energy efficient products for your workplace and beyond.

Culture

Staff are your superpower. Encourage employees to get involved in energy saving initiatives through education, workshops, and awareness campaigns.

Promote energy conscious behaviour like turning off lights when leaving a room and reporting energy waste. Inspiring employees to use power saving functions on computers is a simple sustainable daily measure.

The collective actions of your workforce add up quickly, so the more people you have working to reduce your business’ environmental footprint the better. Everything boils down to people.

Making your business and its offices more energy efficient starts with finding your unique purpose – your why.

Getting behind sustainable work practices can lead to a positive business reputation, new market opportunities, an engaged talent network, upped brand value, and a head start on future environmental regulations and compliances.

Prove to the world that your business cares about the planet and embrace the climate challenge in your office today! CT

One quick Google search will reveal countless tips and tricks for saving your hard-earned cash, but how helpful are they really?

Let’s explore and debunk some of these pointers that may or may not help you achieve your financial goals.

Budget setting

How realistic is your latest budget challenge?

Managing your money does begin with understanding where it’s going, but many budgeting tips can leave you feeling stuck.

Budgeting starts with a simple list of all your income and expenses. From there, identify areas where you can cut back, like takeaways and unnecessary subscriptions (but don’t give up on small luxuries just because you’re saving).

Control your spending habits by turning them into written facts to face. Consider making savings a regular expense by setting up automatic transfers to a dedicated savings account. Whatever you do, keep it simple and do what’s best for you.

The 50-30-20 rule

Budgeting rules and challenges should make saving less stressful, not more so. Take the 5030-20 rule for example.