Offices
Bicycle Parking Bicycle parking
Encourage your staff to walk or cycle to work by providing a dedicated, secure space for bicyle parking, and ideally a change room and lockers. This can have a real impact on employee satisfaction and health, as well as encouraging more sustainable forms of transport.
Lighting Zones & Sensors LEDs, lighting zones & sensors
Consider installing sensor/zoned lighting. This will ensure that no lights are left on overnight or while the area is not being used.
Retrofitting all lights with LEDs is a cost-effective upgrade that can payback within just a few years and you may be eligible for rebates.
CO2 Sensors CO2 sensors
CO2 Sensors can help keep your staff productive and healthy by monitoring the air quality and reminding staff to open the windows every so often. Your HVAC system may also allow fresh air to enter automatically depending on the temperature and CO2 levels.
Carpooling Behaviour changes
Behaviour and the way we use our spaces can have an enormous impact on energy consumption. Offering incentives for carpooling is a great way of boosting employee participation and favourable outcomes in this area.
Drinks Fridge timers Fridge timers
If your business has a fridge containing non-perishable items (such as a vending machine or soft drinks fridge), it may be possible to install a fridge timer, ensuring the appliance is switched off outside work hours. This has the capacity to reduce your energy consumption for that particular appliance by over two-thirds.
Aircon timers Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)
A significant user of energy in most workplaces, there are numerous ways of setting up HVAC systems to run as efficiently as possible.
It is important to set the thermostat within sensible limits (18-20°C during winter, 23-25°C during summer) and ensure the system is switched off outside work hours.
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While much has been written about the energy efficiency of our homes, sometimes offices are overlooked from this point of view. It is similarly advisable to move away from fossil fuels and electrify all aspects of the workplace as soon as practical, including the use of reverse cycle air conditioning for both cooling and heating. There are many ways we can make changes within our workplaces and create a comfortable environment for everyone.
Lighting
Any lights not yet replaced with efficient LEDs should be updated as a priority. If you work from a large office, consider installing lighting control, like sensors or timers. This will ensure that no lights are left on overnight or while the area is not being used. Investigate rebate options in your area, as this type of upgrade has historically attracted State Government subsidies, such as the Victorian Energy Upgrade Program.
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)
Heating, Cooling and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems are a significant user of energy in most workplaces, and there are numerous ways of setting them up to run as efficiently as possible. As is often the case, regular servicing will help guarantee optimum performance. Smart ventilation control can optimise fresh air intake based on factors like CO2 levels, occupancy and outdoor temperature - to improve the efficiency of HVAC systems. This can bring health benefits as well as reduce electricity consumption. Similarly, it is important to set the thermostat within sensible limits (18-20°C during winter, 23-25°C during summer) and ensure the system is switched off outside work hours.
Thermostats should be placed to reflect internal temperatures only - they should be positioned to avoid influence from external temperatures or other sources of heat or cold, such as on internal walls or near the entry door.
Appliances
If your business has a fridge containing non-perishable items (such as a vending machine or soft drinks fridge), it may be possible to install a fridge timer, ensuring the appliance is switched off outside work hours. This has the capacity to reduce your energy consumption for that particular appliance by over two-thirds.
Computers, monitors and other office appliances that don't need to run overnight (e.g. urns) should be shut down and switched off to save power - the few minutes it takes to switch them back on in the morning will pay back many times over!
The Victorian Energy Upgrade program also provides substantial rebates for a variety of products including heating and cooling, refrigerators, and hot water systems.
Behaviour change
Behaviour and the way we use our spaces can have an enormous impact on energy consumption. Along with the myriad financial and environmental benefits of installing efficient appliances, when a business or organisation shows its dedication to efficiency and sustainability, employees have been shown to become more motivated and further assist in the process. Providing bike racks, offering incentives for carpooling, adding indoor plants, electing green champions and having open conversations around sustainability in the workplace are all great ways of further boosting employee participation and favourable outcomes in this area.
There is also the free CitySwitch program that businesses can sign up to for free assistance and programs
For more information regarding energy efficiency in the office, head here.
Solar PV
Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are a powerful asset for offices, harnessing sunlight to deliver sustainable solar power to the premises. Whether interconnected with the grid or a battery system, solar PV offers a reliable energy source while potentially enabling feed-in tariff benefits when excess power is redirected back into the grid.
Most roofs that are structurally sound, and unshaded, are suitable for hosting rooftop solar. You can get a quick free quote for solar PV from multiple suppliers, ensuring to take into account your current and future electricity usage.
There are various solar calculators available, such as the solar and battery storage sizing and payback calculator from Sunspot. Solar system sizing is flexible. Where funds are limited a smaller system is a worthwhile measure to cut emissions and running costs. A larger system can also be worthwhile, to accommodate future electrical loads. Additionally, the rebates are reducing over time, so the sooner you install it the better to start enjoying the benefits of solar PV.
If you rent the premises for your business, you will need to speak with the building owner about how you can work together to install a solar PV system. For more information, see Making a Plan.