enGauge

Some useful tips, ideas and facts that will help you to reduce your impact on the environment, reduce carbon emissions, save on utility costs, act in a sustainable manner and reduce your carbon footprint.

Tips and ideas to Save Energy Costs

• Save energy by turning off electrical equipment when not in use especially overnight and at weekends
• Save costs associated with lighting - when painting a room use light colours that reflect natural light
• Save energy - use standby mode on electrical equipment during the day if inconvenient to turn off, for example photocopiers and printers
• Save energy - use desk or standard lamps where most light is needed, so less or no other lighting is required in the rest of the room
• Keep equipment maintained and in good working order and save on power consumption
• Save energy - on a hot day raise the air conditioning a couple of degrees to 24 or 25 to reduce load on the system
• Save energy - utilise office equipment during off peak periods, organise or program jobs to be completed at an appropriate time
• To save energy, keep your exterior and freight access doors closed as much as possible when air-conditioning or heating is switched on
• During winter open window blinds to warm rooms from direct sunlight and save on heating costs
• If you use a ceiling fan in summer reverse the direction in winter to circulate warm air from the ceiling
• Save energy - on a cold day reduce the heating to 20 or 21 degrees to reduce load on the system
• Save energy - avoid running air conditioning on high airflow, use medium or low flow option this can save up to 50% in running costs
• Save energy - when boiling water in a kettle only boil as much water as you need
• Make sure air ventilation filters and ducts are clean to ensure the air conditioning system is running efficiently
• In summer close blinds to keep out direct sunlight and help reduce load on the air-conditioning system
• Save energy - if you have opening windows, open to ventilate on suitable days instead of using air conditioning
• Save energy - If an option, use a fan instead of air conditioning, and save money
• Save energy - does your PC have an energy saving function, if it does set it up to turn off the monitor and hard disk after a set period of time
• Save energy - Turn off heating and air conditioning on leaving the building or your level if you are last to leave
• Install weather stripping around doors and windows; reduce air leak and associated heating and cooling costs
• Save energy by insulating walls and ceilings if easy to do so
• Save energy - turn off unneeded lights and where possible use natural light
• Save energy – if by yourself in the office after hours use a portable heater or fan, to heat or cool the immediate area instead of running the air-conditioning
• Save energy - try not to over light non critical areas and avoid lighting unoccupied areas
• Save energy - replace incandescent globes with energy efficient compact fluorescent globes
• Replace 50W down light lamps with energy efficient 35W lamps to reduce energy costs by up to 40%, while maintaining same light output (Osram)
• Save energy - fluoro tubes with blackened ends are past economic life, replace with tri-phosphor tubes and save money
• Save energy - Program air-conditioning to turn off automatically at specified times and only supply service to occupied areas
• Save energy - choose the eco wash button on your dishwasher and display a sign to encourage other users to follow your lead
• Save energy - always make sure the dishwasher is full of dishes before you set the eco wash cycle
• Save energy - adjust down the brightness on your PC monitor and use a black background for screen savers as white pixels are most energised
• Save energy - turn the thermostat down on hot water units to lowest possible setting to reduce associated heating costs
• Save energy - if replacing hot water systems, enquire about instantaneous gas, heat pump or solar to reduce carbon emissions and save money
• Make sure hot water piping is insulated to reduce heat loss and associated energy cost
• Save energy - use timer switches to turn equipment on or off at specified times
• Utilities - check shoulder and off-peak times to avoid using equipment during peak periods and save money
• Save energy - install movement sensors in rooms not frequently used to control lighting and save money
• Save energy - use solar film or louvers on windows to block heat and glare from the sun and enhance occupant comfort
• Save energy - set fridge and freezer temperatures to suit season
• Save energy - if freezer is not frost free, defrost regularly to ensure running efficiently
• Save energy - If you don’t require a light in a bank of lights – remove the lamp, globe or tube
• Are portable fans/heaters used in conjunction with heating or air/conditioning? Think about moving staff to a more comfortable position and save energy
• Distribute meeting documents electronically and save paper, time and energy
• Instead of turning the heating up wear an extra layer of clothing to keep warm
• Instead of turning the air conditioning up remove a layer of clothing
• Save energy - always remove chargers from the power socket when charging is complete they still pull a phantom load
• Save energy - install standby energy saving power boards for suitable electrical equipment to reduce phantom load power loss
• Install energy efficient light bulbs, lower wattage means lower energy consumption and therefore running costs
• Save energy - install flow restrictors and aerators on hot water taps to reduce costs associated with heating the water
• Fix leaking hot water taps and save on energy costs associated with heating the wasted water, 1 drop each second = 15,000 litres/year
• Save energy - send faxes electronically and save paper, printing and copying costs

Tips and ideas to Save Water

• Save water - always make sure the dishwasher is full of dishes before you set the eco wash cycle
• Check if you are eligible for rebates such as the commercial hot water rebate offer
• Consider using recycled water for water features
• Save water – plant indigenous flora in your landscape as they require less water than many introduced species
• Save water at the car wash - use a commercial car wash that recycles water
• Save water - check for leaking pipes and hoses and reduce water wastage
• Save water - place the plug in the sink when you wash your hands instead of using continual running water
• Save water by replacing any leaking tap washers as soon as you notice a leaking tap
• Save water - don’t run water until it is cool enough to drink – keep a water container in the fridge
• Save water - plug the sink when rinsing vegetables, fruit or dishes try and avoid using running water from the tap
• Save water and install a AAA rated showerhead; save up to 10 litres of water a minute and associated water heating costs
• Save water – when cleaning use a bucket where possible, instead of running tap water
• Save water – AAA rated taps help to reduce pressure splashing, they are also more efficient than ordinary taps due to low flow design and aerators
• Save water - install flow restrictors and aerators on taps to reduce water use
• Fix leaking taps and save on water costs, 1 water droplet dripping each second = 15,000 litres/year

Tips and ideas to Save Waste and reduce Landfill

• Reduce organic waste going to land fill invest in a worm farm
• Set the printer and photocopier to double sided printing as default to avoid wasting paper
• Bring your lunch to work from home as it is cheaper and produces less solid waste than buying takeaway food
• Don’t upgrade to new products if the current product functions well, replace when no longer functional, obsolete or broken to extend product life and reduce waste
• Reduce waste by reusing packaging, envelopes, bags and the like, create an area where people can store and collect these items for re-use
• Purchase re-writable disks and avoid unnecessary landfill
• Save money and paper - circulate magazines and periodicals around the office to minimize purchasing multiple copies
• Re-use paper only printed on one side for faxes, note pads, photocopies, and draft documents before recycling
• Reduce waste - toner cartridges for photocopiers and printers can often be re-filled check with your supplier if your cartridges can be re-used
• Keep a recycling box close to your desk, you are more likely to use it if is in close proximity to your work area
• Remove general rubbish bins from around each desk, position recycling and waste bins in a prominent area to encourage use of appropriate bin
• Recycle as much as possible to reduce waste, set up dedicated waste collection stations
• If purchasing a take-away coffee take a mug with you and avoid using a disposable cup this helps reduce waste
• Reduce waste - avoid using paper or plastic disposable cups, use a glass or ceramic cup for beverages
• Donate old or obsolete equipment to organisations that can use them or recycle at appropriate centres
• When ordering supplies, consider ordering a smaller amount if there is the possibility of waste
• When purchasing napkins, toilet paper or hand towel choose products made from recycled paper or alternatives such as kenaf or hemp fibre
• Purchase refillable pens instead of disposable pens for the office, less waste and ink refills are often cheaper
• Purchase re-chargeable batteries instead of disposable and reduce hazardous landfill waste
• Purchase products that can be disassembled for reuse or recycled at end of life
• Reduce waste - Instead of purchasing a new product or item, find out if the existing item can be repaired
• If using disposable cups, plates and utensils choose those made from recycled materials or biodegradable bamboo
• Save wasting paper - use e-mail instead of sending a fax or letter if possible
• Save paper - try not to print unnecessary documents; only print required pages or save document in electronic format
• Save paper - scan and save documents in electronic format instead of copying
• Save paper - avoid using cover sheets when sending a fax
• Save paper - print double sided as much correspondence as possible

Save CO2 - Carbon Emissions

• Leaving your desk top computer on 24/7 for one year will result in one tonne of carbon emissions; turn it off when not in use
• If travelling interstate and you require a hire car, consider hiring an alternative fuel vehicle and reduce carbon emissions
• Do you have to travel interstate? Minimise travel by teleconferencing and video conferencing, use technology to communicate
• Instead of driving your car, ride a bike or walk to work, reduce carbon emissions and feel good while getting fit
• Is public transport an option for you, think about leaving your car at home and have stress free trip to work and reduce carbon emissions
• Maintain company vehicles regularly to run at optimal efficiency and reduce carbon emissions
• Does your company have fleet vehicles? Consider purchasing alternative fuel vehicles or vehicles with a low CO2 output and reduce carbon emissions
• Encourage car pooling – set up an on-line registry of interested parties at work and share the cost of getting to work
• Buy on line, use suppliers in the local area as interstate or international deliveries incur high transport costs and contribute to increased carbon emissions
• If available use gas appliances rather than electric as they are cheaper to run and produce less carbon emissions

General Sustainability Tips & Ideas

• Wear warm clothes in winter to reduce costs associated with heating
• Wear light weight clothing in summer to reduce costs associated with cooling
• A plant is a natural air filter; think about placing one on your desk
• Save energy - leaving your desk top computer on 24/7 for one year will use nearly 1000 kW of electricity; turn it off when not in use
• Save energy - Leaving your desk top computer on 24/7 for one year will cost approximately $160, save up to $100 by turning it off when not in use
• Purchase carbon neutral products and services from suppliers; enquire about their environmental practices
• Choose green energy option on your power bill to encourage investment and growth of green power suppliers
• Display energy, water and waste awareness material throughout the building; encourage sustainable and environmental action
• Many cleaning products often contain toxic contaminants that can cause irritation to susceptible people, try eco-friendly cleaning products
• Allow staff access to login remotely and work from home if possible; assess performance rather than attendance
• Offer flexible hours to staff if possible to reduce time spent in vehicles on the road during peak hour times and reduce carbon emissions
• Is your superannuation invested in sustainable investments? Seek advice about your options
• Choose products sourced from renewable (sustainable) resources to lessen your impact on our environment
• Think about using green or eco-cleaning products which are less harmful to our environment
• When choosing venues, hotels and other service industries; use those that have energy, water and waste recycling programs, encourage participation
• Instead of using taxis, encourage staff to use public transport to attend meetings etc. purchase tickets and have timetables on hand for staff to use
• Check diffusers are clean or if old and discoloured replace with prismatic to increase light level and improve occupant comfort
• Check if you are eligible for any environmental government grants – www.business.gov.au
• When replacing equipment look at the star energy ratings; more stars = higher energy efficiency
• Encourage management to set up an incentive scheme to foster ‘green’ ideas and occupant participation
• Dress appropriately for weather conditions and if you have to dress formally keep clothing on hand for this purpose
• A green building is only as good as its occupants, you make the difference by actively involving yourself in green initiatives
• Engage and acknowledge staff contributions to green ideas, create a suggestion box or set up teams to discuss ideas
• How is your company performing – check sustainability objectives and strategies on line and keep up to date with environmental news
• Think about joining a community group involved in sustainable activities or a green industry group
• When doing laundry make sure the washing machine has a full load and save water as well as energy costs
• Save water - when doing laundry check the water level suits the amount of items to be washed
• Avoid thawing frozen food using running water, try and think ahead and remove from freezer for a natural thaw
• Save water - at home in the bathroom, clean the razor or face flannel in a plugged sink with a little water
• Save water - when brushing your teeth, use a glass of water to rinse instead of using running water from the tap
• Choose eco-friendly furniture and floor coverings to avoid off gassing of volatile organic compounds and improve indoor air quality
• Save water – are your toilets dual flush, if not think about changing them over to dual flush it is not as expensive as you think
• If you identify a recycling, energy or water efficient opportunity let management know that way your idea can be implemented