- Auditel Consultant:
- Chris Gordon
Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
16 Apr 2009 | Filed under: EnergyVirtually the entire scientific community is now convinced that Climate Change is happening and that it’s a man-made phenomenon.
Over the past 140 years the earth’s surface temperature (land & sea) has risen by 0.6 degrees celsius on average.
The greatest increases occurred in the second half of last century with the 1990s being the hottest decade since records began.
- A company with a turnover of £1million and a profit of £100k could typically be spending £25k on energy
- Just a 20% reduction in energy spend would be the equivalent of a 5% profit boost or an extra £50k of additional turnover
- For every 1 degree celsius that you overheat your premises you add 8% to your heating costs
- Employ an energy manager or at least create energy “champions (check meters/bills, monitor trends, raise awareness)
- Communicate targets and energy “wins” internally” (posters, events, reward schemes)
- Change thermostats to lowest comfortable temperature (21 degrees celsius is a good target)
- Check/elimintae cold draughts from doors/windows
- Ensure that doors/windows are not left routinely open whilst air con is on
- Move away from traditional tungsten light bulbs (low energy bulbs use 75% less energy and last 8 times longer)
- Move to modern small diameter fluorescent tubing ( use 8% less energy for same price)
- Make daytime lighting a positive decision rather than a default (concentrate on workspace e.g. desk specific)
- Switch off computers overnight
- Switch off monitors during lunch breaks
- Switch off pumps, fans, compressors when not needed
- Check for compressed air leaks (you can hear them!)
- Regularly maintain plant/equipment
- Outside the premises check your vehicle fleet (remove roof racks, check tyre pressure, optimise pay loads – can save up to 15%)
