Sticky Notes Blog

We can all understand how office buildings use up a good portion of energy. According to Southern California Edison, the average commercial office building uses about 30 percent of consumed energy on lighting. The energy efficiency of office lighting often gets overlooked, but is an important aspect of sustainability for us to consider. Here are four tips to decrease our electrical intake at work.

#1: Opt for Natural Light

Daylight is by far the best source of light around for the workplace. Natural light is the most cost-effective solution, and it has been directly linked to improving employees’ sleep activity and overall happiness. If we have plenty of windows but aren’t close in proximity, it’s time to consider rearranging the office.

#2: Turn off the Lights

We can save a lot of money by turning off lights that only require occasional use, such as the bathroom and kitchen areas. By turning off these lights after usage, we will save considerably on energy and also improve the overall longevity of the light bulbs themselves. We should pinpoint the areas of the office that don’t always need a light on, and make sure to turn them off after we are done.

#3: Sensors

While turning off the lights is a great energy saver, it’s easy to get busy during the day and become forgetful. Motion-sensor lights are a great alternative and will turn on and off automatically when an employee leaves the room. This will produce the same energy benefits as turning off the lights, just without the annoying reminders to coworkers.

#4: LED Lighting

If we are using the same old fluorescent lighting fixtures, it is probably time for a much needed upgrade. LED lights are designed to use about 75 to 80 percent less energy, and will last much longer, too! LED exit signs are also a great energy idea for the office and can last upwards of 25 years.

How does your organization promote energy efficiency? We would love to hear about it!

Sources:

http://blog.1000bulbs.com/a-guide-to-energy-efficient-office-lighting/#.VYA19vlVhHw

http://www.electricalmarketplace.com/blog/office-lighting-tricks/