Reducing unnecessary energy use helps businesses control costs. This guide distinguishes operational changes, lower-cost improvements and investments for office equipment, lighting, HVAC, refrigeration and compressed air. Savings must be assessed for the individual site.
Savings depend on the existing installation, operating hours and selected measures. No fixed monetary saving is guaranteed, and not every measure is investment-free. Preserve safety, product quality and required comfort when optimising operation.
Optimising equipment operation to save electricity
Energy efficiency can help businesses reduce costs. Electricity is a significant operating expense for many organisations, and reducing avoidable consumption can improve profitability.
Some measures, such as purchasing more efficient equipment, require initial investment. They may nevertheless produce worthwhile savings over the equipment’s life. Energy labels and performance data help compare options.
Start by reviewing energy costs and identifying the largest users. Heating and cooling equipment are often important, although the pattern depends on the business.
An energy-performance assessment measures current consumption and associated greenhouse-gas emissions, helping the business identify opportunities for more efficient energy use .
The following ideas range from operational adjustments to investments. Assess suitability, costs and measured savings for the specific site.
Office equipment
Small operational changes
Switch off computers, projectors, printers, copiers and ordinary lighting when no longer needed, subject to operational and IT requirements.
Reduce paper use through double-sided printing or appropriate reuse of single-sided paper.
Use electronic communication instead of unnecessary printed documents and fax transmissions.
Investment options
When buying computers, projectors, printers, fax machines or copiers, compare energy-performance data for the required workload.
Consider laptops where they meet the work requirements; compare actual consumption rather than assuming a fixed saving against every desktop.
Choose printers based on workload and measured energy performance. There is no universal 90% consumption ratio between inkjet and laser printers.
Select printing capacity appropriate to demand instead of routinely buying oversized equipment.
Lighting
Small operational changes
Clean lamps and diffusers at intervals suited to the environment; the original suggestion was every six to twelve months.
Switch off ordinary lighting when it is not needed.
Maintain required emergency, escape-route, warning and security lighting. Do not disable safety lighting merely to save energy.
Lower-cost improvements
Replace inefficient lamps with suitable efficient products, including LEDs, while maintaining required illumination and compatibility.
Avoid over-lighting and consider appropriate reflectors and fixture layouts.
Consider compliant LED exit signs when replacing older units, preserving the required emergency performance.
Where appropriate, use compatible dimmable lighting so illumination can be adjusted to demand.
Investment options
Install occupancy or presence controls in intermittently occupied rooms where suitable, without compromising safety.
Use a building or energy management system to automate lighting operation.
Discuss energy auditing with ITVC
Send your requirements so ITVC can advise on the service scope and provide a suitable quotation.
Keep doors and windows appropriately closed during mechanical cooling while maintaining required ventilation.
Consider an earlier shutdown only where temperature, humidity, occupancy and process requirements remain satisfied.
Use an appropriate cooling setpoint; 25°C is an example to assess for comfort, humidity and the activity.
Lower-cost improvements
Use schedules and thermostats to match air-conditioning operation to demand.
Control unauthorised thermostat changes through suitable access arrangements.
Inspect and maintain ductwork, seals and insulation.
Clean condenser coils and maintain or replace filters according to the equipment instructions and operating conditions.
Investment options
Assess replacement of inefficient heating, ventilation or air-conditioning equipment.
Use blinds or shading to reduce unwanted solar heat gain.
Consider suitable reflective films or external shading on sun-exposed windows.
Improve ceiling and wall insulation where justified.
Insulate hot-water storage and distribution pipework where appropriate.
Assess variable-speed control for fans so airflow can match demand, while maintaining ventilation and system operating limits.
Refrigerators and cold-storage equipment
Small operational changes
Arrange stored items efficiently while leaving enough space for cold-air circulation.
Provide the ventilation and clearances required by the manufacturer and avoid unnecessary exposure to sunlight or nearby heat sources.
Lower-cost improvements
Maintain refrigeration equipment regularly.
Keep coils clean and manage frost through the correct defrost arrangements.
Investigate unusual equipment noise and correct faults.
Investment options
Assess automatic doors or suitable strip curtains for cold rooms to reduce air exchange. Do not remove existing thermal barriers without a system assessment.
Discuss compressed-air efficiency with ITVC
Call ITVC to discuss your needs and a suitable service approach.
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