Energy efficiency awareness
Guidelines for staff

Why should you bother about saving energy?
Heating and ventilation
Lighting
Office equipment
Sources of help and further information

Why should you bother about saving energy?
Well it can help in a number of ways.
In the big picture, saving energy reduces CO2 emissions which cuts greenhouse gases which in turn reduces global warming. So you would be doing a small bit towards helping the environment. On a smaller scale, saving energy helps the Council to save money by reducing energy costs. That money can be spent on other more important things such as reinvesting it in more energy efficiency measures. You can all play a part in this, no matter how small.

Here are some simple actions that you can take to reduce energy in your workplace. Significant reductions can be achieved simply through good housekeeping. Try and follow these guidelines at all times and make sure your colleagues do the same.

Use the contacts at the back of these guidelines for more information on how to save energy or if you have any ideas on saving energy in your workplace.

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Heating and ventilation
Reducing the temperature of a room by just 1^oC can cut the heating bill by as much as 10%.

Office heating is a major consumer of energy, particularly in winter and can account for half of the energy used in offices. However, there are some simple steps which can be taken and which can be very effective.

Heating and ventilation: What you can do

1. Don’t open the window because the room is too hot - turn down the radiator thermostat or room thermostat which ever is appropriate. The thermostat should be set at between 18-21oC but if you can, set it as low as is comfortably possible. 18 – 21oC is defined as comfortable in most circumstances.
2. Are extractor fans being left running in kitchens and toilets? Switch these off if possible especially overnight and at weekends - these also extract heat!
3. Don’t use portable or supplementary heaters - they are expensive to run and consume more energy. Contact your facility/building manager if you are feeling cold in the office.
4. Don’t place printers, PCs or photocopiers underneath temperature sensors. Ask your facility manager if in doubt.

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Lighting
Lighting an empty office overnight wastes enough energy to heat water for 1,000 cups of coffee.

You can do a lot to improve the efficiency of your lighting - it’s one key area where you have responsibility for the lighting in your workplace. Time switches mean that you can control lights so that they are only on when needed. This cuts pollution and costs. For more information on the way in which to change your lighting contact The Energy Management Unit. Take responsibility for the lighting in your work area! Get into the habit of saving energy!

Lighting consumption: What you can do

1. Does the lighting have to be on all day? Switch off if not needed!
2. Make sure that the lightbulbs in your office are the most energy efficient with longer life spans and lower maintenance costs.
3. Are lamps and fittings kept clean?
4. Is the office layout making the most of natural light?
5. Switch off lights whenever a room is left unoccupied.
6. When leaving for lunch or meetings switch off desk lamps and office lights if possible.

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Office equipment
A PC monitor left switched on overnight wastes enough energy to laser print 800 A4 copies.

The modern office is a huge consumer of energy with its PCs, photocopiers and printers. It is a bit of a myth to suggest that if these appliances are on a ‘standby’ mode they will save energy. The only way to save energy is to switch them off! Most modern photocopiers have a built-in energy saving mode which means the machine automatically ‘powers down’ if not in use and will switch itself off after a period of inactivity.

Office equipment: What you can do

1. Switch off all equipment overnight. Machines which do not have on/off switches should to be switched off at the plug.
2. Don’t switch on appliances unless you are ready to start using them - many people are getting into the habit of switching on their PCs as soon as they arrive at their desks and then not using them until later.
3. Get into the habit of switching off your PC monitor over lunch and any other time when not in use. (Two thirds of the energy used by a typical PC is consumed by the monitor).
4. Does the printer need to be switched on immediately when the first person comes in to the office in the morning? Get into the habit of switching on only when needed.
5. Set the energy saving mode on the photocopier to best suit the working practices of your office.

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Sources of help and further information
Energy Management Unit
The Energy Management Unit’s main responsibilities include improving the efficiency of energy use in the Council’s building stock; reducing energy consumption while maintaining or improving comfortable conditions; the operation and maintenance of Building Energy Management Systems and energy targeting and monitoring systems. The Unit also processes energy accounts and prepares annual targets relating to energy consumption.

For information or assistance please contact the Energy Management Unit on: 0131 469 3500

Sustainable Development Unit
The Unit has responsibility for implementing the Council’s policies on sustainable development, including the Eco-efficiency programme. The Unit has developed the Council’s policies on energy consumption in buildings and is responsible for implementing and monitoring the policy. The Unit will be developing a training programme in energy efficiency for all Council departments.

For a copy of the policy or any other information relating to the wider issues of energy management or if you have any suggestions as to how the Council can save energy in your area, please contact Jenny Fausset 0131 469 3538 or e-mail jenny.fausset@edinburgh.gov.uk

You can download the staff guidelines Staff Guidelines

in PDF format (512K)

To read the leaflet you will require Adobe Acrobat, click below to get it.

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Updated 29/01/04