7 energy-saving tips for the office

The office is a space where energy is always moving: from lighting in the different areas, to the operation of electronic devices and the use of electrical appliances for coffee breaks and lunch. Let us not forget air conditioning systems, both for heating and cooling, which alone account for almost 60% of the total office energy expenditure.  

Therefore, knowing energy consumption in the office and making conscious energy-saving choices are the first steps towards a more sustainable, environmentally friendly and waste-conscious workspace. In order to raise awareness among companies and professionals on this issue, in 2022, ENEA (National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development) produced a guidebook with energy-saving tips for offices. 

Starting with the ideas from ENEA, we have taken a more detailed look at seven steps towards conscious energy use through simple everyday actions, helping you to find the most advantageous power offers for your office.

¹Media Enea Press Release 2022

1. Conscious use of lighting

In the office, proper lighting is essential to ensure the best visibility for employees without straining their eyes. However, it is important to manage light settings to reduce energy waste. 

For example, by making use of natural light whenever possible, or by installing motion sensors that switch on and off as people pass by, so as to avoid any forgotten bright lights. 

For greater energy savings, the adoption of LED lighting is the best possible choice. Compared to conventional fluorescent or iridescent bulbs, LED bulbs provide energy savings of up to 90% on electricity consumption and can last up to 15 years, amortising their initial cost over time.

2. Use of intelligent control systems 

Whether at home or in the office, the choice of smart technologies to optimise energy management ensures efficiency, sustainability and bill savings for the same level of consumption. 

Energy management systems, such as the Digital Energy System from Enel X are the ideal solution for the office, thanks to a smart platform that monitors consumption, collects and analyses data, provides reports on energy performance and recommends ad hoc actions to optimise energy performance. 

Smart thermostats, smart meters, smart plug sockets, and technologically advanced sensor systems contribute to creating a more efficient and comfortable working environment, optimising energy consumption and reducing waste.

3. Prioritising cloud solutions

Moving applications to cloud computing systems is a key step in saving energy in the office. Data centres, a complex structure of computers, storage systems, local servers and IT infrastructure, consume a lot of electricity, about 200 terawatt hours (TWh) per year. Their electricity consumption is expected to increase 15-fold by 2030, accounting for 8% of the total demand for electricity. 

What is more, these local servers require specific rooms (server rooms), which are constantly air-conditioned and therefore require a significant amount of energy from cooling systems. This is why migrating tasks to centralised servers on the cloud, shared by all employees, can improve energy savings in the office.

4. Temperature regulation 

Indoors, the temperature should average between 18° and 22° in winter and between 26° and 28° in summer. It is therefore important to ensure employee comfort with an ideal temperature that complies with regulations and creates a healthy, properly ventilated working environment. 

In winter, keeping the indoor temperature at 18° and turning off the heating an hour before leaving the office can reduce energy consumption by 12%. In summer, on the other hand, keeping the temperature at 28° with the dehumidification mode and turning off the air conditioning an hour before going out guarantees a 22% saving on the energy used for cooling.

5. Optimising the use of devices 

Optimising the use of electronic devices in the office can make a difference to energy consumption. Choosing laptops instead of traditional desktop computers is already a first step towards substantial energy savings. Also remember to activate the energy-saving mode on the computer; unplug devices when they are not connected, and turn everything off at the office during the weekend. 

Printers, in particular, are very energy-intensive devices. Their power consumption depends on the model type and the type of printing required, but it is important to switch on the stand-by mode when not in use or to switch it off when not needed: the latter activity can reduce consumption by 24%. 

Finally, domestic appliances also play their part, such as microwaves for heating meals during lunch, refrigerators, and washing machines. Using energy efficient appliances can prove to be a smart choice to optimise energy use, especially if these appliances are used a lot throughout the day.

6. Performing regular maintenance 

Regular, effective maintenance is essential to ensure better performance and longer life for your systems, as well as savings on your energy and gas bills for the same consumption. 

This is a preventive control and monitoring of operations, carried out to reduce the possibility of unforeseen failures and ensure the safety of your employees. It also enables the expansion of grid capacity to meet energy needs, and the replacement of obsolete energy-intensive technologies.  

7. Involving colleagues in energy-saving initiatives

Awareness-raising is crucial to employee engagement when it comes to conscious use of electronic devices, lighting when controlled by switches, and heating when regulated by thermostats for collective use. 

It is part of a broader journey to promote a culture of sustainability in the office and the sharing of good energy-saving practices

Bring energy to the office with Enel 

Enel Energia supports you in saving energy also in the office, with solutions for your everyday working life. Discover our power and gas offers for your business and keep up to date with news and updates for your business from the energy world on enel.it