Saving water and energy in the work environment is an investment – and the right thing to do

Energy- and water saving has become a major focus point in recent years. And in the wake of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in November/December in Durban, one tends to be reminded of the severity of climate change and all its negative effects on society and the environment.

There are ways we can help to mitigate the effects in the home, but also particularly in the office. Businesses tend to use an immense amount of resources – water, energy and paper – so the responsibility lies in becoming more environmentally aware, and knowing that the responsibility is ours to find ways to use these resources in a smarter manner.

Due to climate change, and high levies for both water and electricity, in recent times it has been found there are companies that not only are participating in saving our resources, but are proactive in these ways – not only is it the right thing to do, but it saves the company money.

Some tips to save water in the office

Having proper water-saving management processes set up can be most beneficial, particularly for small businesses because up to 80% of the water bill could be saved.

A few pointers to enable businesses to kick-start the process:

Manufacturing companies, plants and many large operations tend to use an enormous amount of water, more than others. These companies should get a proper water audit done by water auditors to calculate how much water is being used; not only will it indicate where best to use less water, or where any leaks may be, but these audits are usually free – saving your business more money.

Another way to save water is to change the power of the water to a low-flow restrictor. This will use less water in bathrooms, toilets, showers, kitchens in offices; and any facilities, factories or plants that also use large amounts of water unnecessarily.

Use equipment that requires less water usage. Often, this type of model tends to cost more but, in the long run, the business will see a return on investment.

For gardens and plants, grow ones that are less water-intensive and that are indigenous to the area.

It really all starts with you. If you are aware of how to save water, share the information with your colleagues and management teams. If we all do our bit to save water, there will be more for all, and your company will not be running on empty.

Light at the end of the tunnel

For quite some time, high electricity rates, coupled with fears of national blackouts, have seen an urgent need to look for alternative sources of energy.

For a company, saving electricity not only means saving power, but saving money as well.

Tips on how to save energy in the office:

There are alternative models of office equipment that use less energy – you simply have to enquire by your suppliers.

When leaving the office, switch off all machinery, coffee machines, printers, computers, air conditioners or heaters (these being high-cost facilities), fans and any unnecessary lights.

Similar to the water auditors, energy assessors can measure energy usage as well as the extent of greenhouse gas emissions, and can offer suggestions on how your business can become  energy-efficient.

Susie Reinders