10 Ways You’re Wasting Electricity In The Office Without Knowing It

Things get even worse in the office, because it's the company that foots the electricity bill. So often times, most employees aren't really conscious about the way they use (and waste) electricity in the workplace.

If the majority of your office is still using old-school desktops, that's a lot of electricity being consumed. Laptops use up to 80 percent less electricity than desktop computers, so consider switching over unless your office requires high-performance desktops to cope with heavy tasks.

When you plug in your laptop to charge, electricity is being drained regardless of your laptop's battery percentage. The percentage isn’t gonna go any higher, but your office’s electrical bill definitely will.

It's funny how some offices close the curtains to block the natural sunlight and proceed to turn on the lights. Stop wasting electricity and start making use of natural lighting! It'll make everyone in the office happier and more productive too.

Air conditioners, especially central air conditioners, are one of the most energy-consuming appliances in the office. Turn it off even if you’re just going out for an hour. Also, try to close doors to keep the heat from coming in and the cold air from going out.

Make it a habit to use human energy instead of electrical energy whenever possible. If your office is just one floor up, take the stairs and consider it your workout for the day. After all, it's much better than squeezing in the lift inhaling everyone's post-lunch breath.

At home, you probably spend a lot of time opening the fridge just to survey what's inside. In the office, imagine 50 people doing the same thing every day. Now, that's a lot of energy gone to waste, as the fridge needs to consume energy to readjust its temperature each time.

People usually leave the printer on throughout the day, and sometimes even through the night. While it may be convenient not having to wait for it to reboot, this also uses up unnecessary energy. If you know you won't be using the printer, at least leave it on standby mode or turn it off completely.

Electrical appliances such air conditioners need consistent upkeep for them to perform efficiently. Remember to also change or clean your air filters to prevent dust from collecting.

It takes time to build a company culture where everyone plays their role in conserving energy. But it has to start somewhere, so whether it's just turning the lights off or being more aware of when we use electricity, do you part and start making a difference.

Most companies schedule operations from 8am to 10pm, when everyone else is also using electricity. To meet this supply, more power plants need to be powered up to generate energy.

Companies, however, can reduce their bill by making use of the available energy during off-peak hours, like how newspaper companies do most of their printing before 8am.

And as employees, you should do your part too because you are not only affecting the company’s electricity bill, but are also having long-term impacts on the environment.