Energy efficiency good housekeeping measures at work
Due to ever increasing costs, and also the damage caused to the environment, we need to drastically reduce the amount of paper we use and conserve energy by saving electricity. Wherever possible can we all please try to follow these guidelines:
- Don’t print or photocopy unless absolutely necessary;
- Don’t print the whole document if you only need certain pages;
- Send reports and other large documents via e-mail or download onto CD;
- Reduce unwanted post by returning junk mail to sender or remove recipient’s details from sender’s mailing list;
- Set your printer to print on both sides of the paper by default. It will automatically reduce the amount of paper you use.
Reduce
Get more on each page:
- Print ‘2-up’ (two pages on one sheet) or more – see tip below
- Increase page margins
- Decrease font size
Use the following procedure (depending on the type of printer you are using) for printing multiple pages on a sheet:
This tip applies right across the Microsoft Office range of applications, from Word to Excel and beyond. The clue is in the “print” dialogue box, at the bottom right of which you’ll find the “scale” and “zoom” features:
All you have to do is select how many pages per sheet you want to fit in the “zoom” drop-down, by selecting “4 pages” you’d print your 20 page document on five sheets – four ‘pages’ per sheet. That should cut costs!
Re-use
Save paper used on one side and use it for:
- notes
- fax machines
- Inkjet printers
A good idea for printing is to set aside one printer for ‘draft’ printing and load it with single sided scrap paper.
Wasting energy at work?
The last person to leave the office should switch off photocopiers and printers – a photocopier left on overnight wastes enough energy to make 5,000 A4 copies;
- Turn off your monitor when the PC is not in use for periods more than 15 minutes eg when at meetings or doing paperwork that does not involve using your PC. It is a myth…screensavers do not save any energy at all;
- At the end of the day switch off your PC and monitor – a PC left on overnight wastes enough energy to print 800 A4 pages;
- Overfilling a kettle by 2 cups of water three times per week, wastes 5.8kW of electricity per year;
- For hot drinks use a water dispenser not a kettle, this only heats the water you need;
- Report faulty door closers and windows
- Report if room suffers from under or over-heating
- Do not place obstructions in front of radiators
- Do not use portable electric heaters
- Switch off from the mains or unplug microwave ovens when not in use;
- Unplug mobile chargers and other charging devices
- Switch off lights in offices and kitchens when not in use. Switching lights on and off in relatively short spaces of time does not use more energy.
We all need to do our bit to reduce expenditure and our impact on the environment. Your compliance with these guidelines is much appreciated!
Recycling
- Recycle paper that has been used on both sides – there should be a facility in your office/building
- Recycle HP toner/print cartridges
- Recycle all types plastic bottles – please rinse off first to avoid contamination
- Recycle magazines and newspapers where this facility exists in your place of work
- Recycle all cans/tins
- Recycle cardboard – please contact the building manager for your building to find out what facility exists. Those located in the Civic Centre and Council House, cardboard for recycling should be taken to the loading bay.
Important
Please do not bring in items from home to recycle at work. This has legal implications for the council.
Water
- Only put water in a kettle enough for your needs – will boil a lot quicker
- Make sure taps are properly turned off
- Report leaks/overflows
- Report if water temperature in hot taps is excessive
- Turn off electric water heaters when not required
Contact us
Carol Edmondson
Regeneration Officer
Regeneration – Delivery and Development
Walsall Council
Darwall Street
Walsall
WS1 1TP
Telephone 01922 652864
Email edmondsonc@walsall.gov.uk