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Carry out a simple audit of your building to help you identify the most effective options of energy efficiency improvements and take some steps to improve energy efficiency.
There are a range of low cost measures you can make as well as more expensive improvements that you could seek funding for.
Changing the way in which people in the building use energy and controls can also make a big impact on energy use.
Practical improvements to buildings might include:
Changing your lighting to LED or energy efficient will help reduce your carbon emissions because it uses less energy than other bulbs.
It's a very simple and easy way to work towards making your office greener. Another benefit is that these bulbs need to be changed less often so there is less waste.
Encourage staff to green their home workspace in a variety of different ways such as using natural light, energy efficient heaters rather than using their central heating, introducing plants, LED light bulbs, remembering to turn off equipment when not in use.
Encourage every team member to carry out some actions to green their home working and to share what they've done to encourage others.
If you are in a multi-occupancy building - create an eco-council for the building to consider collective actions to reduce energy/ waste e.g. joint purchasing of stationery to reduce delivery miles, implementing recycling schemes at a building level, and representing tenants 'asks' to the landlord.
To build an eco-council, send out a short survey to the people in your building firstly asking them to suggest some key actions that could be taken to reduce waste and energy, then asking whether they would like to be part of an eco-council.
When you set up the first meeting, have a discussion around expectations such as how often you will meet and what you plan to achieve. Have regular meetings and make sure to report back to the other tenants to let them know what progress has been made and how you've helped to make your building greener.
If you are not in a multi-occupancy building, could you set up a eco-council for your office?
Plants are not only pretty to look at, they’re also a brilliant way to improve your air quality thanks to their ability to purify the air.
Some plants like orchids and succulents even absorb carbon dioxide to convert and release it as oxygen.
Having indoor plants in your room can even help to reduce stress and create a peaceful environment, which can only benefit your productivity. There are plenty of low maintenance plants that require little care which are perfect for people with busy schedules.
A Library of Things is a way to share equipment with others in your building, between your team, with partner organisations or even in your community.
It's a great way to avoid un-necessary purchases and save money.
We have installed air source heat pumps, hundreds of LED lights, and over 100 solar PV panels at the Linskill Centre....and there's room for more!
We've installed solar panels and LED lights, undertaken an energy efficiency audit and are developing an allotment.
We've started an eco-council in MEA House.
If you're a VCSE based in the North East and you've done something about the climate crisis, please share your action with us. We'd love to share it on this website, to inspire others.
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