What you can do

Living Sustainably

Energy Smart

Energy saving tips and strategies

Plant

Simple adjustments, fine tuning, monitoring and repairs can have a huge impact on the energy consumption of compressed air systems, steam systems, boilers, electric motors, furnaces, ovens or kilns.

Energy saving tips for:

Discover more tips for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and major capital equipment.

Lighting

Make the most of natural light wherever possible. Good lighting is more than just light levels, it's about effective lighting design. Design and furnish your workplace to encourage and exploit natural sunlight. A lighting designer can help you balance lighting needs with energy efficiency.

Energy saving tips:

Replace incandescent light with energy efficient compact florescents – florescent lights, including compact fittings, generate one-fifth the greenhouse gas of ordinary globes and produce the same amount of light
Install daylight sensors, timers or movement sensors to control lighting, especially in areas which are not always occupied, such as meeting rooms, storage areas or restrooms
Remove excess lighting and think about reflecting light – lighter wall colours reflect more light than darker colours
Provide task lights to supplement general lighting
Keep diffusers and lamps clean to improve the light output – clean every 6-12 months (or more often if the environment demands it)
Install "turn off" lights for sectioned areas or rooms – consider using timers or sensors
Replace incandescent or florescent exit signs with long-lasting, low-energy LED exit signs
Avoid using a single switch to activate several lights

Use the Lighting fact sheet and Energy Smart tips to help you with lighting choices, globe types and energy saving strategies. Use the lighting calculator to help you calculate the potential savings.

Office

Energy saving tips:

Prioritise purchases to include ENERGY STAR as a requirement
Check that ENERGY STAR office equipment has its power-saving function enabled, this may not be switched on automatically or by default
Turn off all office equipment and lights each night, over weekends and holiday periods – or turn off accessories if the primary unit cannot be switched off, e.g. printers, modems, monitors
Consider laptop computers and inkjet printers – they typically use less energy than standard systems
Use email rather than printing or faxing – if you need to print reuse paper and use double-sided printing mode

Use the Office Equipment guide to help you realise real energy savings in the office.

Building services and amenities

Review the services in your workplace – how can they run more efficiently? You may find many low cost opportunities for saving energy.

Energy saving tips:

When buying new appliances choose models that use less energy – use the Energy Rating Label as a guide
Only cool or heat what you need to – the smaller the area cooled or heated the less energy required
Lighting levels and timer settings – can you use daylight or movement sensors?
Calibrate building controls and fine-tune operating schedules to ensure equipment is on only when necessary
Locate and resolve leaks in seals, insulation, pipes and ducting systems
Clean and maintain fixtures – keep light lenses and housings clear of dust
Clean and maintain plant and equipment including chillers, condensers, evaporators and boilers – calibrate temperature and operating controls to maximise energy efficiency
Install timers and temperature controls for cooling and heating systems
Monitor and adjust your hot water thermostat – reduce the temperature to a more efficient level but don't go lower than 60°C as dangerous bacteria could form. A 5°C reduction can save up to 250 kg of greenhouse gas each year
Fix dripping taps (both hot and cold)
Make sure vents are kept clean and clear – replace and service filters regularly
Calibrate and adjust chiller, condenser

Find out how a Building Management System (BMS) can help you monitor, manage and achieve energy savings within a building.

Rate your buildings greenhouse performance using the Australian Building Greenhouse Rating (ABGR) scheme. How does your building perform? Calculate your ABGR rating and use the diagnostic tool, ABGR Star Performer to help you identify areas for improvement. A building with a high star rating is more energy efficient and cheaper to run, and has lower greenhouse emissions.