Posted September 2017

Sustainability for our Future

​If your organization is looking to become more energy efficient, first make a commitment, benchmark your energy performance and create a plan — all with no capital investment needed.

Start conserving today
It doesn’t take a lot of money to start saving energy. If your organization is looking to become more energy efficient, first make a commitment, benchmark your energy performance and create a plan — all with no capital investment needed. Next, start with the no- and low-cost opportunities. Capture those wasted energy dollars and use them to finance more low-cost improvements. When you’re ready, you can point to the value of good energy management and secure the capital you need for bigger projects.

Big or small, every step you take to conserve resources makes a difference. Here are some measures you can take immediately.

• Get an energy audit. Find out what the biggest energy drains in your business are and focus on those areas.
• Give electronics a rest. Plugging equipment into power strips allows you to switch off several devices at once and eliminates “phantom” power loads from equipment that draws power even when turned off.
• Print mindfully. Think before you print: Do you really need a hard copy of an electronic file, such as email? Take advantage of printer features such as duplex printing, low power sleep mode and quick start-up, which consumes less power and reduces paper waste.
• Manage printing. Establish printing rules for different users. Set duplex printing as the default to cut paper usage nearly in half, monitor color printing and redirect print jobs from desktop printers to multifunctional printers with a lower cost-per-page.
• Right-size your equipment. Look for ENERGY STAR equipment, which promotes energy-efficient computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, scanners, copiers and multifunction devices.
• Take steps to control temperature. Use fans to circulate the air. Shade windows to cool areas in direct sunlight. Install programmable thermostats that automatically adjust temperature settings based on the time of day and day of the week.
• Be smart about lighting. Use windows and task lighting to get the right amount of light. Replace incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR LED bulbs. Turn off lights when not in use or install sensors that automatically turn lights on or off depending on occupancy.
• Establish a maintenance program for HVAC. Regularly change or clean air filters; clean heat exchanger surfaces, water and refrigerant coils, condensers and evaporators; repair leaks in piping, air ducts, coils and fittings.
• Create an atmosphere of advocacy. Educate and encourage employees to be energy-conscious and to offer ideas about how energy can be saved. Employee buy-in and involvement can make or break your company’s efforts to conserve energy.

This post originally appeared on Ricoh’s WorkIntelligent.ly.

Want to start your journey towards energy efficiency? Talk to a TGI representative for printing solutions that can help your organization conserve resources. Call 1-866-468-4462 or get in touch online.