Offices and workplaces across NHS Lanarkshire may be less occupied over the festive period presenting opportunities to save energy and help reduce NHSLs carbon footprint. Staff taking annual leave or working out of office over the festive period can help reduce NHS Lanarkshire’s energy consumption.
If you are lucky enough to have some time off, you can help reduce energy consumption at work (and home!) by following these tips:
- Shut down IT equipment – IT equipment should be completely shut down and turned off at the plug. Typically, most computers consume between 3-10 watts in sleep mode and a photocopier left on overnight uses enough energy to make over 5,000 A4 copies. It’s worth doing a walk-round of the office at the end of the working day ensuring all plugs are switched off.
- Turn off appliances – Kettles, microwaves, toasters etc. can all use electricity just by being plugged in and on at the switch. It is estimated that appliances left on standby cost the average UK household £48.44 per year. A simple and easy way to save energy is to ensure all appliances in your office are switched off at the plug when not in use.
- Switched off all lights – This one might seem obvious but a single LED lightbulb left on for a week can cost over £3 so it is worth checking all unnecessary lights are switched off before leaving your workplace.
- Turn down radiators – Setting all heaters in your office to 1 can save a lot of energy and still prevent pipes from freezing. If a workplace will be used less over the festive period, it is important to check that radiators have been turned down.
Craig Brown, Head of Sustainability & Environmental Performance, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “The most valuable unit of energy (gas or electricity) to NHS Lanarkshire is the unit we don’t use.
“Any reduction in consumption leads to lower carbon emissions and lower operating costs for the board.
“Everyone has a part to play in making sure all things which can be turned off during any period of leave are turned off.”
