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It seems that it is more difficult to conserve energy in the office than in homes. Think about the daily routine of printing triplicate copies, leaving computers running all night and getting a new paper cup for each drink of water, all of which are a waste of valuable energy. In fact, in the United States actions like this make up about 70 percent of total electricity use in an office building. Then consider that this is approximately 40 percent of the total carbon dioxide emission used in an employee’s daily travel from home to workplace. Although the effects of this kind of scenario isn't felt by everyone, it is still possible to work together on eliminating such waste, considering how it affects a company’s overall operating expenses. It is certainly important to learn how to conserve energy and save money in commercial office space. Motivation Motivation to conserve energy begins with all who work together under one roof. According to the results of a recent survey, those who separate recyclable waste do not really want to work with those who do avoid this. In addition, there is a high percentage of workers who want to work in more environmentally friendly surroundings. So making energy conservation a priority can help motivate employees to be more productive. Many incentives are offered to companies to initiate energy conservation. For example, consider the cost of an employee's daily commute to the workplace. By using a personal car, an employee significantly contributes to lost hours of productivity due to traffic congestion. Add to that the cost of fuel; it all adds up to approximately $63.1 billion annually across the United States. To cut down on any contribution to such a huge loss of energy, the use of mass transit or free buses to employees can be considered. An interesting approach would be a program that provides incentives or prizes to workers who consume the least fuel in a month. Environmentally Friendly Businesses should look for a building that is certified by the Green Building Council, which is a non-profit institution that issues certifications to structures meeting standards for energy efficiency, water savings, indoor environmental quality and material selection. In 2000, the institution created an LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. A platinum LEED certificate, which is the highest rating, is awarded to buildings minimizing a dependence on energy by incorporating green principles in the structure, such as using recycled material in its construction or locating the building near mass transit. Although there are quite a few commercial office spaces that have attained a platinum LEED rating certification, those that do not have this rating can still achieve such a status by making certain modifications. Such modifications include setting personal computers to automatically shut down after being idle for 15 minutes which can save up to 70 percent of that machine's energy usage or by installing lights in a building with an automatic shut-off. Other ways to achieve a more green building is to replace older toilets with new ones that use less water with every flush, which otherwise consumes up to 4.8 billion gallons of water everyday nationwide. Any company wanting to move to a commercial office space with more green features should not worry about looking for such a space since more and more building owners are motivated to transform buildings to conform with more eco-friendly standards. Being more environmentally conscious may be initially more costly; however, it is ultimately rewarding to make such changes. Building owners find that leases are more readily signed; employers save money by cutting expenses, and employees become more productive and motivated to work by knowing they are contributing to energy conservation in their office space! C. Michael Hunter is an expert in commercial real estate and office space information. To find out more about Dallas Commercial Office Space, go to the main website at: http://www.lcrgusa.com/.
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