How to save money by using resources efficiently

The top ten tips for saving money by using resources efficiently are:

1) Turn off all office equipment when you’re not using it – overnight, at weekends and during bank holidays.

A single computer and monitor left on 24 hours a day will cost over £50 a year. Switching it off out of hours and enabling standby features could reduce this to £15 a year each and prolong the lifespan of equipment. For a typical small office with 10 PCs, this could equate to savings of over £300 per year.

2) Turn off lights in empty rooms and replace bulbs with energy saving ones.

Lighting costs can be cut by as much as 15 per cent by simply turning off lights in rooms and corridors that aren’t being used.

3) Reduce water consumption by turning off taps fully and fixing any drips.

A constantly dripping tap can waste 500,000 litres of water per year. This could cost your business about £400 per year.

4) Examine waste disposal costs and consider partnering with a nearby business to recycle your waste. Look at whether your waste could be turned into another business’ raw materials.

Your business can save 4–5 per cent of its turnover by using waste minimisation techniques.

5) Keep heating at a constant level and ensure doors and windows are shut when using heating or air conditioning.

Your heating costs will go up by 8 per cent each time you increase the temperature by just one degree.

6) Ask your suppliers about take-back schemes for unused products.

You may be able to get your money back, or at least a portion of the cost.

7) Minimise the need for travel, and drive efficiently when travel is necessary.

A business with five company cars could save £5,300 per year through more efficient driving, leading to a reduction in fuel consumption and mileage repayment costs.

Real savings can be made on every vehicle used by reducing the load carried and good maintenance.

8) Invest in efficient equipment to help cut your energy, transport and water costs. Government support includes interest-free Energy Efficiency Loans and Enhanced Capital Allowances.

9) Use email where possible, set your PC to print double-sided and use refillable printer, fax and photocopier cartridges.

Your business can refill inkjet cartridges for about half the price of a new one.

10) Let your customers and suppliers know you’re committed to reducing your environmental impact, and promote it through your marketing.

More than a third of consumers would favour a product that has been designed with either low environmental impact, minimal packaging or recyclability in mind.

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