Computers and office equipment are essential to your operations, but many of these devices draw power 24/7, even after hours when the building is empty and no one is using them. This phenomenon is known as vampire power. Don't let such energy waste drain your operating budget. Take action to stop vampire power before it creeps up on your energy bills.
Put it to sleep
Computers, printers and other electronic devices rarely get used all of the time, but when they are left running day and night, your business is wasting energy. Enable aggressive power management "sleep" settings on all office equipment. That way, these devices draw only a tiny amount of power when idle, but they are still ready to operate when needed.
Plug in smarter
Supplement power management settings with advanced power strips that use timers, occupancy sensors or load sensors to power off connected devices. Timers reduce energy use at night and on weekends. Occupancy sensors shut off power when no one is present. Some models cut power to selected devices that are in sleep or idle mode. Smart outlets or smart plugs are additional low-cost options. They automatically cut power to unused plugged-in devices.
Make a fresh start
If your office is inhabited by a lot of older or outdated computers and office equipment, upgrade to new ENERGY STAR®-certified models. They come with all the bells and whistles, such as power management settings, and use less energy than standard models. In fact, ENERGY STAR computers are up to 40% more energy efficient, while ENERGY STAR-certified imaging products are up to 35% more energy efficient.
Still cursed by energy waste?
If you're afraid to open your energy bill every month, hire a qualified professional to perform an energy audit of your business. After a careful inspection, you'll receive a targeted set of recommendations that will help shed light on ways you can improve the energy performance of your office space and your entire facility.