Your energy profile is your energy consumption pattern based on half hourly meter readings. In many businesses the profile resembles a top hat, with the highest consumption from late morning to mid afternoon. Your organisation's profile may be completely different, but it doesn't matter as long as you know what it looks like. By understanding your profile, in a couple of days you'll be noticing when and where unusual consumption occurs.

Example of an energy profile for a typical manufacturer.

If you don't know how or can't do this, contact us for help.

You're reading this because you want to get into action about energy conservation. Don't wait for 'top management' to do something, get some like minded people together and start a movement in your organisation. Energy conservation is about being different, being outstanding, being bold and yes, being courageous in the face of cynicism.

Successful energy conservation projects start with a compelling message. It has to be more than just 'saving money' or 'reducing carbon' which will have little appeal and make everyone feel guilty. Consider something aspirational like a commitment to ISO 14001 or a Green Policy commitment to your customers. Think of other successful campaigns and copy them.

Your challenge is to engage and empower your colleagues in energy consumption. The good news is that they really want to change, the bad news is that they fear they won't sustain it. The help that change you'll need persuade them that energy conservation is one of your organisation's Key Performance Indicators (KPI). Having conservation KPI's will not only sustain their focus but also reward them with improved profits.

No-one is pretending that changing behaviours in others is simple. If it was, companies like GAIA Active would not exist. It may not be simple, but it is completely do-able, and here's how you start; identify the 'connected' people in your business? Don't assume that it's the senior managers. Often corporate initiatives are viewed with cynicism. Conspire to get good communicators such as receptionists, PA's, section heads, team leaders, sales and marketing people as your ambassadors.

Once you have the team, get together and list out the areas and actions where you believe you can make the biggest savings fastest - the premier division. Then list out the first division - the areas and actions where you believe you can still make savings but they will have neither as large nor rapid impact. Allocate the team members to communicate the areas and actions to their retrospective audiences. To give you a running start, ask for a FREE Energy Healthcheck in which we can give you some ideas that have already been implemented by existing GAIA customers.

Many small behaviour changes and actions of your colleagues, will very quickly amass to create the savings you targeted. To acknowledge their contributions, your action plan should include a clear and frequent communication strategy. We recommend displaying on notice boards, weekly consumption graphs against KPI's.

If you don't have the means to do this, then contact us for help.

Only energy industry and climate change bores think that talking about C02, M3, F3, KVA is cool. When you're discussing energy conservation, keep language and targets simple.

If you want some ideas on how to do this, contact us.

We provide a range of free resources for you to learn about energy conservation in the workplace, so take advantage of us!

• Subscribe to our free Energy Saving Newsletter where we provide frequent tips on energy saving.
• Request a FREE Assessment of your organisation's energy saving potential. It is normally free and without obligation.

Think of your energy conservation as "The Third Energy Source" after fossil and renewable fuels. This energy source is also an excellent long term contributor to your business, because;

• Each £1 you save will put £1 into your profits - every year.
• Top quality people are motivated to work for environmentally responsible organisations.
• Your customers will be proud to be associated with an environmentally responsible organisation.
• Prospects and suppliers want to do business with an environmentally responsible organisation.

DON'T HESITATE BE THE ONE WHO IS GAIA ACTIVE IN YOUR ORGANISATION NOW!