Energy Efficiency in a Business – driving staff engagement
One of the great challenges for any Business is communicating to Staff about energy consumption.
The good news is that both staff are likely to be receptive to the topic of Energy Saving or Climate Change (see Blog Employees Keen to Support) and willing to make a difference – the problem is making it clear to them how they are to get involved.
All you need is everyone to take a small action. Follow these tips below to get yourself on your way.
Step 1: Initially all organisations need to develop a compelling message. A compelling message is not a plan to simply save x% or £x – a number created by an isolated Finance Director or Senior figure. These are not motivational to your staff or managers. A compelling message is a uplifting aspiration, that is asking all members of the business to endorse and become inclusive. The message is Business specific and fits your culture and/or ethics. See our Tips part of the website for more information on this.
Step 2: Next you need to communicate frequently some simple actions for all to take. e.g. ‘This week we in ‘x’ business will make sure all idle Computer monitors are switched off’ . This communication should be repeated weekly with a new energy saving task. GAIA offers a FREE Booklet ‘44 Tips to Save Energy in the Workplace’. Simply copy the Tips relevant to your situation. You can request a FREE PDF copy here.
Lastly: You need to communicate what is happening in terms energy consumption saving to maintain the momentum and ensure success. To do this talk in kilowatts not carbon or £’s. The translate savings to a tangible business related measure e.g the business has saved ‘x’ Kilowatts which can equate to saving equivalent to ‘X units being made for free’.
Remember imagery is everything.
Show you staff the data, let them challenge the graphs and help you find the savings. Once they are on board you can secure saving for the longer term.
GAIA (article by George)
September 18th, 2009 at 8:25 am
How right you are about showing staff pictures and graphs. Long meetings were suddenly no longer needed once we started to post useage graphs. It almost became a competition between departments as to who had the lowest background levels.
Keep spreading the word Haydn.
Peter
October 15th, 2009 at 9:06 am
Visual items are by far the most effective tool when educating people regarding any subject especially when trying to re program someones mentality when coming to being more efficient with energy and general utilities, having an energy efficiency guru in each business is again very useful as they are delegated to constantly remind those around them!!!