by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
For many people winter is traditionally a wonderful time of the year but last year’s memories of shovels, numb feet and blizzards may have you wanting to give this winter the cold shoulder!
Last winter’s freezing weather had a huge impact on UK business and as a result many people are dreading this season but there is no need to make the environment, or your energy bill, suffer.
I just don't like winter much as I work outside – in my day job – and when the temperatures are low that is not great fun. Then again I could not work indoors for too long.
By following our top tips for surviving the winter months you can make this the season to be jolly, rather than sorry, when your energy bill arrives.
When it comes to businesses, be this offices or whatever in way of buildings here a few tips:
1 – Use pre-set timers to warm up the building before staff arrive which will make it less likely that staff will turn the heating up to excessive levels when they begin work.
2 – It’s important to communicate with your staff and remind them not to tamper too much with the heating as they will acclimatise to it and often forget to turn it back down again. Even worse, the Caribbean temperatures located entirely in your office may have some of them reaching for the air conditioning while the heating remains on!
3 – Is it really cold in your building or could you quite literally be throwing your money out of the window? It may seem obvious but a lot of the time people leave windows open letting all the warm air out.
4 – Make as much use of the daylight hours as possible by keeping your curtains and blinds open and this will reduce the temptation to reach for the light-switch before it is necessary. Also remember to make sure the Christmas lights are turned off at night.
5 – Encourage your staff to wear extra layers of clothing in the winter months. It is a cost-effective way to keep staff comfortable while keeping your energy costs down.
If you follow these simple tips then hopefully your energy bill won’t give you frostbite when it arrives!
Let's face it! In days of old, before centrally heated offices and such clerks in offices wore jumpers and jackets, and, if need, fingerless gloves, a hat and a scarf.
While the gloves, hat and scarf may be a bit extreme in today's world a jumper, waistcoat or jacket in the office certainly is not.
There is no need to have the thermostat up to 28C and sit about in shirtsleeves with an open collar and such.
Some of the biggest culprits here are those in government offices, central and local, while telling the rest of us, businesses and households to keep temperatures down to around 20C and, if need be, wear layers.
One rule for them and another for the rest of us, as per usual.
Keep an eye on your energy consumption and have a merry Christmas and an energy efficient New Year!
© 2011
