Some simple ways of reducing costs in the office:
Power, Light and Water
* Turn off computer monitors when on breaktime or not in use.
* Turn off aircon, electric fan and lighting during breaktime
* Reduce aircon settings 30 minutes before end of working day. Turn-off aircon 15 minutes before end of working hours.
* Inventory all faucets, toilet water tanks, flush, pipes and fix all leaks.
* Water plants in the morning or late afternoon once a day only, with emphasis on reduction of actual water usage. Remove dead leaves and debris from pots of plants or on the soil for optimum water absorption.
*All toilet (CR) lights must be turned off when not in use
*Inventory of all lighting fixtures and remove unnecessary or redundant lighting. Choose the most cost-efficient lamps and bulbs.
* Close all possible air leaks in offices like open aircon slots, wall holes, unsealed aircon frames, wall cracks, etc to maximize aircon efficiency and reduce inflow of hot air into offices
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Supplies
*Think twice before printing documents. If document or data can be kept in hard disk, no need to print and file.
*Set printing of interoffice memos, document drafts and nonessential communication at least resolution to save on ink.
*Use back pages of obsolete documents or scratch papers for printing nonsensitive, draft or interoffice communication. These obsolete documents can also be used as mini notes or note cubes.
*Inventory all miscellaneous items such as old printers, computers, magazines, tables, chairs, etc and auction or sell
* If there is an email system in the office, just email broadcast corporate announcements such as holidays, new instructions etc, rather than printing for all copy furnished individuals. You may set “Return Receipt” if necessary to document receipt of email memo.
*Rethink your business processes to allow applications and approvals of certain things like leave of absence, proposals etc, through email instead of printing documents and routing to signatories. Saves paper and time.
*Shred (double) used papers or sensitive documents that can not be reused, then use these as packing materials.
*Reuse recovered paper clips, fasteners, folders and envelopes (brown or even mail envelopes from bills, letters, etc)
*Reuse non-essential or old pages received from the mail (example: service proposals, product info/brochures, old company profiles etc) as memo cubes or for draft prints. Color brochures and papers that can not be reused for printing may be shredded as packing materials.
*Screen your incoming fax. Limit non-essential, non-business or unsolicited fax proposals for this and that sundry items and services (loans, card applications, etc). You may also ask that proposals are sent via email instead of fax to save on thermal paper.
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If you would like to share some more ideas, post your comments here. Thanks!
