Overview

The UK’s annual energy spend is £23,645 million and most businesses could save 10% off their energy bills through no or relatively low-cost measures. Energy efficiency in the workplace cuts costs, improves competitiveness, and helps safeguard profits and employment. It also enhances an organisation’s reputation by reducing carbon emissions, which helps to combat climate change. A first step is to raise awareness amongst all staff of energy use and its implications. 

This guide provides ideas and resources to motivate everybody to save energy and to help engage staff in making the workplace more energy efficient. This will ensure long-term benefits for people, the organisation, and the environment.

How to use this guide

This guide is for whoever in the organisation has responsibility for managing energy, together with those who have supporting roles, including internal training and communications staff.

You should also read the Carbon Trust guides: An introduction to energy management (CTV045) and the more in-depth Energy management guide (CTG054) to learn how to implement the wider aspects of energy management across your organisation.

Larger organisations may wish to use a variety of measures from the guide. These could be integrated into employee engagement and training activities for health and safety, operational practices, and new employee induction, for example. Smaller organisations may prefer to undertake a few activities at a time, such as staff briefings and email campaigns.

The best way to create your energy awareness programme depends on your own circumstances. Some companies are more advanced than others, and some people are less energy aware than their colleagues. Think how the information in this guide relates to your own organisation and tailor your energy awareness programme accordingly. 

There are four essential steps to making energy awareness part of your organisation:

• Good planning – so you can realistically achieve your goals
• Effective implementation – choosing the correct time and assigning roles and responsibilities
• Checking the effectiveness of the programme and reviewing awareness throughout your company – allowing room for feedback
• Maintaining the right level of commitment.