Energy Awareness Month: Get the Word Out
October is Energy Awareness Month, a nationwide effort to highlight the importance of conserving this precious resource and promote smart choices regarding energy use. Now is the perfect to start an energy awareness campaign. It can help reduce your energy costs and enhance your sustainability profile. Here's how to get the word out about energy in your organization.
Building energy use statistics to keep in mind
These eye-popping energy use statistics can help demonstrate the importance of better-managing energy consumption.
- Buildings are responsible for 40% of total energy use in the United States.
- U.S. commercial buildings spend more than $140 billion annually on energy use.
- On average, about 30% of the energy used in commercial buildings is wasted.
Benefits of energy awareness
Energy awareness campaigns are proven to help reduce energy use and save money. Additional benefits include:
- Increased productivity.
- Improved indoor air quality.
- Better working conditions.
- Lower greenhouse gas emissions.
- Enhanced corporate image.
How to develop an energy awareness campaign
Start realizing the benefits of energy awareness by implementing a campaign in your organization. Follow these steps to develop a successful program.
- Establish specific energy-saving goals and educate employees about the importance of conserving energy. Conduct surveys before and after training to measure the increase in awareness.
- Create an energy team. Include a motivated leader and representatives from each department. Commitment from senior management and all employees is critical. Designate someone from each department as an energy champion to communicate initiatives.
- Develop your communication plan, which helps motivate staff to change their behavior by explaining the benefits of energy efficiency and sustainability. Define both the audience and message, as well as how you present and deliver the message. Take advantage of existing lines of communication.
- Implement an energy awareness program, which can include competitions between departments, contests for the best energy-saving ideas and facility tours of energy efficiency upgrades.
- Monitor the program to ensure you're meeting your goals. Seek staff input on the program and adjust as needed. Keep employees informed about progress and other organizational conservation initiatives.
- Recognize and reward those who have contributed to achieving your goals. Celebrate the success of your program with an annual event and publicize to the outside world the improvements you've made.
A successful energy awareness campaign must be ongoing. Review and modify your program as needed and maintain it as time goes on. Start spreading the word about energy conservation today and reap the benefits.
There are hundreds of ways you can save energy at work every day. Check out ElectricIdeas.com/WorkTips for video resources, tips and calculators or easy ways to cut your energy costs and pick a few to work into your routine.
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