According to the US Energy Department, changing the way you use electrical appliances and equipment, as well as how you use basic utilities (like water) will save you a significant amount of energy. For instance, utilising cold water settings will save you a significant amount of utility bills. Besides saving utility bills via Utility Bidder, upgrading to new equipment can help you save energy in your office.

Here is how to purchase energy-efficient equipment.

Right Size

Size is a fundamental component when purchasing smart appliances, especially HVAC. According to experts, smaller devices (which remain long for an extended time) are less efficient than their larger counterparts. On the other hand, very large appliances tend to cycle on-off often.

So, if your office measures around 2,000 to 2,500 sq feet, go for an HVAC system that can output 34,000BTU per hour. On the other hand, a dwelling measuring 1,220 and 2,000 sq feet should have a 24,000 BTU per hour HVAC. You can use the same principle to purchase other equipment like computers, photocopiers, shredders, etc. Liaise with an expert to get it right with the size of equipment you need.

Energy-Saving Settings

Equipment like computers have power management features. By configuring your settings, you can save $10 to $100 per computer annually in electricity costs.

Appliances like dishwashers heavily rely on energy-saving settings. A light wash setting is ideal for washing lightly dirty dishes clean. On the other hand, a full-powered cycle uses more energy to wash dirty dishes. That’s why they should have an eco-setting—which is an energy saver setting—to save energy as well as water.

Whether you are buying an appliance or a piece of equipment for the office, make it a habit to look or ask for its energy-saving settings..

It’s Not All About Cost

Don’t base your purchasing decision on the upfront cost. There is a hidden price tag. This is the estimated cost of operating your machine over a given period of time.  Thus, it’s prudent to consider these two price tags.

It’s important to note that energy-efficient equipment costs more than their standard counterparts. However, they come with lower energy consumption and requirements, allowing you to save more energy. Always go for equipment with an energy star.

Energy Guide Label

Another important factor you shouldn’t ignore is the Energy Guide Label. This is the mark contained in all Energy Star certified machines. These labels come in form of yellow stickers, which offers you efficiency statistics for that appliance. Here, you will get information like size, model, energy consumption, and even operating costs.

Design Matters

Take computers for example. There are desktop computers and laptop computers. Desktop computers consume more energy since they are permanently plugged to a power supply. Common desktops may peak around 175 watts. In contrast, laptops are more energy efficient. They consume 80 percent less electricity. They can peak at a maximum of 60 watts.  However, laptops have a lower potential and performance than their desktop counterparts. Processes make take longer to complete.

If performance is the issue, there are gaming laptops and desktops that are known for their high speed, huge memory, better graphics, and fast processing power. But as you should expect, these features consume more energy and end up costing you more money. Gaming desktops can require 450 to 1000 watts, while gaming laptops can be around 200 to 300 watts.

So before deciding whether you should get a desktop or a laptop, consider the nature of work of the one who will be using it.  List the pros and cons and weigh them. This principle also works on other equipment in general as well. Always ask yourself if you really need the special features, or will the basic ones suffice. Learn to stay within the budget too.