6 Ways to Engage Your Employees in Energy Efficiency

There are many ways to reduce energy costs in your business. But it’s not all about efficient equipment upgrades or building controls. Creating a culture of efficiency among your employees helps deepen their investment in the business’s success. Plus, you might unearth some creative and cost-effective ideas simply by asking staff for their input. 

Whether you manage a manufacturing facility, office building, healthcare facility, or other business, you can encourage smart energy practices that reduce operating costs, inspire teamwork, and support long-term business goals.  Our energy experts explain how. 

Set Clear Goals

You can’t get to the finish line if you don’t know where it is. You might set monthly or annual targets for reducing energy consumption, lowering utility bills, or improving building performance metrics. (If you don’t already measure your business’s energy use, start with establishing a baseline.) Sharing your goals with employees gives everyone a common objective. You can also establish milestones along the way to maintain momentum. 

When you are setting your goals is a good time to consider an organization-wide energy policy. You might set standards for purchasing decisions, like buying the most efficient option when it's time to replace a piece of equipment. Considering energy efficiency at the beginning of a project can help save more money in the long run. 

Explain Why Energy Savings Matter 

Employees are more likely to participate when they understand the impact of their efforts.

Reducing operating costs can improve your business’s profitability. This helps retain jobs and keep your business viable. It also frees up money for deferred maintenance, equipment upgrades, or other projects that improve workflows and employee satisfaction. 

Reducing energy use also helps keep electricity rates lower for everyone in the community. So, employees could actually be helping keep their home utility costs manageable, too.

At Akro-Mils in Wadsworth, Ohio, energy efficiency is one of the first things new employees are trained on. Setting the expectation early helps create a culture of efficiency. 

Start With Simple Wins

To get some momentum, start with easy wins like turning the lights off when a space is not in use. Clear signage can help, especially in conference rooms, break rooms, and other common spaces. If your lights are already on a timer, include that in your signage so employees know that it’s happening.

The same goes for office equipment. Work with your IT department to ensure computers, monitors, and other devices are automatically powered down overnight. 

Create a Friendly Competition 

Who doesn’t love a little friendly competition? Organizations with multiple departments, shifts, or facilities can create energy-saving challenges that engage employees. Teams could compete to reduce daily electricity consumption, demonstrate the most consistent energy-saving habits, or come up with the most creative way to save energy. 

 Share the results of your competition in staff newsletters, break rooms, or staff meetings. It will help maintain excitement and keep these efforts visible.  

Recruit an Energy Team 

Some of the best ideas often come from your team. Your employees might notice things like equipment being left on unnecessarily or small process changes that could make a big difference. 

You could form a voluntary energy team of employees who want to help identify inefficiencies, brainstorm solutions, and test new ideas. 

Giving staff a way to share ideas and participate in the solutions helps build a shared sense of ownership over energy efficiency. Opening a suggestion box for employees to use throughout the year is an easy step. Even if you don’t implement every suggestion, acknowledging employee ideas can encourage continued participation. 

Report Out Regularly 

Employees want to know if they’re making progress. It’s important to maintain strong communication to keep staff engaged and motivated. Share monthly reports on energy savings, equipment upgrades in the pipeline, or results from any competition. Make sure you report out in clear and engaging ways. Charts, photos, and energy equivalencies can make efficiency results more meaningful for employees. You can also take time to celebrate with your team when you achieve your goals. 

Get Started

Efficiency Smart can help your business find the best ways to engage your employees in energy efficiency. Connect with your account manager, email [email protected], or call us at 877-889-3777.