Conduct an energy audit at work

- Now it's time to tackle some more systemic sustainable shifts. Whew, say that three times fast, the ones that require a little more company buy-in to make. So if you're the big boss or just the boss of your own one person office, this chapter is for you. Or if you want to call your bosses over and force them to watch this, that also works. Most people in the United States hear the word "audit" and begin rummaging through old tax documents, sweating bullets. Well, this is not that kind of audit. You see, I'm talking about an energy audit because we can't know where your workplace can go if we don't know where you currently are. An energy audit looks at a variety of factors from the kinds of power you're supplied and electronics you use, to the amount and methods by which your workforce travels. Usually large companies will hire consultants or organizations to conduct a more formal and thorough energy audit, but if you're not in that position, the U.S. Department of Energy has a good guide for conducting a DIY audit of your home that you can adapt to your office assessment. Here are some areas to consider: Your energy provider and bill. Are your water and energy bills astronomical? Do you run appliances at peak day times? Do you know if your energy provider supplies from renewable sources? Infrastructurally, are there leaks? If there are desks in your office that have you feeling a polar vortex draft or you have a toilet that runs 24/7, the answer is probably yes. And there are simple low-cost fixes for this like draft blockers and caulk, and more expensive improvements like getting better windows. If you rent your space, talk with your property manager about potentially addressing these as they can lower everyone's costs and make folks generally more comfortable. Lighting, which we'll talk about in more detail in the next video, are you using energy efficient bulbs on timers or motion settings, or is your office like a disco tech blasting every light in the place when it's not really needed? Appliances and electronics. Every office has them, and usually they're idling most of the day draining energy, I'm looking at your copier. Or do you shut them off when they're not in use via power strips or plan to get more energy efficient electronics? Travel, this is a big one that's often overlooked. Does your workforce travel a good amount? If so, do they take non-stop economy flights or fancy first-class journeys? Are you investing in carbon offsets? Are there trips that are unnecessary that could be addressed with virtual meetings instead? Food, office catering can make a midday meeting more fun, but it often leads to a lot of food and material waste. Moreover, some companies have adopted meat-free workplaces and reimbursement policies due to the environmental toll of traditional animal agriculture. Are there areas where you can ensure you're wasting less food or opting for more sustainable choices? Waste reduction, does your office recycle and do so properly? Do you offer reusables in place of disposables? And when you order office supplies, are you looking for items secondhand or that can be reused like secondhand furnishings and refillable pens? Sustainability as a company priority. Perhaps less tangible, but has your company incorporated sustainability goals and stewardship into its annual plan via ESG or environmental social and governance targets? Do employees know that being more sustainable is a company priority, and do you train your workforce on this? Observing these areas can give you a good idea of your organization's carbon footprint and where you can improve. For instance, maybe you decide to explore new energy providers who use more renewable sources like wind and solar. Or perhaps you institute in-office composting to prevent food waste. The key here is not to be perfect especially if you're doing this yourself, but rather to find small areas where you can make changes. And incorporating these changes into your company's strategic plan or organizational goals, setting milestones for the year, and tracking your progress will keep you accountable and show your employees, stakeholders, and the public that you are serious about being a good steward of the planet, and that is always a good look.