Best Practice Guide

Commercial Office Buildings

Introduction

Planning an Energy Program

Funding and Approval

Lighting

Building Envelope

Central HVAC System

Distributed Generation

Demand Response

Commissioning

Procurement Policy

Office Equipment and Appliances

Water Use

Education

Energy Efficiency in Telecommuting

Resources and Appendices

Lessons Learned


Adobe Systems Incorporated and Cushman & Wakefield

Arden Realty and next>edge

Cypress Semiconductor

Equity Office Properties

Glenborough Realty Trust

Natural Resources Defense Council

Qualcomm

Swinerton, Inc.

Transwestern Commercial Services


View the Glossary

Procurement Policy

Office Equipment and Appliances

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Office equipment accounts for 26 percent of electricity used in office buildings - more than the entire lighting system (22 percent) and almost as much as the chilled water subsystem (28 percent). Yet this is the easiest area in which to achieve energy efficiency savings - simply retire outdated or malfunctioning equipment and replace with ENERGY STAR-qualified models.

Work with in-house procurement staff to develop company guidelines for purchasing ENERGY STAR-labeled equipment and appliances. Labeling and information are available for computers, copiers, power adapters, fax machines, laptops, monitors, multifunction devices, printers, scanners, and water coolers as well as appliances like dehumidifiers, refrigerators, freezers, and room air conditioning units.

Inefficient office equipment typically is coupled with inefficient power supplies, also referred to as power adaptors. ENERGY STAR estimates that there are 1.5 billion power supplies in the United States, or about five for every one person. Unfortunately, these power supplies waste roughly 30 to 50 percent of the 207 billion kilowatt-hours of energy passing through to electronic equipment. In other words, the printer in your office could waste half the electricity paid to operate it, just like the telephone, the computer, the coffee pot, and so on.

To minimize this energy waste, check around the office for ways to reduce the total number of power supplies. Consider purchasing a multifunction device, for example, rather than separate scanner, printer, and fax to reduce the total number of adapters. Use surge protectors for all plugs, turning off the surge protector when the office is unoccupied. ENERGY STAR is developing a rating system to address power supplies, which should soon be available and will help in purchases of new equipment.

No-Cost Energy Saving Tips

No-Cost Energy Saving Tips


  • Set computers and monitors to "sleep" when inactive for more than a few minutes.
  • Turn off office equipment at night, over the weekend, and during holidays.
  • Make duplexing (double-side printing) the default mode for copiers and printers.
  • Plug equipment into surge protectors, then turn these off when not in use.

Business Examples

Equity Office Properties uses information from its energy management system as well as the extensive expertise of its corporate engineers to analyze energy saving opportunities at its properties. As one of the nation's largest owners of commercial buildings, Equity Office can leverage its size and scope to obtain preferred pricing of energy-efficient equipment, making energy projects even more cost-effective.

Qualcomm, Incorporated, has a companywide procurement policy that reflects its commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. Proposed purchases must be evaluated for total cost of ownership, including energy. Products must also have a complete and extensive engineering assessment for energy impacts in the building, data center, and central plant. A preference is given for ENERGY STAR products.

Cushman & Wakefield installed an estimated 1,750 Watt-stopper surge protectors with motion sensors throughout Adobe Towers, the corporate headquarters of Adobe Systems Incorporated in San Jose. This energy efficiency measure resulted in annual energy costs savings of $21,000.


Resources

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ENERGY STAR, Information on External Power Adapters information.

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, ENERGY STAR Product Guides.

Flex Your Power Product Guides.