If your office is like ours, you have the computers up and running all the time. For many people, a computer is the central tool at work. Most people dont realize that optimizing the energy settings for computers and other devices can be more than a modest energy saver. Set computers to energy-saving settings and make sure to shut them down when you leave for the day. Even “standby” settings will continue to draw power even when not in use.
At the A#1 Air offices (and at home), we have started plugging hardware into a power strip with an on/off switch (or a smart power strip), so the whole desktop setup can be turned off at once. If you do this, please learn from our mistakes and be sure to properly turn off the computer and printer(s). Sudden shutdowns can cause damage to your computer’s operating system, and some printers need to seal their cartridges when they power down.
Printers, scanners, and other peripherals that are only used occasionally can be unplugged until they’re needed. And of course, remember to turn off the lights! The power bill you save may be your own!
All the busy moms (and dads) I talk to seem to love having a product that takes care of more than one problem or need at a time. You know the products that can take care of one need while using it but also has a little time saving bonus and that really works like it’s advertised? A great example of this is the new “exercise shoe”. It’s a shoe that protects your feet while you walk from point ”a” to point “b”. This shoe is also designed to give your legs a workout while you walk around in them during the normal course of your day. For those of us that are too busy to exercise because we are running all over the place, the appeal of getting toned-up while we go grocery shopping, picking kids up from school, and running all the errands we always have is just too great to resist. If you can’t tell, I bought a pair this weekend and… Wow! Talk about “double duty”!
I cannot believe January 2010 is almost in the books! As February approaches, I wonder how many people are sticking with their New Year’s Resolutions. We did not make many “resolutions” as a company but we did set some really strong goals for the year. In these tough economic times, everyone in the service industry has to really step it up if they hope to hold onto customers or grow. I’m sure it’s the same in most industries, but since we are an air conditioning service and repair company, the service aspect of it is the area I see having the most impact.
Imagine leaving a window open all winter long — this would cause heat loss, cold drafts and wasted energy!
