Cost cutting goes hand in hand with energy efficiency; quite simply the more energy you save the more money you save, both at home and in the workplace. Even relatively small organisations can save a significant amount by implementing energy conservation practices and with more of a focus than ever on environmental issues your eco-friendly efforts could help to improve both public and employee relations.

Something you can do to save energy and money at home and in the office is simply to turn your refrigerator down a few notches. Refrigerators account for about 20% of household electricity use and waste electricity if not used properly.

The ideal refrigerator temperature is anywhere between 0-5 C so you can experiment to see what works for you. Many modern fridges come with an energy saving mode so use this if possible.

If you are lucky enough to have a dishwasher at work then try to ensure it is fully loaded before pushing the ‘on’ button. Again, there may well be an energy saving setting so use this if available. The drying cycle accounts for about 20% of your dishwasher's total electricity use so let those dishes air dry and do your bit for the environment.

When it comes to keeping warm in winter and cool in summer, some easy steps can help you along the way without wasting money or energy. Simply closing window blinds helps to conserve heat in the winter and keeps the building cooler in summer.

If you are trying to stay cool then keep all doors and windows closed in air-conditioned areas as otherwise the cooled air just escapes and energy is wasted.

When keeping the office warm make sure the area surrounding radiators is free of furniture, equipment and other office essentials as this simply blocks heat and leaves the room feeling cold. If it gets too stuffy in winter then turn the radiator down a few degrees before opening the window and letting all the hot air escape. Maintaining a temperature of around 19 degrees in the office should keep everyone happy, whatever the time of year.

When leaving the building at the end of each day make sure all computers are turned off and that all lights are switched off. A simple reminder to staff is usually all it takes to be sure all electrical items are switched off at the end of the working day.

Don’t forget there are certain things you can do externally to help as well. Landscaping around a building, and adding trees for example, can provide shade in the summer and protection against wind in the winter, lowering both heating and air conditioning costs and of course protecting the environment.

If employers work with their staff to implement energy efficient practices and waste reduction measures in the office or workplace then green businesses could be more commonplace and the cumulative amount of money and energy saved would be phenomenal.

Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.