Published: The Daily Telegraph Date: 24 October 2010
Republished: The Daily Telegraph Date: 25 October 2010
Save Power Challenge... Ern Phang of Phang Legal at his Parramatta office.
Source: The Sunday Telegraph
Balancing practicality with efficiency is the mantra at Ern Phang's legal practice in Parramatta.
"We can't reduce what we need to consume to operate, but we can reduce wastage and find ways to do things more efficiently," he says.
Since taking part in the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (DECCW)'s Energy Efficiency for Small Business Program and The Daily Telegraph-DECCW Save Power Challenge, Ern has reduced his power consumption by 20 per cent.
"We can't turn the lights off and work in the dark, but what we can do is use more efficient bulbs," he says.
"We used to have the whole floor lit up, including the kitchen and storage areas – now they're off unless people go in there."
It's a team effort, as Ern has introduced a "daily huddle" with staff, giving them the chance to put forward their ideas on how the business can run more efficiently and effectively.
Other changes have included turning the office hot water system and computer monitors off at night and on weekends, and switching off printers which aren't regularly used.
Replacing his air-conditioner with a more efficient model, and putting timers and splitter switches on lights (which enable him to keep lights switched off in areas that aren't in use) were other keys to cutting consumption.
Ern first became concerned about climate change when he watched Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth but until he joined the Energy Efficiency for Small Business Program, wasn't sure how he could take action.
"I'll be saving some money, but it's more about the environment and being a thought-leader – showing people that we're interested in important issues, and one of them is the environment," he says.
"As a whole community we can make a difference."
Dale-Glass Industries
Up for the Save Power Challenge... Joe Glass of Dale Glass Industries in Dungog.
Source: The Daily Telegraph
Joe Glass of timber product manufacturing company, Dale-Glass Industries agrees with Ern, and says it makes him proud to know he's doing his bit for the environment.
Although he uses a range of large machines in his Silverwater factory, he was surprised when his DECCW energy assessor found that most of his energy usage was attributable to lighting.
"We had eight big 400 watt overhead lights on all day which were using around 40kWh per day – this compares to our big machines which use around 5kWh and are only used at the most for an hour a day," Joe says.
As a result of these findings, he had two rows of skylights installed in the factory, and aside from the huge power saving, they've also proven to be a brighter source of light. In the office, Joe has replaced 24 of his 50 watt bulbs with 11 watt power-saving bulbs. This is expected to cut $500 off his power bill each year.
Joe is now planning to carry out similar energy efficiency upgrades at his second factory in Dungog.