How employers save costs during the energy crisis

Not only runny noses and fir trees come along with the cold winter temperatures, but also - and this year in particular - companies are experiencing a rapid increase in costs. It is not at all unusual for additional costs to arise from increased heating. However, the overall political situation this year is creating a tangible energy crisis. We would like to explain what employers need to be prepared for and which levers should be pulled now.

List of content:

• Short & crisp: this is how the energy crisis occurred

• This is what we have to be prepared for

• What actions employers can take now

• How desk.ly reduces energy consumption

Short & crisp: this is how the energy crisis occurred

Heating costs have been rising gradually for a few years now. The causes can be traced back to the Corona pandemic, however the pandemic is only one of many reasons: When the world economy generally recovered after the first pandemic period, the demand for energy rose rapidly. Individual events that led to rising demand can also be traced back to climate change. For example, a drought in Brazil and a hot summer in China led to more demand. While the EU is trying to contain the consequences of the climate catastrophe with environmentally friendly actions, it is also influencing the prices of fossil fuels. However, fossil fuels are still the most important source of energy for heating.

As if all that weren't enough, the Russian war in Ukraine has added momentum to the energy crisis: the German government is trying to make Germany independent of Russian gas. In the process, new suppliers are being considered and contracts concluded. In the meantime, however, Russian gas supplies are being reduced, in some cases stopped altogether. The uncertainties and supply bottlenecks have resulted in a further drastic increase.

This is what we have to be be prepared for

By 31st March 2023, EU member states are required to save 15% of their own gas consumption. The target set by Federal Energy Minister Robert Habeck for Germany is actually 20%.
In view of the well-known rising costs, saving energy is a very sensible action. However, the heating must not be turned off, because employers must of course provide their employees with a room temperature that is "healthy". Basically, it is also not sensible for the working atmosphere to cool down the office too much, because a productive working environment is needed even in times of energy crisis.

Meanwhile, the political efforts to achieve independence from Russian gas are beginning to bear fruit: at the border between France and Germany, French natural gas has been flowing into Germany at Obergailbach-Medelsheim since mid-October.
Also, in the north of the republic, LNG terminals are being built to supply Germany from liquefied natural gas tankers. The first deliveries should take place here at the beginning of 2023.

Until then, however, many German companies face a major challenge: How do we get through the winter as good as possible?
Solutions for this are needed and available now.

What actions employers can take now

Heating and electricity costs have to be reduced somehow. For employers, this means saving energy wherever possible.
But where do you start? How about with the electric in the office: a lot of power can be saved just by using modern technology.
Let's also have a look at the ceiling. Especially with light bulbs, there is a big difference between old technology and new LEDs.

In all the hustle and bustle, the employees should not be forgotten. All cost-cutting measures & actions are only of use if they do not hinder the work of the individual teams. It is therefore important for employers to ask themselves how they can help their own employees in winter.

The two goals - lower energy costs and satisfied colleagues - sound contradictory at first. How are my employees supposed to be happy in a cold office? Where can I save costs if I don't want to harm my employees? We say: both goals can be combined!
Through hybrid working models, employers enable their employees to work flexibly. At the same time, the average office occupancy decreases without decreasing productivity.

Many companies manage hybrid work effortlessly with desk.ly.
Do you have any questions? We will be happy to answer them in a free expert discussion.

How desk.ly reduces the energy consumption

Even if less people work in the office, the areas still need to be heated. So what is the point of sending half of the employees to the home office without saving costs on site?

Energy costs are not reduced by less people, but by less space. Half as many employees on site only means lower costs if only half as little space is occupied. This has to be coordinated. Wouldn't it be ideal if employees could book an office place on their own and coordinate within their teams? That's exactly what desk.ly provides.

With our desk sharing software, every employee can take the organisation of their work into their own hands. Employees decide for themselves when they work from where - when they meet in the office and when they work in the home office.
The office space plan can be easily added to desk.ly. If you want to save costs, you simply mark the selected space as not bookable. This room is no longer in use and the heating can be switched off.

In this way, saving energy does not mean any additional expense for employers. 
At the same time, it opens up new opportunities for the entire workforce to take their organisation into their own hands. This autonomy then even ensures increased productivity in the energy crisis - and lower costs.