In a world where minimalism and sustainability are becoming critical, managing power disruptions without relying on excessive resources can be a challenge. While traditional solutions use gas generators for just about everything, businesses can adopt strategies that align with minimalism to ensure continuity without creating excessive waste.
Whether you run a warehouse, a manufacturing plant, or a basic office, the following will help you maintain operations during a power outage without resorting to wasteful practices.
- Have a solid contingency plan
First and foremost, being prepared for the unexpected is essential. You never know when the power will go out. Sometimes outages are caused by random accidents, but around 44% are caused by storms and other weather-related events. While you can’t predict the weather, having a plan means you’ll be prepared when storms are most likely to hit.
Create a clear power disruption response plan that outlines roles and responsibilities for employees. Make sure to designate leaders who will take responsibility for initiating the implementation in each department. Your contingency plan should include how you’ll communicate the situation to clients, customers, and stakeholders. It should also include the power company’s phone number so you can get frequent updates on the outage.
If your business is more than just an office, and you own your transformer, you also need a contingency plan in case it fails. Failed transformers lead to significant revenue loss, and the longer it takes to replace, the greater the loss. Given the current transformer shortage, replacing a transformer on the fly isn’t a likely possibility. That’s why you need a plan. For instance, your plan can be as simple as documenting the name and number of a reputable transformer manufacturer who can get you a temporary emergency unit.
Once you have a contingency plan in place, conduct periodic drills to ensure your team knows what to do if the power goes out for more than a reasonable amount of time.
- Make use of remote work solutions
It’s easier and cheaper to send your team home to work than it is to keep the office running with a generator. However, if you don’t already have a remote work plan in place, it can be confusing.
Prepare ahead of time with a plan for sending people home to work. For example, they may need to take their work computer home for the time being, and you’ll need to get everyone on board with using Slack for communicating. If you have any IP or device restricted security in place for accessing company accounts, those will need to be lifted.
Make a list of everything you’ll need to change or adjust to make remote work possible. That way, if the time comes, the transition will be smooth.
- Invest in UPS systems
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems are invaluable. Not to mention, they don’t use gas like a traditional generator. Installing UPS units on key systems, like your in-house servers, routers, and essential equipment, will ensure you have power for a short time after a disruption.
There are also networked UPS systems you can control with software that will allow you to shut down all of your connected systems safely from the interface. If you have numerous devices and pieces of equipment to manage, this would be a great solution.
UPS systems are battery-powered, so one charge won’t last forever. However, they will give you enough time to complete immediate tasks, transfer files, and shut machines down safely. All without using gas or oil resources.
- Equip every desk with a flashlight
If your team works out of an office, be sure to equip every desk with at least one flashlight. It sounds simple, but when the power goes out, anyone left in the dark will be thankful they can reach into a drawer and have light. They might need that flashlight for a long period of time while implementing their part of your company’s contingency plan.
Although cell phones come with a built-in flashlight, there’s no guarantee everyone will have their phone on them at the exact moment the power gets disrupted. The power might even go out when there’s only one person left in the office. Stocking flashlights is just a simple and affordable way to prepare employees for the possibility of a disruption.
Plan ahead to stay powered up
By adopting a minimalist and resource-conscious approach to managing power disruptions, you can ensure continuity without sacrificing sustainability. Leveraging remote work, investing in UPS systems, and having a comprehensive contingency plan will all contribute to your resiliency.