Business is about saving money and making money, and there is no easier way to save money than to reduce your energy bills.
Energy prices are hitting hard right now and businesses across the nation are seeing their growth stunted and future threatened as more and more of their revenue is spent on keeping the lights on and the cogs turning.
We specialise in helping businesses find ways to manage their energy requirements in a sustainable way through the installation of renewable energy technologies and industry leading energy efficiency audits.
To help you start saving your business money today, we have put together a list of 10 no-cost ways to increase energy efficiency on your premises.
Educate your staff
It can be easy to keep your energy concerns to yourself and avoid involving your staff in your ongoing battle with energy bills.
This is only going to make matters worse, however, and your team could be a major part of the solution. Simple changes to daily practices such as turning off lights and machines when areas are not in use could have a significant impact on your overall energy use, but this is only possible if your employees are as committed to change as you are.
The best energy saving strategies involve the entire business so take the time to educate your staff on best energy saving practices and consider developing a training programme to get the information across.
Lower the heat
Dropping the temperature that your company premises is heated to by just one degree could cut your heating bill in winter by close to 10 per cent, and the chances are that no-one will notice or mind in the slightest.
Anything higher than 23 degrees Celsius is likely to decrease working productivity anyway, but whilst Mark Zuckerberg keeps the Facebook offices at a brisk 15 degrees, we recommend around the 19 degree Celsius mark for comfortable and affordable working conditions.
Increase thermal efficiency
As a business owner you will be well aware of the phrase spend money to make money. Well, in the case of installing measures that will help you keep heat in and cold air out during the winter, you are spending money to save money, and you could save a lot.
Installing insulation or upgrading to the latest double or triple glazed glass could save you thousands each year on heating bills and is a fantastic long term investment.
Install solar panels
Solar panels are some of the most efficient and affordable renewable energy technologies currently on the market and will protect you from having to spend a fortune purchasing all your electricity from the national grid.
Even better, they generate most of their energy during normal working hours, making them the perfect choice for business sites.
Switch off equipment at night
Did you know that leaving a single computer and monitor turned on 24 hours per day could cost you in excess of £50 each year? This might not sound a lot but when you factor in an entire office of computers, plus appliances such as photocopiers, fridges, and more, these costs soon add up.
Turn any appliance that can be turned off overnight off at the end of the working day and install standby features on any device that has the option.
Optimise your lighting
Lighting accounts for a significant amount of the average commercial property’s energy expenditure, and by making a few simple changes you could slash the amount you spend.
Keep all windows and skylights clean, maximising natural light and eliminating the need for artificial lighting during the summer months. Make sure that staff are educated to turn off lights when not in use and put signs up as reminders. Finally, install lights that can be isolated to certain parts of a room rather than having to illuminate a large area.
Have your equipment serviced
Equipment that is allowed to deteriorate is not only dangerous but will also lose much of its efficiency, costing you dearly. Have all your appliances regularly tested in accordance with the law and serviced when possible to maximise performance.
Consider remote working
If possible why not consider having some employees, or even the entire business operate remotely, at least a few days per week. Of course, this is not an option for many businesses, but many more have only been able to keep going over the last few months thanks to changes in working practices developed during the Covid-19 pandemic allowing them to operate without the cost of powering a physical premises.
Avoid non-essential screens
Consider whether any screens that are installed in your premises that are left on constantly are really necessary. Many businesses have audio-visual displays, showing in lobbies, social areas, and entranceways that might be a nice touch, but are rarely glanced at for more than a second. Removing these will have little impact on your daily activities but could make for a nice saving on your annual bills.
Arrange an energy efficiency audit
For a detailed examination of how your business specifically could improve its energy efficiency, become more sustainable, and save money on energy bills in a single stroke, arrange for an Energy Efficiency Audit today.
During your audit we will examine all aspects of your premises and business operations, discuss them with you, and deliver a detailed report with recommendations for improvements that could save you a huge amount of money if implemented.
