Make real savings on your business energy bills this spring

Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) aren't making the most of potential energy savings. That's according to recent research conducted by energy company E.ON. The findings also revealed that just one in ten employees in UK SMEs felt that responsibility for energy efficiency fell under their remit.

Further, more than half (51%) of company chief executives also admitted they never discussed energy saving with their staff. This lack of communication could be responsible for the fact that nearly two thirds (57%) of employees argued that they hadn’t been issued with clear company guidelines on energy efficiency.

Commenting on the findings, Iain Walker, head of Business Sales at E.ON, said

“I was quite surprised that the overall number of people taking personal responsibility for saving energy, and for passing on help to colleagues, is still relatively low.”

 He added

“I think responsibility for reducing waste should start at the top, with bosses and senior managers passing the message to all employees.”

The survey of 2,000 professionals at UK SMEs, conducted in 2014, follows earlier research by the energy giant which suggested that energy inefficiency could be costing businesses a staggering £7.7 billion a year.

So, how can you make real savings on your energy costs this spring?

Here are some practical ways you can start saving on your business energy costs now!

First and foremost, get your staff on board! Your workforce is key to helping you effectively implement energy and cost-saving strategies. Encourage your employees to work out an action plan for making your business more energy efficient. Appoint Energy Champions and give them the authority to assign their colleagues’ energy-saving responsibilities, such as ensuring all lights are switched off when people go home. Don’t forget to incentivise and reward them accordingly!

1.       Regular meter readings

Keep track of how much energy your business uses by taking regular meter readings. This will make it easier to see when improvements are working and how much your business is saving.

2.       Switch off the lights!

Did you know that office lights left on overnight use enough energy in a year to heat a home for 5 months? Switch them off at the end of the working day for a quick and effortless saving. 

3.       Low-energy light bulbs

Replace standard fluorescent tubes with slim-line tubes. Energy-saving bulbs use up to 80% less energy than standard bulbs and don’t need to be replaced as often. This will drive down maintenance as well as energy costs.

4.       Movement detectors

Use movement detectors to control lighting in toilets, meeting rooms and other areas that are not in constant use. Motion sensitive lights turn off automatically when rooms are not in use. Make the most of natural lighting in the summer months by opening window blinds in daylight hours.

5.       Draught proofing

Install draught proofing around windows and doors to reduce heating costs during colder winter months.

6.       Time switches and thermostats

Time switches will stop the unnecessary use of heating and lighting whilst thermostats will control temperatures. Turning down the thermostat by just one degree can result in large cost savings across the year.

7.       Electrical equipment

Ensure computers and photocopiers are switched off when not in use for long periods. Devices in standby mode can use up to 80% of the energy of a switched on device.

8.       Switch off computers overnight

Turning off a single monitor when not in use and on weekends could save your business up to £35 a year per unit on business electricity bills.

9.       Use air conditioning and heating wisely

Avoid using heating or air conditioning during mild spring or autumn days. Switch off heating when the temperature reaches 21°C. Air conditioning is not really needed until the temperature exceeds 23°C-24°C.

10.   Maximise efficiency of air conditioning

When the air conditioning and heating is needed, ensure their efficiency by keeping doors and windows closed. Switch off air conditioning overnight.

11.    Invest in micro-generation

A longer term investment, producing your own energy can help keep bills down and cut your business’ carbon footprint. Solar photovoltaic panels which need only daylight (not sunlight) to generate electricity work on buildings of all sizes.

12.   Only boil the water you need

We understand that everyone loves a tea break! But did you know that if we all only boiled the water we needed for a cup of tea, we’d save enough electricity a year to power the UK’s street lights for a month? Encourage colleagues to heat only the water they need.

13.   Update your technology

Old and out of date models of computers, fridges and even boilers tend to be far less energy efficient. Update to energy-efficient products where possible.

14.   Spread the word!

Remind and encourage colleagues of the energy-saving measures your business is implementing by putting up posters. The British Gas website offers a range of printable posters.

Implementing just some of these cost-cutting tips is sure to see your business’ energy costs plummet. Have a go and let us know how you get on!