There are plenty of ways that small businesses in the UK can save energy and cut back on their outgoing bills. Here is a rundown of some of the best energy saving ideas to implement:
Switch to energy saving light bulbs
Using greener bulbs will cut energy usage and save money – they use up to as much as 80 percent less energy and they do not need to be replaced as often either, so you could keep your bills right down.
Install motion sensitive lighting
It is easy to leave lights on where you do not need them. Motion sensitive lights will turn off automatically when rooms are not in use by staff. Make the most of natural lighting this summer by opening window blinds in daylight hours to cut back on business energy costs.
Do not switch on air conditioning too early
You may not need heating or air conditioning during mild days. Switch off heating when the temperature reaches 21 degrees Celsius. Air conditioning is not really needed until the temperature exceeds 23 to 24 degrees Celsius.
Maximise efficiency of air conditioning
If you do need air conditioning on, help it stay efficient by keeping doors & windows shut whilst ever it is on. Usually, you can also switch air conditioning off overnight.
Invest in microgeneration
Producing your own energy can help to keep bills down and also cut your business’s carbon footprint. Solar photovoltaic panels – which need only daylight to generate electricity – work on all buildings.
Switch off computers overnight
Turning off a single computer monitor when it is not in use and over the weekends could save your business as much as £35 a year on business electricity bills.
Only boil the water you need
Everyone loves to take a tea / coffee break, but be careful how much water your staff are heating up. If we all only boiled the water we needed for a cup of tea, we would save enough electricity to power the UK’s street lights for a whole month.
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Old and out of date models of computers, fridges and even boilers tend to be far less energy efficient.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 wherever possible to become much more efficient and see energy bills drop.
Put up energy saving posters
To remind employees of the energy saving measures that are in place, put up posters around your premises in order to prompt them about it. British Gas has a printable range of these available to download on their website.
Conduct an energy audit
Take regular meter readings around your business premises to keep track of your energy usage. That way you will know exactly what processes use the most energy and you will be able to identify areas where cost savings could be made. Further savings can be made by ensuring your business is on the correct energy tariff. The best place to get information about this is on the Utility Bidder website.
