4 Business Energy Efficiency Tips to Save You Money

With the cost of gas and electricity at an all-time high, now more than ever businesses are looking to minimise their energy output. To make things easier, this post runs through four tips for business energy efficiency…

1. Check your heating

The biggest energy cost in a workplace is usually the heating. It can account for up to 40% of energy use in a commercial building.  So, what things should you look out for when trying to cut costs?

• When were heaters or boilers last serviced? – It is important to have your workplace heating systems serviced regularly by professional engineers. If neglected, it can waste a lot of heat through leaks or faults, resulting in costly repairs or having to replace the boiler altogether.
• Are hot water tanks, boilers and pipes insulated? – Having essential heating equipment insulated will save money in the long run. Insulation is an extremely effective way of retaining heat and stopping you from having to replace windows, pipes, radiators too early.
• Are windows open when the heating is on? – A pretty obvious one, this will allow heat to escape while the radiators are working. So essentially, the effort the heating system is putting in is a waste, as it’s heading straight out of the window.

2. Use timers and sensors

Many businesses use timer switches to make sure lighting and heating goes off after working hours. They are easy to install and effective in saving electricity. Use a calendar reminder to set your timers so you don’t have any concerns over whether lights are off.

Motion sensors are a low cost and effective way to improve business energy efficiency. Movement and daylight sensors are used for internal and external lighting, so lights are only on when you really need them.

3. Switch to LED Lighting

Using LED lighting has many advantages for business energy efficiency:

• They are much cheaper to use, providing the same light from a lot less energy.
• They last a lot longer than traditional bulbs.
• They can be connected to motion sensors.

If you need continuous lighting in certain areas, consider lighter colours in the room or using reflective paint to show your LED light off in the best light (pun intended).

4. Get an energy audit

Carrying out an energy audit will give you a much clearer idea of the areas you need improvement in. It will tell you if your business is living up to its eco potential and if you are cutting costs where you could be.

An effective audit pinpoints areas of waste and shows you how to move forward to reduce your energy consumption. Even better, you can kill two birds with one stone by auditing energy as part of your existing obligations. This includes both the Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) and Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR).

Save energy & money with Volta Compliance

If you want to improve business energy efficiency, Volta Compliance can help. Working with businesses throughout Yorkshire, we can provide a comprehensive audit as part of our ESOS services.

As well as advising on areas for improvement, we can assist with implementing changes, including high-quality LED lighting at your premises. To get started, simply call us on 0113 436 0402 or email [email protected].