The Carbon Trust estimates businesses could cut their heating, lighting and power bills by 10% or more. This would be without capital investment. With a little investment savings of around 20% could be made.
Keep business energy costs to a minimum. Follow these few simple guidelines:
Lighting
- 'Off' should be the default switch position in empty rooms and corridors.
- Use minimal lighting overnight - this can save up to 15% of lighting bill.
- The 'off' switch applies to computers and other office equipment such as photocopiers. Turn them off at power source when not using them.
- Keep windows/skylights clean and clear. Use natural daylight wherever possible.
- Keep light fittings clean.
- Use compact fluorescent lamps, which last eight times longer than tungsten bulbs and use a quarter of the energy.
Heating
- Don't overheat workspaces. 16°C is the minimum for office environments, less for areas where strenuous work is carried out. Around 19°C is the most comfortable working temperature for sedentary office workers but remember that for every 1°C increase in temperature, costs rise by 8 to 10%.
- Keep windows closed in cold weather. If too hot, turn the heating down.
- Keep windows and doors open in hot weather.
- Fit solar film onto windows to reduce the heat from direct sunlight.
- Check thermostat position to see they are not located in draughts, near cold or hot spots.
- Don't block radiators with furniture - it reduces efficiency and output.
- Don't heat unused space.
- Turn the thermostat down, or better still turn it off during non-working periods such as public holidays and weekends.
- If you have air conditioning, only use it on days where temperatures are 25°C or over.
- Avoiding air-conditioning could reduce your energy spend by half.
Office equipment
- Choose high energy efficiency rating for any appliances needed.
Cost management
- Check your energy consumption (electricity, gas and oil,) figures regularly.
- Give the business a set target to reduce energy consumption by a specific percentage each year.
- Check your bills relate to actual usage and not an estimate.
BizzEnergy The largest independent supplier of electricity to businesses in Great Britian. BizzEnergy has a strong environmental focus with a number of products using renewable energy sources specifically tailored for small businesses.
