How to reduce your business energy usage
If you're looking for ways to reduce your business energy usage and reduce your business energy costs, view our webchat: Want to improve your bottom line by greener practices? where experts from DEFRA discuss the huge amounts of money and valuable resources that could be saved by making a few simple changes to business practice.
How much money can be saved
It’s possible to cut your business electricity bills for heating and lighting by around 10% or more without any capital investment. According to the Carbon Trust it’s possible to achieve even higher savings with a little investment.
Why not set yourself a challenge and have a target to reduce your business energy bills by a specific amount each year? It will not only save you money on your business electricity bill but will also give you the satisfaction of knowing that your business is making a positive contribution to the environment with very little effort.
Save energy:Save money, and help save the planet
The Carbon Trust provides free Save Energy:Save money starter packs to help your business take some simple energy saving measures. The pack includes an energy saving fact sheet, with specific energy saving tips relevant to your business, and a poster and stickers to help motivate your staff to take simple energy saving measures. It also details the free products and services the Carbon Trust offers to help you make further savings.
Ways to make savings on your lighting bills
- Turn off lights in empty rooms and corridors
- Set an overnight lighting policy using minimal or, better still, no lighting
- Keep windows and skylights clean and clear so you can use natural daylight wherever possible
- Keep light fittings clean
- Use energy efficient bulbs
Ways to make savings on your heating bills
- Don’t overheat your place of work. 16°C is the minimum for office environments, less for areas where strenuous work is carried out, although 19°C may be more comfortable for office environments. It’s estimated that for every 1°C increase in temperature, your business energy costs rise by 8%.
- Don't heat work spaces that are not being used
- Don't block radiators with furniture as it reduces their efficiency and output
- Turn the heating off altogether when no one is around for a period of time such as public holidays or weekends
- Check the position of thermostats to ensure they are not located in draughts or near cold or hot spots as this may make the surrounding temperature fluctuate or give an inaccurate reading
- Keep windows closed in cold weather. If it’s too hot turn the heating down
- Draft proof windows and doors
- Ensure your heating system is regularly maintained or you could be adding as much as 10% to your business electricity bill
Other ways to make savings on your energy bills
- Pay attention to energy efficiency when choosing which make and model to buy or lease
- Switch off all non-essential equipment when not in use
- Make it company policy to sgut down and switch off all PCs overnight
Check your energy bills
- Check your energy consumption (electricity, gas and oil) figures regularly
- Check your energy bills relate to actual usage and not an estimate
- Shop around and be prepared to switch supplier if you can get a better deal elsewhere.
Reporting your energy or carbon emissions
If you're concerned about your energy or carbon emissions, or the impact your business has on the environment, you may find these links helpful:
Defra Small Business User Guide: Guidance on how to measure and report your greenhouse gas emissions (opens as a PDF)
How to calculate your organisation's Carbon Footprint
Once you've measured your footprint you can set targets for reduction. Small businesses don't currently need to report carbon emissions but there's nothing stopping you doing so. Reporting your emissions shows you are monitoring them and that, as an organisation, you're taking your corporate social responsibility obligations seriously. The Climate Change Act 2008 stipulates that the Government, via the Companies Act, must make reporting emissions mandatory by 6 April 2012, although it's not clear which size/type of business this will apply to.
For large users of energy the measuring and reporting of emissions will help get the necessary processes in place before the Carbon Trading Scheme comes into effect on 1 April 2010.
How to reduce your business energy usage
If you're looking for ways to reduce your business energy usage and reduce your business energy costs, view our webchat: Want to improve your bottom line by greener practices? where experts from DEFRA discuss the huge amounts of money and valuable resources that could be saved by making a few simple changes to business practice.
How much money can be saved
It’s possible to cut your business electricity bills for heating and lighting by around 10% or more without any capital investment. According to the Carbon Trust it’s possible to achieve even higher savings with a little investment.
Why not set yourself a challenge and have a target to reduce your business energy bills by a specific amount each year? It will not only save you money on your business electricity bill but will also give you the satisfaction of knowing that your business is making a positive contribution to the environment with very little effort.
Save energy:Save money, and help save the planet
The Carbon Trust provides free Save Energy:Save money starter packs to help your business take some simple energy saving measures. The pack includes an energy saving fact sheet, with specific energy saving tips relevant to your business, and a poster and stickers to help motivate your staff to take simple energy saving measures. It also details the free products and services the Carbon Trust offers to help you make further savings.
Ways to make savings on your lighting bills
- Turn off lights in empty rooms and corridors
- Set an overnight lighting policy using minimal or, better still, no lighting
- Keep windows and skylights clean and clear so you can use natural daylight wherever possible
- Keep light fittings clean
- Use energy efficient bulbs
Ways to make savings on your heating bills
- Don’t overheat your place of work. 16°C is the minimum for office environments, less for areas where strenuous work is carried out, although 19°C may be more comfortable for office environments. It’s estimated that for every 1°C increase in temperature, your business energy costs rise by 8%.
- Don't heat work spaces that are not being used
- Don't block radiators with furniture as it reduces their efficiency and output
- Turn the heating off altogether when no one is around for a period of time such as public holidays or weekends
- Check the position of thermostats to ensure they are not located in draughts or near cold or hot spots as this may make the surrounding temperature fluctuate or give an inaccurate reading
- Keep windows closed in cold weather. If it’s too hot turn the heating down
- Draft proof windows and doors
- Ensure your heating system is regularly maintained or you could be adding as much as 10% to your business electricity bill
Other ways to make savings on your energy bills
- Pay attention to energy efficiency when choosing which make and model to buy or lease
- Switch off all non-essential equipment when not in use
- Make it company policy to sgut down and switch off all PCs overnight
Check your energy bills
- Check your energy consumption (electricity, gas and oil) figures regularly
- Check your energy bills relate to actual usage and not an estimate
- Shop around and be prepared to switch supplier if you can get a better deal elsewhere.
Reporting your energy or carbon emissions
If you're concerned about your energy or carbon emissions, or the impact your business has on the environment, you may find these links helpful:
Defra Small Business User Guide: Guidance on how to measure and report your greenhouse gas emissions (opens as a PDF)
How to calculate your organisation's Carbon Footprint
Once you've measured your footprint you can set targets for reduction. Small businesses don't currently need to report carbon emissions but there's nothing stopping you doing so. Reporting your emissions shows you are monitoring them and that, as an organisation, you're taking your corporate social responsibility obligations seriously. The Climate Change Act 2008 stipulates that the Government, via the Companies Act, must make reporting emissions mandatory by 6 April 2012, although it's not clear which size/type of business this will apply to.
For large users of energy the measuring and reporting of emissions will help get the necessary processes in place before the Carbon Trading Scheme comes into effect on 1 April 2010.