With energy prices rising, reducing energy usage can save your business money, as well as helping cut carbon emissions. Some actions – like switching to heat pumps or solar power – require longer term planning and investment. But here are some quick wins which could help you cut energy costs in the short term.
1. Keep on top of maintenance
Regular maintenance and servicing can extend the lifespan of equipment as well as improving its efficiency – saving you money in the long term.
This goes for large-scale machinery through to the fridge in the staff kitchen (did you know that keeping the coils behind the fridge dust-free can make cooling more energy-efficient and save you money on your electricity bill?).
Keep a record of servicing dates and, when the time comes to invest in new equipment, make sure you choose wisely, as energy-efficient purchases will save you money in the long run (see tip number two).
2. Check the Energy Technology List before making a purchase
The Energy Technology List provides details of energy-saving products – from lighting to refrigeration equipment – for businesses and the public sector.
It’s updated monthly by the government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and currently includes around 10,000 products which could save money for your business.
See the Energy Technology List.
3. Choose laptops over desktops
With more people working from home, many businesses have invested in laptops instead of desktop computers. As well as giving staff flexibility, using laptops can help reduce your business’s energy consumption: the annual cost of running a laptop for eight hours per day can be more than £200 less than the equivalent cost for a desktop.
If you do have desktop computers, make sure they’re switched off when not in use – leaving them on overnight could be costing you around £35 a year for every desk.
4. Make your lighting more efficient
Replacing fluorescent lighting with LED lighting can lead to big savings.
For example, BEIS calculates that a 100 metre square shop which replaces its lighting with 25 18 watt LEDs could save £440 a year (see more on this example here).
You can also make savings by using motion sensors or timers, to make sure lights are only on when they’re needed, or simply by asking staff to make sure they turn out the lights when they leave a room and at the end of the day.
5. Regulate the temperature
Legally, you’re required to provide your employees with a workplace that’s a ‘reasonable’ temperature (usually a minimum of 16 degrees Celsius – find out more here), which can mean turning the heating up in winter or using fans or air conditioning when it’s hot.
Here are a few quick ways you can minimise your costs and make sure you’re not burning through money unnecessarily:
See more ways to reduce your business costs in our finance toolkit.
