The need to be more energy efficient has now become as important as ever in the work place. With rising energy bills and increasing pressure on firms to become more energy efficient businesses now need to find innovative and basic ways to squeeze every penny. It seems that energy efficiency has become a priority for a lot of companies trying to survive in a tough and turbulent economic climate. Businesses are looking for the best deals and tariffs available to release potential cash flow, but what else can be done to save energy? Provided below are five top tips.
1. Energy audit
The first step is accepting that change maybe necessary, knowing where to make the changes is quite another. To be as efficient as possible consider investing in an energy audit to identify areas for improvement. An energy audit can also be useful for making a before and after comparison of changes, giving you the information you need to take a close look at your businesses activities.
2. Meter Options
If you don’t didn’t know smart meters monitor all aspects of electricity usage. This can provide your business with invaluable data on energy consumption, including details of all individual items of equipment, the smart meter is able to identify areas in which energy savings can be made. In some cases business have been able to save money my increasing or decreasing shift hours, for example letting people start early in summer and later in winter.
It maybe that some appliances in your business are using a lot or an unnecessary amount of energy, by replacing these items you may be able to save money on your energy bill in the long run. It’s advised to start looking at appliances in your staff kitchen, the smart meter enables companies to make informed decisions as to how they use business energy.
3. Educate workers
Every member of staff should be aware of the financial implications of energy usage on the businesses finances. By educating the staff on wastage issues you will find employees much more motivated to activity be energy efficient. Employers must instigate change by educating and instructing the team. By implementing such procedures such as turning off monitors at night and clothing windows at night, you may find that your bills are reduced next month. Consider purchasing warm uniform that can allow employees to be comfortable and not need the use of heaters around the office.
4. Lighting
Commercial lighting can become a wasted in abundance. Some offices are lit throughout the night and day, regardless of the shifts and usage. Researchers have found that open place offices tend to be the worst offenders, keeping entire floors lit when only a corner of the office is in operation. Lights should always be turned off when not in use, the cheapest and most effective solution is to install energy efficient tube or spot lighting with motion sensor controls. These ensure that lights are only every switched on when people are present in a room.
5. Turn down the heating
It may sound simple but many businesses forget, turning down heating can make a huge difference. Research claims that turning down the thermostat by just one degree can save up to 8 per cent on heating bills. This could be a large percentage of cash saved if you ensure all employee clothes window and turn the heating down.