Electricity for businesses is expensive. Over $60 billion is spent by small businesses annually on energy, the majority of which is utilized as electricity. Additionally, there are frequently shifting market variables, such as inflation and energy crises, which can result in unforeseen increases.
This information confirms that reducing high energy expenses as much as possible is one of small business owners’ top goals. Fortunately, you can take effective steps to control the expense of business power in addition to the factors you might not be able to influence. Utility Bidder will let you discover some advice that will help your company pay less for electricity.
Conduct Energy Audit
You can’t start cutting your energy bills if you don’t know where you are currently losing money. An energy audit’s objective is to pinpoint the parts of your firm where energy use costs you money. Effective energy audits include measures you can take to lower your usage and deliver the information in a way that’s simple to understand.
Although it depends on the size of your structure, they normally only take 4 to 6 hours. Some commercial energy providers even offer free energy assessments as a part of their services. It could be worthwhile to see whether your present supplier has any available.
Determine Baseline Energy Consumption
Knowing how energy is used at work is crucial for coming up with a clear plan to cut back on energy use. It would help if you undertook an energy audit to determine your baseline energy usage. Electricity suppliers may provide free energy audits. They may assist you in conducting a professional audit at your place of business.
That will entail checking for air leaks, examining the insulation, and making suggestions on how to improve your company’s energy efficiency. Don’t be afraid to ask your electricity provider about an energy audit because they can assist you in managing your energy usage.
Never Leave Electrical Appliances on Standby
Leaving electrical equipment like printers on standby may be handy, but businesses’ costs are astronomical every year. Even in standby mode, almost all electrical equipment continues to use energy.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, imagine what this implies for your company, given that the average UK home wastes £86 a year by keeping equipment on standby. The best method to save money is to turn equipment off at the outlet. Assigning someone the duty of ensuring all electrical appliances are turned off at the end of the workday is an excellent solution in this situation.
Use Programmable Thermostat
One of the simplest methods to save your company’s energy bills is to use a programmable thermostat. Setting the temperature of your office according to the rules that you establish can make heating and cooling much simpler.
You can even do it remotely with some models. You may ensure that the heating is turned off when the office is unoccupied, such as on the weekends, by using a programmed thermostat.
The heat might even come on just before guests arrive and go off about an hour before they depart. If you want never to waste energy when you don’t need to, some smarter gadgets also let you set a suitable temperature at which the heating turns on.
It could be time to consider reviewing the controls if you currently have a programmable thermostat. You may save up to 10% on your heating costs if you could reduce the temperature at work by only one degree Celsius!
Managing Work Hours Based on Peak Demand
Managing your “work hours” to lower your peak demand is a straightforward but efficient strategy to cut your energy bills. The use of scheduled heavy equipment use and the implementation of staggered work hours can accomplish this.
So, the times of day when energy use is at its highest are peak demand. It would be preferable to plan intensive electricity consumption for late at night or early in the morning when energy demand is not yet at its highest.
Use Energy-Efficient Appliances
All electrical appliances in Europe are rated according to their efficiency, which is based on how much energy they consume each hour. Electrical equipment with low energy ratings could be spending a fortune on your company. We advise against replacing perfectly good electrical equipment immediately soon. But once their usefulness has passed, it’s worthwhile to swap them out for more effective models.
Although the initial investment in energy-efficient office equipment may be considerable, it will pay off in the long run. LED appliances have undergone evaluation and are assured to be energy-efficient. You can save money on operating expenses by choosing them over standard equipment, which will be shown in your energy bills.
Consider Your Surroundings
External factors may also impact your energy use. If your surroundings are within your control, you should consider integrating your commercial space with the energy-saving measures you are implementing.
Simple, well-planned changes to your landscape will enhance its visual value and lower your heating and cooling expenses. Consider growing trees, for instance, to offer shade during the summer or on hot days. To use lighting as little as possible, you can also use natural light when it is present.
Encourage Participation of Employees
Your staff should take part in and commit to the energy-efficient procedures you establish to maximize the results of your efforts. Please encourage them to emulate you by setting a positive example for them. Inform them of the value of energy efficiency and the reasons your company needs it. For people to follow your instructions without becoming lost, you must also make sure they are clear.
Compare Energy Providers
In the United Kingdom, comparing energy companies is a simple task. Even if they’ve been with their provider for some time, not all business owners will take the time to evaluate business energy rates and plans. Similarly, you can do the same if you live in the United States. You can check out choose power plan texas to learn more. This critical error may keep you from getting the best discounts for your company. Online resources and energy brokers can give you the necessary information without wasting your time
