This is a guest post brought to you by uSwitchforBusiness.
With the economy still showing no signs of a drastic recovery, businesses are looking at decreasing profit margins. In order to help balance the books, expenditure needs to fall accordingly. Business energy is one area that has been hit hard, and as such businesses are considering in more detail ways to decrease business energy usage as a whole.
Using a company such as uswitchforbusiness can be one of the first steps towards reducing your utility bill. Their job is to find you the cheapest deal possible from business energy providers by completing a search and comparison service and working out what is the best option for your company.
There are also more immediate actions you can take to reduce your energy usage. Lights consume a large proportion of electricity, so consider installing occupancy sensors in areas such as toilets, canteens or any area not constantly in use. These devices turn lights on and off automatically and can save a large proportion of electricity.
Encourage employees to turn off lights when they leave the room or building; it does not cost more to turn a light back on than to leave it on in the first place. In areas where it is suitable to do so use low energy bulbs and change to LED bulbs if possible, which use much less power. Remind staff that lights do not automatically need to be on; on a bright summer’s day adequate light may be provided from natural light sources.
At night when the premises are vacated, ensure all computers and electrical equipment are properly switched off and not left on standby. Unplug your appliances from their sockets as they will draw electricity even when in standby mode. It may be worth designating one person to check last thing at night, so use signs to encourage this practice around the office.
Heating and cooling is another significant energy expense for businesses. Try not to use air conditioning unless the weather conditions make it difficult for staff to efficiently complete their jobs. Check that all windows open and comply with health and safety checks instead. The added bonus is that is it more beneficial to the environment.
Do not be in a hurry to turn on the heating either, as many companies turn on the radiators on September 1st regardless of the weather. Use a programmable thermostat system and set it so the heating only kicks in when the ambient temperature reaches a certain level. Set the thermostat to one degree lower than last year. Use a timer to ensure the heating is only on during working hours or set it much lower overnight. If you have a strict dress code, consider relaxing it to allow staff to wear more practical warmer attire.
If you own the building, check that you are fully insulated, as grants may be available to help. There may also be funding available to install alternative methods of electricity generation, such as solar or wind power, so consult with your local council.
There are savings to be made on your business energy bills if you are prepared to make a few small sacrifices and work at it. Bringing your staff on board is equally crucial to your success, so ensure the situation is explained fully to them and give them the responsibility for helping the company and consequently the long term prosperity of all who work there.
This was a guest post brought to you by uSwitch for Business.
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