5 Easy ways your business can lower post-lockdown energy bills
Now that we’re coming out of lockdown, your business will probably be ramping up its operation and consuming a lot more energy.
This means higher energy bills – an unwelcome but necessary by-product of running a business.
Thankfully, your energy bills needn’t be as big as you’re dreading, for there are several good ways you can lower your post-lockdown energy bills.
Here are 5 of them:
1. Switch to green energy
It might surprise you to learn that green energy can be cheaper than traditional energy, helping you save money and slash your carbon footprint at the same time.
We conducted research on business energy prices in April 2020 and found that renewable electricity worked out cheaper than traditional energy.
Comparing prices for green and traditional energy in April 2020, we discovered that a business consuming 20,000 kWh per year would pay £2,540 per annum for green electricity, and £2,612 per annum for traditional electricity.
2. Write an energy management policy
An energy management policy is different from environmental policy.
An environmental policy outlines a business' aims and principles in managing the environmental aspects of its operations. An energy management policy focuses on the use and saving of energy (electricity and gas) specifically.
Your energy-saving policy will follow a simple format:
A declaration of your commitment
Your short term goals (for example: switch to renewable energy, buy fuels that are cheap, use energy as efficiently as possible)
Your long-term goals (for example: reduce energy use by 10% by 2022, produce 15% of our own energy with solar panels).
3. Switch to LED light bulbs
If your business uses a lot of artificial lighting (retail stores, supermarkets, dentists, warehouses, offices, etc.) you will save between £100 and £200 a year on your energy bill if you switch to LED light bulbs in your premises.
Around 95% of the energy in an LED light bulb is converted into light energy, so unlike a normal bulb, hardly any electricity is wasted generating heat. This is why LED light bulbs are cool to the touch, while incandescent bulbs are warm.
4. Upgrade any old appliances
If you have any old appliances that are on the way out, commercial, or otherwise, it will be worth upgrading to newer more efficient units.
It is estimated that appliances made a decade ago are around 30% less efficient than appliances made today. Some can be as much as 70% less efficient (refrigerators, freezers and dishwashers are prime examples).
5. Improve your relationship with energy
What does having a good relationship with energy mean?
It means understanding how and why your business uses energy. With this insight, you can make positive changes to reduce the amount of energy you use.
Micro and small businesses should invest in smart meters to facilitate this. Smart meters are great for monitoring electricity and gas use.
Smart meters are also suitable for large, interconnected businesses. If you consume more than 100,000 kWh of electricity a year, you may be eligible for a Meter Reading (AMR) smart meter or a SMETS2 smart meter.
Smart meters are synced to your energy account, so you can monitor your energy use either on the smart meter or on your online dashboard.