Why it's important to monitor the energy effeciency of your business
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Going it alone in business can be expensive; most costs are rarely one-off expenditures and almost everything in your business will need updating eventually... One of the easiest costs to maintain is your energy supplies, so as well as registering for your energy bills, it's well worth monitoring your usage to help keep the costs down and start as you mean to go on. Recording the usage of your business gas and electricity can help save you a considerable amount.
The government are always looking at ways the energy performance of business premises can be improved, and businesses are advised to do the same.
If you're selling, building or letting premises, you must adhere to Building Regulations, which cover the conservation of power and fuel, as stated by the UK government. Plus, you will also need an Energy Performance Certificate, which will help with the efficiency of energy. Reducing the energy you use will not only save you money, it'll also help keep your carbon footprint in check. And everything from the way your building is heated to how it's built will affect the level of carbon emissions your premises omit.
You can find out how much energy your business wastes on a daily basis by taking regular meter readings and measuring consumption. It's worth taking into account how cold it's been when you come to compare the fuel used to heat your business premises. Simple changes can also be made to ensure you use less fuel, such as considering which equipment is not in use at the weekend and turning it off before you leave work on Friday.
Recording how much energy is used every 30 minutes is also worth considering. Alternatively, sandwich a plug-in meter between a power socket and the plug of an appliance to monitor usage.
An effective way to assess the energy use of your business, though, is to have a simple walk around the premises. Note down equipment and processes that are inefficient and make your energy and your money go further.
If you're unsure where to start when it comes to energy, it's worth shopping around online. British Gas Business, for instance, can make your life simpler by ensuring all your energy contacts are with one supplier.
And with an energy efficiency plan in place, you'll only pay for the energy you use. Energy360™ is a service which offers a suite of products which help you use less energy, increase efficiency and cut energy costs. On top of that, you can even find out how much money your business can save by completing an energy saver's report.
What's more, smart electricity and gas meters are being introduced to help businesses cut their bills. Giving live readings that show you instantly how much energy you're using, smart meters help you tailor your consumption in order to take advantage of cheaper rates when using energy in off-peak times. Maintenance and repair on things like your boiler can also be effectively dealt with; just take a look at your insurance options and ensure your premises are thoroughly protected.
Compare quotes on business dual fuel and get the best deal to reduce costs further. Take a look online today and see how you can cut the costs.
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