7 Easy Ways to Reduce your Business Electricity Costs

Businesses of all sizes have lots of operating costs, some of these won’t be in your control, whilst others you can control to an extent. One way to cut costs is by becoming more energy efficient, there are a number of different ways you can do this to help you save money on commercial electricity.

One of the best ways to reduce your bills is by using a business electricity comparison site such as Utility Saving Expert. Here you can quickly compare leading energy suppliers to find the best rate for your business needs. Whether you’re a macro, small or medium sized business, you could be saving thousands of pounds every year. Here are some of our favourite tips you should be taking advantage of to increase your energy efficiency.

Carry out an audit of your business electricity usage

Depending on who’s carrying this out, an audit can sound like an alarming word. Luckily, an energy audit is one really useful way to understand how your business uses electricity. Many commercial energy suppliers will provide you with a consultation before arranging an audit. These audits will give you all the information you need to better understand your energy consumption through each different use. This will help you quickly identify where your focus should be when improving energy efficiency in the workplace. It’s useful to carry out an audit every 12 months to assess the situation and make any required changes.

Turn off your lights and equipment

Unless your lights and equipment need to be running 24/7, you should consider switching them off overnight or any other time when not in use. This can be as simple as asking the last person who leaves the office to turn the light switch off. Asking employees to shut down their computers at the end of each work day can also make a big impact. It doesn’t just apply to computers, monitors and printers. Even TVs, microwaves, coffee machines and anything else that’s plugged in draws power and should be switched off when not in use.

This will seem straightforward to most but all those devices that are left running are consuming power. If you’re a medium sized business or larger, this can quickly add up. You could even send an email reminder to staff to encourage this.

Natural sunlight can be very beneficial

Taking advantage of natural sunlight should always be your first thought before walking towards the light switch. Open the blinds and/or curtains and let the natural light shine through. Natural light can have a large impact on the office environment during the day. Not only will it help you cut electricity costs, but it’s also proven to have positive effects on people’s mental health and wellbeing. Another useful tip is to look for areas within your office that are overly lit and see if you’re able to reduce the number of lights here.

Install CFL or LED lighting

Installing energy efficient compact fluorescent light (CFL) or light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs can dramatically reduce your business’ electricity consumption. Replacing old lighting with these modern energy efficient options throughout the office will help you save a lot of money on your business electricity bill annually.

When you consider the fact that office lights will normally be on for at least 10 hours a day, replacing a 60-watt bulb with an 18-watt energy efficient bulb makes a big difference, especially when you multiply these savings by the number of lights you’ll be replacing. Not only will you save money, but energy efficient bulbs also have another notable benefit, they last much longer meaning you won’t have to replace them as often.

Office automation

Automating your office through motion detectors and dimmers can make life easier. This smart technology can sense when there is no one in the room and automatically turn off the lights after a com period of time. These sensors can be installed in hallways, boardrooms or other meeting spaces which aren’t being used constantly. Dimming controls can measure a room’s brightness and adjust the lighting accordingly.

Smart thermostats can be used to automatically adjust the office temperature. Depending on the time of year, heating or air conditioning can be activated 30 minutes before your office opens and automatically switch off 30 minutes after everyone has left the building.

Buy office equipment that is energy efficient

Anytime you buy electrical equipment for your office, look for the energy star rating. This will help you identify how energy efficient any electronic is. Avoid power hungry devices that do not have a standby feature.

Go green with renewable energy sources

Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind can help you lower your business electricity costs. Many business energy providers now offer competitive green tariffs. If you have the budget, why not consider investing in solar panel technology to generate your own power. You may even be eligible for a Government grant to help you reduce your overall carbon footprint. Many customers have responded positively towards businesses that are taking responsible steps towards a cleaner and more sustainable future.

We hope you’re able to implement as many of these ideas as possible to reduce your energy consumption. This will ultimately help you save money on business electricity and help fight climate change.