Business energy bills are a huge part of the outgoings of any business, costing thousands of pounds even for microbusinesses. On top of that, the demand for electricity alone increases by an average of 36% on winter days compared to summer. With this in mind, it’s important that businesses understand how to save energy throughout the colder months of the year. Beyond choosing the best business electricity supplier, there are plenty of energy saving tips that can be employed to reduce energy bills this winter. This blog will outline some of the most straightforward, intuitive ways, so you can enjoy the benefits of savings.   Lowering/programming the thermostat Reducing the temperature even by a couple of degrees can make a big difference to an energy bill. Wearing extra layers and warmer clothes has the potential to save you a significant amount on your bill. Alternatively, some thermostats can be programmed to adjust temperatures based on schedules and occupancy, to minimise heat wastage.   Encourage remote working If possible in the context of your business, winter is the best time to encourage remote working. By doing so, you can minimise the amount of energy used in the office throughout the season. The vast majority of global employees have a positive view of this practice, which means it can be an attractive option for them rather than having to journey through the cold to work.   Insulating your workplace Insulation is vital. While it might not be plausible to do full-blown structural insulation work, there are plenty of inexpensive DIY options that can make a difference when trying to retain heat and save energy. Some easy techniques include: Using a window film Installing heavier curtains and blinds then keeping them shut Foam and polystyrene insulation boards Placing draught excluders at the bottom of doors   These simple techniques can help you to stay under the average winter energy bill.   Audits & maintenance Making sure that all appliances are running properly is essential to ensuring your winter energy payment isn’t unnecessarily inflated. HVAC systems, taps and cooking equipment can all eat through energy when running even a little behind their best. Regularly check on appliances, clean them and book in/perform maintenance to ensure they’re all in their best possible form. Another easy thing to do is ensure that no unnecessary outlets are on when you’re out of the office.   Don’t let winter freeze you out Small businesses alike need to make efforts to save energy, otherwise they could bear the brunt of unrealistic costs. Beyond these tips, it’s also worth investing in energy-efficient technology and even applying for winter energy support if possible. Either way, the right techniques can keep your property in action, even in the coldest months. Check out our blog for more insights into energy consumption. Contact our friendly team for a quick quote to lower your business energy bills this Winter.

Understanding the average energy consumption of a small business is essential for effective budgeting and forecasting energy costs. By knowing these figures, small businesses can better manage their energy costs. While energy usage can vary based on the size and type of business, our latest blog delves into the specifics of energy consumption for small businesses, including electricity and gas usage. What is Considered a Small Business? In the UK, small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are defined as businesses with fewer than 250 employees and an annual turnover of less than £50 million. Specifically, a small business has fewer than 50 employees and a turnover of under £10 million, while a micro business employs fewer than 10 people and has a turnover of less than £2 million. On average, small businesses in the UK consume between 15,000 kWh and 30,000 kWh of gas annually, and between 15,000 kWh and 25,000 kWh of electricity annually.   Industry Variations in Energy Consumption The amount of energy consumed can significantly differ by industry. For example, businesses in manufacturing typically use more energy compared to those in other sectors. High energy-consuming industries also include construction and agriculture. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicates that the service sector—encompassing small businesses like retail stores and restaurants—experienced a 6% decrease in energy consumption from 2019 to 2020. This shift may reflect a growing awareness of zero-carbon energy and the environmental impact of fossil fuels. Many service-based small businesses have adopted measures to lower their energy usage, contributing to reduced annual consumption.   How to Monitor Your Business Energy Consumption If you’re concerned that your business energy usage exceeds the average for your sector, it may be time to consider installing a smart meter. Smart meters aren’t just for domestic homes! A smart meter allows you to monitor your energy usage effectively. It provides real-time data, enabling you to manage your consumption more efficiently. Additionally, all readings are automatically sent to your business energy supplier, eliminating the need for manual meter readings. This ensures more accurate billing and helps avoid overestimations. If you’re interested in learning more about smart meters, don’t hesitate to contact our team!   What to Do If Your Business Energy Consumption is Too High If you have a smart meter installed and notice that your energy consumption is higher than expected, consider the following tips to reduce usage: Inspect Your Equipment: Evaluate your business equipment and upgrade to more cost-effective equipment if necessary. Power Down: Turn off electrical equipment when not in use, including lighting and heating, which can significantly impact your energy bills. Regulate Temperature: Set a comfortable temperature on your thermostat and maintain it consistently. Promote Energy Awareness: Foster an energy-saving culture among your employees.    For other great tips on lowering your small business energy consumption, check out our blogs! Contact our friendly team for a quick quote to lower your business energy bills.

Integrating sustainable strategies into your business is something companies across the UK are placing greater emphasis on in recent years. The emphasis on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives is more pronounced than ever. For businesses, understanding the nexus of ESG and energy is vital for a variety of reasons. These include building trust amongst stakeholders and consumers, and the environmental benefits. In this blog post, we will be delving into the world of ESG and energy, by discussing ways your business can integrate sustainability and become more energy efficient in the process.   Understanding ESG ESG is a set of standards that measure your business’ impact on society and the planet. Below we will break down the three central components of ESG. Environmental – this refers to all factors that may have an impact on the environment. Most notably, energy use, waste, and pollution. Your EPC rating will be taken into account here. Social – This is where your company’s social impact will come into play. How you treat your employees and how you contribute to local communities will be taken into account when evaluating your business under ESG criteria. Governance – This refers to how a company is run, factors like the transparency of a company and how the business holds accountability are considered under governance.   Why ESG is important for businesses ESG principles have become fundamental criteria for assessing a business’ sustainability and overall success. ESG is not just about complying with regulations, businesses that have good ESG practices gain a competitive edge too. Due to consumer demand for transparency and socially conscious investors, ESG has become vital for companies across the UK. ESG can effectively enhance a company’s reputation, and increase the appeal for potential investors. Another reason highlighting the importance of ESG is that it can help identify opportunities for growth and innovation within a company. For example, having the tools to measure your companies energy performance can help your company become more sustainable with energy usage, which could boost your EPC rating.   How to integrate sustainability practices into your strategy The first step in making a sustainable change by integrating ESG into your strategy is by understanding where your company currently is with energy consumption. Conducting an energy audit will help you identify areas for improvement and where your company can improve efficiency and sustainability. An energy audit involves analysing energy usage, assessing equipment and evaluating operational practices. If you’re looking into integrating sustainable strategies into your business, why not start by exploring our 100% UK Wind Power? Please contact our team to learn more.

In the current UK business landscape, becoming sustainable is increasingly important. For many business owners, measuring energy performance is crucial for enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and meeting regulatory requirements. In this blog post, we will be discussing how to measure energy performance by breaking down the key metrics and indicators, so you have a clearer understanding of your business’ energy performance.   The importance of energy performance Before we delve into the key metrics, it’s important to understand how energy performance affects a business and how it is measured. Energy performance is simply a measure of how efficiently businesses use energy in the workplace. Your business building is measured on energy performance through an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating.   Understanding EPC ratings An EPC rating is a key measurement used to measure a business’ energy performance. EPC ratings are graded between A- G on overall performance. Grade A means your premise is very energy efficient, and a G rating indicates your premise is less efficient. An accredited energy assessor can provide you with your EPC rating. Having a higher rating is important as it reflects on your businesses sustainability image, and it can extend the building’s lifespan, boosting its value. If your workplace currently has a low EPC rating, there are ways to enhance energy performance to improve this.   Conducting an energy audit to review your energy performance A key way to review your energy performance is through an energy audit. This can give you key insights into your workplace energy performance and offer ways to improve your energy efficiency.   What does a business energy audit do? An energy audit assesses how your business uses energy and identifies areas for improvement to enhance efficiency and improve overall energy performance. An audit examines key metrics and measurables, below are some examples.   Key metrics and measurables Energy cost: Refers to the financial cost of energy for your premises. Carbon emissions: This assesses your businesses environmental impact, through tracking your energy waste. Energy consumption: Refers to measuring the overall amount of energy that your building uses. Energy intensity: This refers to the amount of energy used per unit of production. An energy audit helps to track these key metrics, and suggests areas of improvement to improve your overall energy efficiency. By implementing the suggestions from your audit, you can help your business become more sustainable and energy efficient.   Business smart meters A business smart meter allows you to track your energy usage, allowing you to see exactly how you’re using your energy and provides insight into how changes could be made. Smart meters allow you to have greater control over your businesses energy usage, providing key information into spending and usage. For more information about smart meters and would like to register one, please contact our team.