Care homes are some of the biggest energy consumers within the service industry. Providing round the clock care and residential assistance to live-in residents. The facilities required to run a care home must be in use at all times, making it difficult for management and staff to cut down on energy consumption and reduce their energy bills. However, despite the great need for several electrical appliances and equipment, there are ways that care facilities and residential homes can save energy. In this blog we will offer some energy-saving advice that are easily applied into the everyday running of a care home in order to improve energy efficiency.   Why it is important to save energy in the care homes The care sector is one that is often left under-funded by the government and will regularly rely on additional support from sponsors and charitable organisations and individuals to stay up and running. With energy costs being some of the biggest expenses that care homes must cover, attempting to reduce energy consumption is a good way to save money and put this extra money into the support and care of residents. Overall offering a better care service. Not only this but by cutting energy consumption, the care home can work towards achieving net zero emissions, helping the environment and working alongside the government towards their emissions reduction across the country.   How to save energy when running a care home  Although small changes can be made, such as turning off appliances that are not in use and encouraging positive energy efficient practices around the care home, in the long-term investment is necessary to improve the efficiency of the building. In many cases, care homes are run from within old and often dated buildings that will not have modern eco-friendly solutions installed. Below are some energy-saving advice these buildings, despite their age, can be modernised to improve energy efficiency and save money on their energy bills: Review the building’s insulation – proper building insulation is key to keeping a building energy efficient. Where an older building may have a lack of insulation, it is more than likely that heat is being lost and more energy is being used to maintain a regular temperature within the care home. Upgrade the lighting to LED lighting and consider motion-sensor lighting for less-frequented rooms. LED lighting is the most energy efficient and simply upgrading the current, outdated lights, to LEDs will have a significant impact on the cost of electricity. Motion-sensor lighting is another good way to cut down on the use of electricity, when not necessary. This is particularly great in care homes since elderly residents may forget to turn off their lights at night or when exiting a room. Ensure heat is not being lost through old windows. Double or even triple glazing will help in preventing any heat loss from windows, particularly in cold winter months. Not only is this important for energy consumption but in general for the comfort of residents.   Switching business energy suppliers to D-ENERGi to reduce energy bills  In order to keep energy costs down and invest money back into the care home, switching business energy suppliers may be the best solution. At D-ENERGi we support micro-businesses and small UK businesses with the best business energy rates. Switching business energy suppliers to D-ENERGi is easy and hassle-free. Our dedicated account managers will handle all the paperwork for you and will be with you every step of the way. Talk to our energy experts today to find out more about how much your business could save on your energy bills.

After two years of what can only be described as total chaos and uncertainty for the energy market, is 2024 bringing a change to the energy market and what could be influencing prices? In this blog we will explore the current situation for the energy market and wholesale prices. Whilst also considering what businesses are currently dealing with in terms of energy prices and bills.   Uncertainty remains for business owners Global events and supply/demand fluctuations can cause prices to rise unexpectedly. And with various conflicts undergoing around key energy supply areas around the world, governments and businesses will keep a close eye on the global markets, with some hesitancy towards a sense of relaxation just yet. In fact, just recently, due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and the conflict across Israel, Palestine and areas in the Middle East, wholesale prices have once again experienced a rise. For many business owners, dealing with the energy crisis and the impact this has had is still ongoing and this is expected to continue while essential leaders in the industry undergo volatile situations. And while some businesses have been able to access government-funded support, others felt this wasn’t enough. Subsequently these small businesses are still dealing with debts and financial issues as a result.   Comparison is key Despite a few changes to wholesale prices since the beginning of the energy crisis, they are still higher than pre-pandemic levels. So, this is still something that businesses are having to adjust to. And in combination with other factors such as the cost of living, this isn’t necessarily a relief for businesses. In fact, for many, wholesale prices are still having a considerable effect on business finances. To conclude, high prices, although subject to change, are yet to be a thing of the past. And now would be a good time, while we are at the start of a new financial year, to shop around for your business energy rates, and settle on a good deal for the year ahead. For some of the best rates from an alternative business energy supplier to the big energy suppliers, choose D-ENERGi. Get a quote today.   What to do in the wake of rising energy prices While the global situation continues to impact the market, we are here to help. All our business customers can access the support of our dedicated account managers for assistance in regard to their energy bills and concerns surrounding payments. We offer personalised services and support to address your concerns promptly. For those who want to get the best rates and keep costs down, as much as possible, we suggest that you consider installing a smart meter for closer observation of your energy usage, and consider ways to reduce consumption. And, as we near the warmer months of the year, now is a great time to service your high energy consuming appliances such as your HVAC units, refrigerators and more, ensuring these are as economical and as energy efficient as possible. By doing this you will be taking small and simple steps to keep your consumption down. We would also suggest that you make the most of natural light during the day, keeping artificial lights off or dimly lit. Meanwhile the temperature of your business premises should be kept at a consistent and comfortable working temperature. For help with your current situation and to discuss your business energy rates with a member of our helpful team, do not hesitate to get in touch with D-ENERGi. We ensure that all calls will be answered within five rings or less by a human instead of leaving a voicemail.

It is highly advisable for all businesses to keep an eye on their business energy suppliers, keep track of their energy contract end dates and business energy rates being charged. This practice ensures that businesses can secure the most competitive deals available. While conducting a business energy comparison may require a significant investment of time for business owners, it is a worthwhile endeavour. Many of the businesses that have worked with the D-ENERGi team have reported noteworthy savings upon switching their business energy suppliers to us. When undertaking a business electricity or business gas comparison, it is prudent to keep a few things in mind:   #Always read the contract It is essential you take the time to read every aspect of your commercial energy contract before you sign it as some contracts contain a specific window in which you are allowed to cancel or switch the contract without penalty. You probably won’t ever be refused the opportunity to be let out of your contract if you do choose to switch business energy suppliers outside of this window – but you will potentially be liable for larger costs, so you should think about your timing of switching energy suppliers carefully.   #Be sure of your expectations A lot of businesses state that their number one reason for switching business energy suppliers is to save money, which they do, to begin with only to find that their energy bills go up over time despite their energy usage not increasing. Don’t ever take it as certain that you are guaranteed to save money throughout the length of your new business energy contract. Look at your energy usage and what you are paying for it at the start of your contract, and monitor it throughout the length of your contract so that you can be sure you are really saving the money you thought you would.   #Be patient when considering business energy deals Don’t accept the first business energy deal you are offered – take some time to evaluate it carefully. When comparing business energy quotes, it’s important to properly assess each offer, including the length of the contract and the quality of service provided. Remember, you are the one who is in control, so you should switch business energy suppliers when you are ready. If you contact our friendly team at D-ENERGi, we will assist you with your current circumstances and what you are looking for. Leave the rest to us. We will look at your current energy usage and offer a tailored solution for your business. Our dedicated account manager will provide personalised service and address your enquiries promptly. Saving your valuable time and money on your business energy bills. We will guide you through the entire process of switching energy supplier, ensuring a quick and smooth transition. If you want to get a quick quote on business gas and business electricity, get in touch with the D-ENERGI friendly team. We ensure all calls will be answered within five rings or less, without the annoyance of switchboard or long pick-ups.

When submitting an electricity meter reading to your business energy supplier or providing information about your meter when switching suppliers, there’s a few things you need to look for. In this latest blog we will explain how to read different business meter types and explain what your MPAN and MPRN numbers are and where you can find them.   Reading your business electricity meter Reading your meter should be simple, although we understand that posed with this requirement may leave you slightly confused at what to look at or what the numbers mean if you have never done this before or have a new meter. Firstly, there are several different types of meters, so it is important to identify which type you have. However, for the most part, what you will see is a display of numbers, typically six numbers, which identify units of kWh. Reading most typical meters will require you to write down all the numbers you see from left to right. This number indicates to your supplier how much energy you have used. If you have another type of meter display such as a two rate meter, you may see two different displays of numbers. These are usually your off peak and peak or ‘normal’ units of electricity used. If your business energy supplier requires both sets of numbers then supply both, reading from left to right.   What are your MPAN & MPRN numbers? Two numbers that you may be required to supply your business energy supplier with, particularly if you are a new customer is your MPAN and MPRN numbers. Your MPAN number is used to identify your electricity meter and allows your supplier to decide rates for your electricity. You can find your MPAN number on your electricity meter, it consists of 21 digits and will often be displayed in seven small boxes with a capital S at the beginning of the display. Your MPRN number, on the other hand, is not located directly on the meter, but can be found on your gas bills. Your MPRN number is related to gas supply and confirms to your new supplier that they are taking over the right energy supply.   Submitting your meter reading If you are a D-ENERGi business energy customer, we make it simple for you to submit your meter readings directly through our website. Here, you can submit your meter readings by supplying us with your name, account number, email address, date of your reading, and meter serial number. If you run into any problems when trying to submit your latest meter readings we suggest getting in touch with the team for some assistance. We can also take these readings over the phone if you find that easier.   Make meter readings even easier with a smart meter Don’t want the hassle of manually reading and submitting your meter readings? Why not make the switch to a smart meter today? Join the rollout phase of smart meters for business across the nation with our installation partners. At D-ENERGi, we can provide you with a business smart meter and can have this installed by one of our installation partners. Automatically submit meter readings in real time to your supplier Track your business energy consumption thanks to the handy Consumer Access Device Bring an end to estimated billing, you will be billed for the energy you actually use A smart meter is a very good choice for businesses who may have difficulty accessing their standard meter, making readings difficult to retrieve   Register now for your business smart meter.