As the world’s attitude towards sustainability and global warming shifts, there’s far greater concern and pressure placed on businesses to take responsibility for their impact on the environment. No matter the industry, businesses play a huge role in the way the population treats the planet, having a big impact on the environment. Businesses that opt to embrace sustainability and proactively prepare for a future that is carbon-neutral and more eco-conscious than ever before will gain a competitive advantage in their market and establish themselves as a leader in sustainability.   The importance of planning for an eco-conscious future  Ensuring your business is in a position to adjust and work towards a sustainable future is important for a number of reasons. Not just to help the environment, but to ensure the longevity of the business, products, and services, and maintain a reputation amongst consumers and other relevant stakeholders.    Address Environmental Challenges and Mitigate Risks:   The planet is facing unprecedented environmental challenges, including climate change, resource scarcity, and pollution. Businesses that fail to address these issues or adapt to a more sustainable future face increasing regulatory pressures, potential liabilities, and reputational damage. By embracing eco-conscious practices, businesses can reduce their environmental impact, mitigate risks associated with climate change and resource constraints, and contribute to a healthier planet for future generations.   Enhance Brand Reputation and Customer Appeal: Consumers are increasingly making informed purchasing decisions based on environmental and social factors. Businesses that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability gain a competitive advantage by attracting environmentally conscious customers and building a strong brand reputation. Consumers are willing to pay more for products and services from companies that align with their values, creating a loyal customer base and fostering long-term brand loyalty.   Reduce Operational Costs and Enhance Efficiency: Many eco-conscious practices also lead to cost savings and operational efficiency. Implementing energy-efficient technologies, optimising resource utilisation, and reducing waste can significantly lower energy bills, improve production processes, and minimise waste disposal costs. These savings can then be reinvested in the business, boosting profits and strengthening the financial position.   Attract and Retain Top Talent: Millennials and Gen Z, now the majority of the workforce, place a high value on working for companies that demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. By prioritising eco-conscious practices, businesses can attract and retain top talent who share their values, creating a more engaged and productive workforce.   Comply with Regulatory Requirements and Avoid Liabilities: Governments worldwide are enacting stricter environmental regulations to address climate change and protect the environment. Businesses that fail to comply with these regulations face potential fines, penalties, and legal liabilities. By proactively adopting eco-conscious practices, businesses can avoid these risks, ensure compliance, and maintain a positive relationship with regulatory bodies.   Gain Market Entry and Competitive Advantage in Sustainable Sectors: As the demand for sustainable products and services grows, businesses that are early adopters of eco-conscious practices gain a competitive advantage in emerging sustainable markets. By establishing themselves as leaders in sustainability, businesses can attract new customers, secure lucrative partnerships, and expand their market share.   Enhance Community Relations and Support Local Initiatives: Engaging with local communities and supporting sustainable initiatives can strengthen a business’s reputation and foster positive relationships with stakeholders. Participating in community cleanups, donating to environmental organisations, and adopting eco-friendly practices within the community demonstrate a genuine commitment to social responsibility.   Diversify Revenue Streams and Explore New Business Opportunities: Sustainable practices can open up new revenue streams and business opportunities. Developing eco-friendly products, offering sustainable consulting services, or partnering with eco-conscious organisations can expand a business’s reach and tap into a growing market.   Strategies for a carbon-neutral future The following strategies provide best practices for helping to future-proof your business for a carbon neutral economy and the modern eco-conscious consumer.    Establish clear carbon reduction goals Conduct a comprehensive carbon footprint assessment Implement energy-efficient technologies Adopt sustainable sourcing practices Optimise transportation and logistics Invest in renewable energy Implement carbon offset programs Engage employees in sustainability initiatives Promote transparency and stakeholder engagement Embrace innovation and technological advancements   By adopting these strategies, businesses can effectively prepare for a carbon-neutral economy, reduce their environmental impact, and gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. The transition to a sustainable future presents both challenges and opportunities, and businesses that embrace sustainability will be well-positioned for long-term success.

Running a small business, whether you have your own cafe, boutique clothing store, repair shop, or florist, is not always easy. There’s lots to consider and plan for, and with a small team this can create a number of jobs for one or two people to juggle. One of the biggest challenges for small business owners is managing finances and keeping on top of this.  When it comes to managing business expenses like water, electricity, and gas, it is important to plan and prepare for increases and unexpected bills. Not only will this allow you to budget and avoid nasty surprises, you will be preventing these unexpected expenses from creating any damaging holes in the company wallet.   Why might you incur an unexpected expense?  Unexpected expenses can come from just about anything and anyone. Business expenses are guaranteed and are required to be paid in order to keep your business running. Although expenses like rent and business insurance are important, in this blog we are focusing on business utilities, which includes bills like energy and water.  Despite paying monthly for your business energy, it is not uncommon for business energy bills to rise and fall. The same can also be said for water bills. When your demand and usage for electricity, gas, and water increases, so too do your bills.  During uncertain times, such as a cost of living crisis or the global energy crisis that occurred between 2021-2023, energy costs can and will quickly change. Your business energy rates are therefore subject to change unexpectedly. Although business energy suppliers will give you some notice, market changes can happen overnight and may require a big increase to your monthly payments. Having some awareness of the risks that the market can pose on your expenses is important for ensuring you have some money put aside in case of such events.   Monitoring your small business energy charges  Monitoring your small business energy charges is important for a number of reasons: It can help you to identify areas where you can reduce your energy consumption, which can save you money on your bills. It can help you to identify any unusual spikes in your energy usage, which could be indicative of a problem with your equipment or infrastructure. It can help you to track your energy consumption over time, which can help you to set realistic energy efficiency targets. There are a number of ways to monitor your small business energy charges. One simple way is to keep track of your energy bills over time. This will give you a good idea of how much energy you are using and how much it is costing you. Another way to monitor your energy usage is to install a smart meter. Smart meters are devices that track your energy consumption in real time. They can be installed on your electricity and gas meters, and will provide you with a detailed breakdown of your energy usage by appliance or area of your business. This information can be particularly useful in helping you identify specific areas of your business where you may be able to cut down on energy usage and lower your energy costs overall.    Government support for small businesses While there are options for small businesses to help tackle unexpected costs, the UK government also offer a number of services and schemes to support small businesses. For example, the Energy Bills Discount Scheme which is currently running until April 2024. We have provided further information about applying for the scheme and the support offered on our blog.

As a business owner, you may have a lot on your plate running your small business. From managing employees and finances to marketing and sales, the list can seem endless. Amidst these tasks, one aspect that often gets overlooked is energy consumption. In our latest blog we will offer some tips on how to pay close attention to your business’ energy usage, and also provide our advice on what to do if you are currently dealing with rising energy bills.    Why your energy usage is so important  Energy consumption is an integral part of running a small business, and it impacts your bottom line in more ways than one. Energy is a significant expense for most businesses. The cost of electricity, gas, and other forms of energy can grow quickly and significantly impact your monthly budget.  Moreover, being mindful of your energy usage can also have a positive  impact on the environment. By reducing your energy consumption, you can decrease your carbon footprint and contribute to a healthier planet.   How to determine your business’ energy usage The first step in understanding how much energy your small business is using is to track and monitor it. This can be done through utility bills and by paying attention to the equipment and appliances you use on a daily basis.  However, thanks to the wonders of digital technology we can now also review energy usage with a handy smart meter. A device that allows you to see your energy consumption in real-time. With a digital display you can choose to see for yourself how much energy your appliances use but also how much this will cost you. At D-ENERGi we have been supporting the smart meter roll out, providing our business energy customers with installations and set up, more here.  Another way to determine your energy usage is by conducting an energy audit. This involves a professional auditor coming into your business premises and evaluating your business’ energy efficiency and identifying areas where improvements can be made. These energy audits can provide you with a wealth of information and advice on how to reduce your consumption and save money. If you’re struggling to identify areas of your business where you may be able to save, we would recommend an energy audit.    What to do with rising energy bills If your energy bills are continuously rising, one of the first things you should be doing is addressing your energy consumption. Being able to pay close attention to your usage and reduce the use of particular appliances or machinery, in periods when they are not required, will make a big difference to your energy bills.  If you are concerned about your energy usage or do not understand the information provided on your energy bills, contact the D-ENERGi team for advice and guidance.

A lot of people have been put off buying an electric car because the charging aspect is very different from just filling your car up with diesel or petrol. We take a look at how long electric vehicle charging takes, and how long the charge will last. How long does it take to charge an electric car? The amount of time it will take to charge an electric car will depend on two things: Battery size – the bigger the battery the longer it will take to charge Amount of power the charger can deliver It can take anywhere between 30 minutes and 12 hours to charge an electric vehicle, but it usually takes around 8 hours on average. How are electric cars charged? Electric cars are charged by being plugged into a power outlet – either at your home or at a car park or service station. If you are going on a long drive, it is advised that you stop at a service station along the way and charge your car. The advantage of charging your car at an electric vehicle charging station rather than at home is that the service station will usually have commercial chargers that will charge your vehicle much faster. It has been said that the most efficient way to charge your car is in small bursts throughout the day, and then leave it plugged in overnight when you get home. Can I charge my electric car at home? Yes. You can have an electric vehicle charging point installed at home so that you can easily charge your vehicle when you are not using it. D-ENERGI also offers an electric vehicle charging station solution for workplaces, offering employers a free no-obligation site survey. How much will it cost to charge an electric car? It is quite easy to work out how much it will cost to charge your electric car by doing a few simple calculations. You need to know the kWh of the charging point and then multiply this by the cost of your electricity. To find the kWh of your charging point, you will need to check the power of your charger. Most home chargers are 3.7w but it is best to check yours just to make sure. You then need to convert this power into watts by multiplying it by 1000. So, a standard electric vehicle home charger is 3.7kwh x 1000 = 3700 watts Then think about how long you will be charging your electric vehicle. If we go with the standard of 8 hours, then we need to multiply 3700 watts by 8 hours = 29600 watts. We then divide this by 1000 to convert it back to kWh, which brings us to 29.6 kWh. Now that we know the kWh it will take us to charge our electric vehicle, we can work out how much this will cost us by multiplying the kWh by the cost of electricity. The average cost of electricity is 0.13p at the moment, so we multiply 0.13 by 29.6 = £3.80 a day. To find out more about how D-ENERGi can help you with electric vehicle charging points for domestic or commercial use, please get in touch.