Assess your energy use
Summary:
It doesn't capture the imagination like some environmental initiatives but energy efficiency measures can yield big savings on your fuel and electricity bills – even the simple ones.
Areas which commonly draw significant amounts of energy include air conditioning, space heating, lighting, ICT equipment, refrigeration and catering facilities. For industrial/manufacturing businesses energy consumption will likely be dominated by the particular processes that you operate.
An important first step to becoming a more energy efficient business is to ensure someone in your organisation takes responsibility for monitoring energy use and pushing forward energy projects. This will require discussion with staff from across your business as their behaviour and day-to-day decisions will directly affect the energy demands of your business. For example, an ICT manager may have little incentive to buy efficient equipment – especially if units are more expensive at purchase and the impacts of excessive energy consumption during use are 'hidden'.
Energy efficiency measures can be considered at three increasing levels of commitment:
If you don't have internal expertise on energy efficiency, a growing number of professional auditors can undertake a complete energy survey of your business premises and provide detailed recommendations on changes, with an estimate of costs and payback times. Some government-funded organisations provide free or subsidised surveys e.g. The Carbon Trust.
To make investment in energy efficient technologies more attractive the government also provides tax breaks for businesses investing in approved products – as well as 0% loans for energy saving projects.
Further resources:
It doesn't capture the imagination like some environmental initiatives but energy efficiency measures can yield big savings on your fuel and electricity bills – even the simple ones.
Areas which commonly draw significant amounts of energy include air conditioning, space heating, lighting, ICT equipment, refrigeration and catering facilities. For industrial/manufacturing businesses energy consumption will likely be dominated by the particular processes that you operate.
An important first step to becoming a more energy efficient business is to ensure someone in your organisation takes responsibility for monitoring energy use and pushing forward energy projects. This will require discussion with staff from across your business as their behaviour and day-to-day decisions will directly affect the energy demands of your business. For example, an ICT manager may have little incentive to buy efficient equipment – especially if units are more expensive at purchase and the impacts of excessive energy consumption during use are 'hidden'.
Energy efficiency measures can be considered at three increasing levels of commitment:
- Good housekeeping – these are day-to-day no or low cost measures which reduce energy demands. They are often achieved through supporting staff behaviour change and installing simple technologies. Common examples include: switching of lights and equipment when not in use; not over-heating or over-cooling rooms; using energy efficient lighting; properly maintaining equipment
- Quick wins – these require a small amount of capital investment and have a pay back of a couple of years. For example installing a new efficient boiler, new lighting systems or computing system which more easily allows for power-downs.
- Significant projects – these require major capital investment and take longer to pay back e.g. installing renewable energy technologies, complete building refurbishments.
If you don't have internal expertise on energy efficiency, a growing number of professional auditors can undertake a complete energy survey of your business premises and provide detailed recommendations on changes, with an estimate of costs and payback times. Some government-funded organisations provide free or subsidised surveys e.g. The Carbon Trust.
To make investment in energy efficient technologies more attractive the government also provides tax breaks for businesses investing in approved products – as well as 0% loans for energy saving projects.
Further resources:
- Energy Savings Trust – Energy saving advice for businesses
- Carbon Trust – sign-up for an energy audit, apply for a loan and get practical energy advice
- Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme – get tax breaks on equipment purchases