With energy prices continuing to rise (and it looks as if they will rise further), organisations are urgently looking for ways to control and reduce their increasing energy costs. So what is your organisation doing or planning to do?

Research shows that on average, a building wastes 40% of the energy they consume. That is a lot and there is definitely room for some improvements to reduce costs.

Check out some top tips to help you reduce your energy costs today

We have been supporting organisations for many years to reduce their energy consumption and saving thousands ££££ each year, so we have put together a few top tips that could help you to reduce your energy consumption:

• LED lighting – upgrading your lighting to energy-efficient LED lighting is one of the most cost-effective measures as it offers savings of up to 90% and a short return on investment (ROI). LED lighting lasts much longer (up to 50,000 hours) which is up to 25 times longer which means you’ll save on maintenance and replacement costs as well as reduce waste.
• Generate your own energy – install solar PV so that you can generate electricity to use in your buildings.
• Energy contracts – if your energy contract is up for renewal within the next 12 months it is important to search the market for the best possible deal.
• Insulation – ensuring adequate levels of insulation in your walls and roof will prevent heat loss, reduce draughts and aid cooling in the summer.
• Heating efficiency – having an efficiently running heating system can impact your energy consumption as an ineffectively running system can cost up to 30% more to run.
• Heating upgrade – if you have an inefficient old heating system it is worth upgrading it to a more efficient boiler or considering renewable heating such as biomass or heat pumps.
• Turning down by 1C – adjusting thermostats by just 1C can make a difference as well as ensuring that you only heat the spaces when occupied by using timers appropriately.
• Sensors and controls – like the above utilising heating controls and lighting controls so that rooms are only lit, cooled and heated during specified hours or when they are in use.
• Windows – improving your windows to highly efficient windows or draught proofing them can reduce heat loss and increase comfort levels.
• Use blinds – keep offices cool in summer and allow natural light in during winter using blinds.
• Standby – ensuring that equipment is turned off when not in use for hours can make savings, for example, turning computers off standby overnight can save 75% of their energy costs, turning off a photocopier overnight can save enough energy to print 5,000 A4 sheets.
• Inefficient old equipment – upgrading any older equipment that is inefficient and energy-intensive to more energy-efficient models.
• Flexible working – more organisations are operating flexible working and having less staff in their offices which can reduce energy consumption in the buildings. However, it is important to ensure that office spaces are not being unnecessarily lit or equipment is being left on when they are not occupied.
• Environment champions – tasking your staff with the responsibility of championing the cause and appointing environment champions so that they can instil good habits in their teams or areas of your buildings.

Funding 

If you are looking to make improvements to your building’s energy efficiency you may be able to access some grants or funding to support your project. You can also access finance to help fund the upfront installation costs and use the energy savings towards the repayments. We can help you to find funding and finance solutions to assist you in funding your energy efficiency improvements.

If you want help to reduce your energy consumption and are interested in upgrading your lighting or installing solar PV, get in touch to find out more.