As of 2018, statistics revealed that the average energy consumption for small businesses was a hefty 25,000 kWh per year, with an average annual gas bill of £965. Even scarier, medium businesses used an average of 45,000 kWh per year, costing them £1,502 annually.
To work towards a sustainable future, it’s essential that business owners instil mindful, waste conscious thinking in their employees, encouraging them to reflect on how they can optimise their current processes. With Etron’s energy saving tips for your business, you can start cutting not only personal costs, but environmental costs, too.
Insulated doors
Insulated doors – such as our energy saving sectional overhead doors – are designed to prevent heat loss through their clever design. Their foam-filled panels enable them to keep buildings of any size insulated, providing a heavy duty cycle supported by their spring-assisted drive. Not only do sectional overhead doors stop heat loss, they’re also noise insulating – making them perfect for commercial and industrial buildings.
Despite being an energy saving solution for your business, sectional overhead doors aren’t compromised on design. With a wide range of colours to choose from, you’ll be able to select a shade that best suits your business’s aesthetic, allowing your door to effortlessly blend into its surroundings.
Switch off appliances that aren’t in use
Another energy saving tip for your business is to have staff switch off appliances that aren’t in use. Although people may think they’re being energy efficient by leaving their devices on standby, this isn’t the case. The Energy Saving Trust revealed the shocking truth; that between 9-16% of electricity consumed in homes will be wasted on powering appliances left on standby mode. When considering this in a business setting – which will often house hundreds of electrical appliances – the cost could be off the charts if you aren’t careful.
By doing a quick scan at the end of the day to keep an eye out for any devices that haven’t been turned off, you’ll be ensuring that no energy is wasted.
Ceiling insulation
Did you know that up to 40% of heat can be lost through the roof of uninsulated buildings? Due to the fact that warm air rises, an insulated ceiling will prevent any warmth from escaping, providing a cheap yet effective energy saving solution for businesses. It will also ensure an added degree of protection against harsh weather conditions during the colder months, not only keeping staff warm, but all machinery in working order.
Set up a smart meter
Another energy saving tip for your business is to keep track of your energy usage by setting up a smart meter. By looking out for any patterns that could indicate higher energy usage, you’ll be able to communicate to ensure that this stops, or at the very least decreases. Installing a smart meter will also enable you to make sure that your energy bills are accurate – although it’s unlikely, slip-ups can happen. You’ll be more likely to resolve the situation if you have evidence that indicates an incorrect figure.
Energy saving lighting
Another contributing factor to energy wastage in the workplace is through inefficient lighting, which could end up being a massive penny guzzler if you’re not careful. Replacing regular bulbs with LED light bulbs could save your business up to 80% on lighting costs, with motion-activated lighting also being particularly useful in these environments.
For workplaces that want to stick to manual lighting, ensure you’re checking that no energy is being wasted on rooms that aren’t in use. To further enhance your workplace’s energy efficiency, you should make use of natural lighting where you can – which is the biggest energy saver of them all.
Repair building damage
To save on energy, it’s also vital to check for any signs of damage in your building. Holes in the walls or cracks in the windows will not only be violating health, safety and security regulations, they’ll likely cause your energy expenditure to rise. So, before you toggle with the thermostat, get your repairs sorted.
Upholding a sustainable work culture
To uphold a conscious working culture that holds sustainability and energy efficiency at its core, you’ll need to provide training. Inform your employees of the previous business energy saving tips, reminding them to be on a constant lookout for anything that could cause your expenditure to creep up. By setting reminders, they’ll be able to make these checks a regular routine.
From doors that support business energy saving, to those that enhance levels of security, our team of experts is here to help optimise your current workplace processes. Get in touch with us today to explore our stock range.