A recent survey of businesses’ attitudes towards energy and the environment found that, on average, SMEs rated energy management and reducing energy consumption at only 6.1 out of 10 in terms of significance to their business.
Many SMEs reported a lack of time and resources to invest in energy saving initiatives, however a few simple and inexpensive methods to increase energy efficiency can yield real environmental benefits, as well as significant cost savings.
Simply switching off equipment, for example, computers and photocopiers, overnight could save the average office £6,000 a year according to the Carbon Trust, while further savings can be made by just installing energy-saving lights.
How to be energy efficient? Recent research conducted showed that a bar with an annual energy bill of £20,000 and a significant carbon footprint could reduce the amount of carbon it emits each year by more than eight tons and cut its annual energy bill by over £2,000 through simple energy saving steps.
A lower carbon footprint and reduced energy bills are by all account not the only benefits of an energy efficient workplace: a number of large corporations have instigated carbon reduction initiatives and are encouraging their production network to go with the same pattern.
A growing number of companies are beginning to realize this: 24% of SMEs questioned in the née expect that reducing their carbon footprint will provide new commercial opportunities. This represents a substantial increase and the number is likely to develop as businesses and people in general become more aware of the need to consider energy efficiency in business operations.
Many major power suppliers are working closely with their customers to develop a detailed understanding of their energy needs and providing them with the tools to achieve cost and CO2 reductions without calling on sizable capital investment.
This can range from a simple energy audit to a detailed analysis of equipment and machinery to identify potential improvements. The UK has been set on a path to a Low Carbon Economy – the challenge presently is to join the journey and start by taking control of energy consumption.
These top five tips should help businesses begin to reduce their energy usage:
- If you do not measure it you cannot manage it’ – track your energy use by recording the meter reading every week on a spreadsheet.
- Instruct a qualified electrician to fit an energy monitor. Familiarize yourself with how this functions. Once fitted, establish what the average daily readings are around the business. Also establish what the lowest reading ought to be at the end of the working day when non essential equipment is turned off, and make it a part of your routine to check this every evening; if the reading is higher than normal something has probably been left on that needs to be turned off.
- Turn off unnecessary lights. Each twin 58 Watt fluorescent fitting costs £23 a year to run.