There isn’t anyone who hasn’t been affected by the recent rise in energy costs, from putting on an extra jumper at home to save on heating, to office buildings going paperless to save where they can, the impact has been undeniable and the substantial increase has caught many off guard.
However, help does seem to be at hand, with the government committing to the Energy Security Bill in the Queen’s most recent speech:
The Energy Security Bill will deliver on bringing into legislation measures to propel this transition to a cleaner, more affordable energy system that is fit for the future. It will also enable the extension of the energy price cap beyond 2023.
BEIS priorities set out in the 2022 Queen’s Speech
Even with this positive news, it still could take a while for any real improvements to be made. So, in the meantime, we’ve rounded up some energy tips below to help you feel a little more on top of your energy spend.
Behavioural Change
Turn things off. It sounds simple, but it’s estimated that 40% of the energy your business uses could go on just lighting your building. Creating a culture of more energy conscious colleagues by educating your employees on the importance and impact of these simple changes could make a noticeable difference to your bills. Or why not consider an Energy Champion to really advocate for change?
Keep on top of Usage
One of the best ways to minimise your energy bills is to be clear how much you are using in the first place, by monitoring and managing your energy usage in the most efficient way. If you have a clear view of your current state, you can easily pin-point areas of improvement, and either adjust energy heavy tasks or replace/upgrade any equipment which is causing unnecessary drainage. Maybe it’s time to invest in an energy management system or sub-metering?
Upgrading Kit
Upgrading to LED lights is one of the quickest and easiest ways to see immediate returns on your energy savings and isn’t reliant purely on behavioural change or massive upfront spend. You can also consider the replacement of other appliances with poor energy ratings, which could include staff equipment like laptops instead of less energy efficient desktop computers.
Access Government Support
There are plenty of initiatives out there which could help shave some money off your monthly energy bill or provide you with some compensation. Those eligible can include businesses which consume a significant amount of energy such as manufacturing, to companies making a conscious effort to embrace energy-efficient technology. To get more advice on whether your business could be entitled to support make sure to check on Gov.uk or consult Ofgem and their advice on energy efficient grants and schemes.
These tips were compiled by learnd, the UK’s fastest growing ESG player in buildings. Our purpose is to create a world where all buildings deliver outcomes for everyone. We have an ambitious vision to help decarbonise the one million non-residential buildings in the UK.
