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With winter on our doorstep, you may find that your business’s energy bills might be on the rise. As the temperatures dip, energy consumption throughout the country rises, however there are still ways you can save this winter. Our expert team at Valda Energy have compiled 5 top tips to help bring your energy bills down when the usage generally goes up.
If you haven’t already, now is the time to prepare for the colder months and ensure your business is ready to operate at any temperature. Making sure your equipment is serviced and tested now may cost you less, as installers often charge more during their busier period. Faulty equipment can also cause an increased energy consumption and cost you more.
Make sure you get any heating issues and/or lighting equipment checked now rather than during the time you are most reliant on them. Being hit with an electrical problem on a dark winter afternoon will have a much bigger impact than getting it fixed ahead of time when it best suits you and won’t disrupt your business.
Make sure your insulation is top-notch to avoid wasting any energy when the temperatures drop. Your property may be leaking heat and energy without you even realising. Keeping more heat inside your property will mean less money is spent on alternative heating solutions, such as electric heaters.
Checking and upgrading insulation is something you can easily do yourself and this DIY job is usually the quickest, cheapest and most effective way to save money and leave you feeling warmer and more comfortable.
Another way of saving money during winter is using your energy in the most sustainable way for your business. The best way to do this is to turn off the heating when you leave, and when the business is closed.
It’s understandable that you want to come back to a warm workplace, however it's cheaper to reheat the property than to keep your heating on low when you're all out (unless you own a heat pump). It’s good practice to set a timer for the days and times you'd like your heating on if you have smart heating controls and then just checking if the temperature is set correctly.
Similarly, make sure you’re still turning the heating on in areas that really need it and where people spend most of their time, such as main office and seating areas to keep staff comfortable and safe. It’s recommended to have the heating set no lower than 19°C, however you can set it lower in areas like corridors, storerooms and other high-activity spaces.
It’s worth noting that just like at home, a small temperature change can make a significant difference to your workplace bills. Turning down your thermostat by 1°C can save you around £105 a year on energy bills.
Having any furniture or appliances in front of a radiator is not only a fire hazard but it also greatly reduces the efficiency of your heating. It restricts the flow of hot air around the room, resulting in your space taking longer to heat up and costing you more in the long run. Radiator covers can also still limit how well your radiator can heat the room.
To boost your radiator's efficiency, remove any direct obstructions and install a reflective backing behind your radiator to reflect the heat that would have originally been absorbed by the wall behind it. It will result in your property heating up quicker and losing a lot less energy.
Installing a smart meter will help you to track your energy usage and review historical data, allowing you to analyse trends and behaviours and make small changes as we approach the colder season.
For example, seeing the benefit of turning off computers fully, rather than leaving them on standby can be motivating to make these small changes and foster an energy-conscious environment. One computer being left on standby equals to roughly £11.22 per year, with added volume over time this can add up to make a real difference to your business.
Smart meters also offer better accuracy, helping ensure you don’t end up overpaying for your energy due to estimated usage. Though a smart meter won't automatically save you money, it’s a very useful tool to help you stay in control of your energy usage and bills, allowing you to save in the long term if used to its full potential.
To find out more about Smart Meters:
Benefits of a Smart Meter | Valda Energy
To read more about energy advice for businesses:
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