Rising global energy prices and the predicted impending winter price spike is rarely out of the daily news. The impact on consumers will be considerable and for many individuals and families is extremely worrying as the cost of living crisis continues. But, what about businesses? Have you reviewed your current and projected business energy usage and what can you practically do to reduce consumption and cut costs?
The energy price cap tool used by Ofgem to protect consumers doesn’t apply to businesses. The April 2022 price cap rise saw an increase of 54% with this now predicted to rise again to 70% in October for domestic users. Energy suppliers are free to pass on their costs to business users of both electricity and gas with no enforced price cap and businessenergyclaims.co.uk have reported that some business customers have received quotes for a staggering 70p per kWh (Current April average price capped costs for domestic electricity users are 28.34p per kWh).
What can you do?
✅ Check your rates
With a further price rise looming in October, if you have reviewed your current energy figures and predicted annual consumption as always, the best advice is to shop around for the best price. Comparison price sites are a good place to start or go direct to suppliers armed with your information. You could also consider using an energy broker, but make sure you are aware of their commission charges and account for these costs.
✅ Reduce your usage
The cost of running an office or business facility is dependent on a number of factors for example;
- operating hours – around the clock or standard 8-6
- staffing numbers/unit size
- equipment or machinery used
It may be for some businesses operating standard 8-6 working hours easy reductions can be found by making sure computers and lighting is properly turned off overnight and at weekends.
Simple switches to A-grade energy saving light bulbs can also help along with the installation of a smart meter to accurately track different appliances energy consumption. Knowing where and by what appliances most of your energy is consumed is a great place to start and it’s predicted by gov.uk that smart meters will save non-domestic users £1.5 billion in energy costs by 2030.
For an overview Finder.com provide the following breakdown of how each appliance contributed to total non-domestic energy costs based on three hypothetical model offices.
| Appliance | % of total electricity bill |
| Air Con | 29.15 |
| Light fittings | 26.12 |
| Computers | 10.91 |
| Vending Machine | 6.05 |
| Water Cooler | 6.05 |
| Kettles | 4.66 |
| Fridge | 3.33 |
| Printers | 3.02 |
| Hand dryers | 2.59 |
| Microwaves | 1.73 |
| TV Screens | 1.71 |
| Laptops | 1.27 |
| Dishwasher | 1.04 |
| Toasters | 1.04 |
| Coffee Machine | 0.86 |
| Desk Fans | 0.48 |
✅ Cultural Change and Employee engagement
With Energy prices such a hot news topic and no household unaffected, now is a great time to communicate with your staff on how you can support them to make a difference with simple changes both at work and home to impact energy costs and increase environmental sustainability. We’ve created free downloadable resources to share with your staff and post around the office as reminders to save energy and help educate around specific appliances energy usage. Knowing your employer cares about and is trying to help reduce not just their own costs, helps build loyalty and buy-in to suggested behaviour change.
✅ Implement an Energy and Environmental integrated management system
ISO 14001 is the international standard for Environmental Management. Certification demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to continual improvement in environmental management and helps with:
- Environmental Policy
- Energy Efficiency
- Carbon Reduction
- Legal Compliance
- Culture Change
- Corporate Responsibility
- Reputation
- Resource Management
Often implemented alongside ISO 50001 Energy Management System this certification reviews and manages Energy Usage within your organisation and benchmarks your business as one that both understands these requirements and one that achieves and continually improves it’s processes to maintain certification.
✅ Take-action now!
By implementing these systems at such a critical time for Energy and Environmental issues your organisation will be embedding a robust internal and external auditing system that will continually monitor your energy consumption and costs along with environmental impact and ensure you are best placed to deal with any economic challenges or legislative changes UK businesses face.
If you would like to discuss Energy management or If you are looking for ISO 14001 or ISO 50001 certification or continued compliance and certification then please do not hesitate to contact us and discuss your requirements
