Business energy savings: reducing your company’s energy consumption

Reducing energy consumption at work is one of the best ways to make easy savings. If you haven’t tackled the issue of your energy consumption in your business, there are likely plenty of ways you’re losing out on money without realising. Fortunately, reducing energy consumption and saving is just as easy as losing it. It just takes a careful analysis of all the ways you burn energy in your daily operations and reviewing ways you can cut down on it. The hard part is identifying the many different areas in which you might be overconsuming. Our comprehensive guide on business energy savings is packed with energy saving tips. From alternative power sources, to thermostat settings, and energy efficient equipment, you’re likely to find a solution to your energy drain here.

Energy use in the EU economy amounts to 62 million TJ (terajoules), with EU businesses making up three quarters of that amount. Businesses consume a high amount of energy through their operations, especially ones with production of goods and maintaining an office. It’s no secret that energy will remain one of your major expenses throughout your career running a business. The key is not to see exorbitant energy prices as an inevitability. Critically examine your energy consumption with the intention of reducing it and you will find you have much more control over this aspect of company ownership than you previously thought. 

A good place to start with saving energy is by reviewing your purchasing.Your supplier, equipment, and type of energy consumed can all be changed for the better. This stage of energy conservation will cost you money, but it’s about investing now to save later. 

This won’t be possible for everyone as it’s dependent on region, but if you run your business in an area with a deregulated energy market, you might be able to switch to a retail energy provider (REP). REPs, instead of having energy prices change according to market fluctuations, have a fixed price for their energy costs to businesses and residents. Research the REPs available to you, going beyond just the advertised price quotes. Make sure you find out things like:

Upgrading and replacing business equipment is costly upfront, but can lead to considerable savings. The idea is to replace faulty and inefficient equipment with newer, better designed ones which won’t cause problems later on and result in costly repairs, or emergency replacements during a difficult financial period.Types of energy efficient equipment that might be suitable for your business include: 

Energy scams happen at home and in your place of work. The first step to protecting yourself against them is to identify the different types of possible scams and how they attempt to rope you into dangerous situations. This is especially true for new small business owners. Below are some of the most common energy scams:

Third-party electricity suppliers may try to enrol you in their services without your consent. This is called ‘slamming’ and it happens when the scammers attempt to obtain your account number and make the switch to their services without your knowledge. You can protect yourself better against slamming by never sharing your energy company account numbers with anyone except the company you currently belong to and trust. 

You may be offered discounted rates via email, phone, or even in person if you switch to a third-party energy supplier. Once you’ve signed a long-term contract, the rates continue to climb until you’re locked into a contract paying extortionate energy rates with devastating cancellation fees. To avoid this, read your contracts carefully and research any company offering you unsolicited deals. 

In the case of this scam, you will be informed that your power is going to be shut off due to unpaid bills. The scammers request you settle your outstanding bill to halt the shutoff, by paying either in cash or a prepaid credit card.Don’t pay any bills that don’t come from your providers, to avoid this situation. If you can’t tell whether or not it has, contact your provider and ask about any unpaid bills or threatened shutoffs. 

A more common threat to homeowners, small business owners are still at risk of scammers showing up at their place of business and informing them about necessary inspections or repairs. Verify anyone who comes to you in person, checking their credentials, website—anything you can find on them. 

More investors are buying into solar power and major retailers are selling solar panels for home and business owners. It’s entering the mainstream as more than just a sustainable option: solar power is an energy saver. US businesses reported a massive 89% reduction in their energy bills after switching to solar. There are a few ways in which solar power will allow you to save on energy costs: 

Demand response programmes allow energy consumers to play a more active role in how the electricity grid operates. They balance the supply and demand in certain areas in order to lower the electricity cost in certain markets and, overall, lower the wholesale price of energy. Ways in which customers are engaged to participate in demand response programmes include: 

These methods offer customers financial incentives to participate, such as discounts off their next bill. The key thing about demand response programmes is that they require widespread participation from individuals and businesses in order to be implemented in certain regions. While offering valuable financial incentives which can lead to crucial savings for small businesses in formation, these programmes also have considerable environmental benefits. Find out if there are any companies offering demand response programmes in your region and consider getting involved. You’ll earn considerable savings and contribute towards an important environmental cause. 

More and more governments are offering tax breaks to companies and individuals who lower their energy use, sometimes called ‘energy relief packages’. These have become more popular in Europe since the COP26 pledges and gas crisis. How much you save will depend on the governing body in the region of your place of business. For SMEs in Germany, the government announced in March that it would provide extensive relief packages for taxpayers in the country. Relief packages often include things like monthly reductions on your energy bills, tax breaks on car fuels, and public transport discounts. Entrepreneurs, freelancers, and families are often given extra discounts if they meet the low energy requirements. 

Small business owners shouldn’t operate on an island. Entrepreneurship is a community. It’s an opportunity to swap ideas, grow together, and learn from each other. Whether you do this remotely via Slack communities with your business banking provider, or meet with other entrepreneurs at group meetups and conventions, communication is key. Low energy use is exactly the kind of thing businesses can discuss and help each other out with. Start by contacting your friends and business owners you know, to introduce the idea of swapping energy tips and information with each other. Once you get the idea in people’s heads, you can start looking to create a community together:

Competition among businesses shouldn’t create animosity—it should foster a sense of friendly competition. This can be used for good in causes that affect us all, like energy crises and environmental concerns. 

Monitoring your energy use might bring to mind hours spent pouring over spreadsheets, but with so many technological developments and resources in recent years, it doesn’t have to be so energy inducing. In turn, maintaining a clear picture of your energy use will reveal countless ways in which you can conserve and save. 

Energy audits are mandatory for larger companies, but there are benefits for SMBs, too. Both the EU and Germany’s federal government are offering more incentives for smaller companies to organise energy audits in their companies. 

Larger companies usually have internal auditors to perform these compulsory duties, however a smaller company will have to contact an external energy auditor. The auditor will go over your energy bills, assessing usage and costs over the period of time since you have started operations or were last audited. They will identify potential savings and assess the company from a commercial perspective. 

There are two different types of company energy audits the auditor can complete: Preliminary energy audit: a data gathering exercise which offers a preliminary analysis, also called a walk-through investigationDetailed energy audit: a more in-depth audit, in which the auditor analyses and verifies energy use in the company to establish problem areas and possibilities for conservationBoth can be performed at home or in the office. 

Key to saving energy in your business is setting both long and short term goals. These should be energy efficiency targets you plan to meet at certain points in the year, and should prompt reviews of your performance when each target is met or not. Some short term goals could be: 

Long term goals could include: 

Engaging your employees in energy saving initiatives is a great way to meet your goals. With more minds on the job, you’re more likely to implement creative and versatile ways to conserve energy in your company.Start by hosting a company-wide meeting and discussing your intentions to put together a team dedicated to energy-saving in the company. This way, you can gage specific interest in the topic and the ones most dedicated to the cause will come forwards. Next, host regular brainstorming sessions and create a friendly, open environment for your employees to test out ideas.Set a budget and try to give your employees the resources they need to implement their ideas. It will initially be costly, but these are long-term plans: the savings are worth it. Make sure your team keeps abreast of any government offerings and changes to political initiatives on the subject, as these can lead to tax breaks and even more savings.  

One of the best practices for company energy conservation is through improving the efficiency of your Heat, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems or HVAC. Not only do these use a great deal of energy (especially when outdated or faulty), but they are also conducive to productivity from you and your employees. 

An assessment of the make, model, and current state of your HVAC system should come first. Hire a professional to take a look at your system and they can determine whether it needs a service or upgrade, and what kind of HVAC system you actually need. Depending on the size of your office, you may be using an expensive system for a small space, or overworking a smaller system in a bigger space. Following this, schedule future audits of your HVAC to continue maintaining a high standard of functionality. 

Controlling your HVAC’s cooling water temperature will allow the system to use less power and still provide a comfortable temperature. During certain seasons, only a mild change in temperature may be needed, thus using far less power because the compressor won’t have to work so hard. 

Automating the speed, run-time, and output of HVAC systems can regulate heating and cooling systems while still providing comfortable temperature levels in the office. A good automated system can save up to 25% on energy costs without you having to do anything to your system. 

It might seem like a small aspect of energy consumption and a minor part of your energy bills, but all the little bits add up. Lighting is something we may not think we can make big savings on, but once we begin to approach it consciously, the savings become clear.

Natural light is, obviously, the cheapest and most efficient way to adequately brighten up your office space. This will however depend on the structure of your office and whether or not the existing natural light will be enough for you and your employees’ working conditions. Keep large windows free of obstructions and plan the layout of your office in a way that makes maximum use of natural light for the employees, e.g. by placing desks under the windows. Paint your walls bright colours with a matte finish to reflect and increase natural light in common areas. Outside your office, plant trees and shrubs that will soften the harsh glare of sunlight so you don’t have to block it entirely and rely on artificial lights throughout the day. With properly proportioned natural light, you can reap productivity benefits too. Natural light is less likely to cause eye strain for workers and will decrease drowsiness. It’s also a nicer environment when paired with bright coloured walls and decorations, leading to improved moods all round. 

All offices will still need to use artificial lighting, so choosing the most energy efficient ones is crucial. 

Make sure you and your staff are aware of only having the lights on when they’re being used. There are few more frustrating energy drainers than a light left on overnight or in a meeting room no one’s occupying. Install automatic switches, which may have a steep upfront cost but the overall savings of a long-term investment will outweigh it. 

While it’s most efficient to have a hybrid or remote office, there’s a strong likelihood your company requires an office to function. This will undoubtedly add energy costs to your operations, but there are plenty of ways to keep those low. 

Most of the energy efficiency changes you can make in the office are easy to implement but come with some upfront costs. Switching to energy efficient may mean paying for new equipment but inefficient equipment can cause a serious blow to your budget every month.Energy-efficient equipment means:

Laptop computers use about 80% less energy than desktop computers, making them vastly superior in terms of energy consumption. Absolutely make the switch or start your business with laptops for yourself and your staff if they can adequately perform the tasks needed. Do your research and find the most energy efficient laptops to ensure maximum savings. 

It’s easier now than it ever has been to reduce paper use at work. There are digital alternatives for most everything. To ensure you’re getting the most out of a paperless world, make sure you and your staff are paying attention to their paper use:

Business energy savings should be a focus of every entrepreneur who wants to run their business efficiently and successfully. Consumption is both a concern financially and more widely as we work together to fight climate change and consumption levels.