Businesses are under increasing pressure these days to improve the way they manage their energy usage. This is because of rising energy prices, and initiatives set by the government to increase their energy efficiency.

Part of the Building Regulations Act encourages businesses to accurately measure the amount of energy they use. So unless you already know what yours is, you are likely to find it difficult to get a true picture. So what can help?

Research has shown that Smart Meters are increasingly providing businesses with the answer*. This is because they give an accurate and up to date energy reading, which can be used to help control and drive the right energy efficiency behavior.

A Smart Meter will help a business to become more proactive when it comes to managing their energy usage. This is because once they know the amount they are using and how much it is costing them, they can start taking steps to reduce it and their impact on the environment.

Recent figures released by the Carbon Trust indicate that small UK businesses could save a staggering £300 million each year on their energy bills**, and reduce their carbon emissions by a possible 5.1 million tonnes.

So let’s consider the main ways a Smart Meter can improve the energy efficiency of your business.

• Helps You Control Your Spend

  A Smart Meter makes it easy to keep a close eye on your business energy bill; helping you to make an informed decision about who you are buying your energy from. It will provide you with detailed data, so you can monitor the amount you use. You can also determine where energy is being wasted, and plan and allocate your energy costs more accurately.

• Improves Your Impact On The Environment

  By monitoring the amount of energy your business is using, you can reduce the amount you are wasting which improves your carbon footprint.

• Easy To Use

  All Smart Meters are easy to use. The latest models are compact, wireless, and can be connected to the internet. They use Bluetooth (a similar technology to a mobile phone), to send daily or monthly readings remotely to you online. Older models enable you to view your reading on an LCD screen. This means that you can easily check your usage, track patterns and generally manage your energy levels with ease.

• Advanced Features That Save You Money

  More innovative Smart Meters come with advanced features which help you save more money, like an energy tariff control feature. This allows businesses to switch between suppliers and tariffs depending on normal or peak periods. The potential savings therefore are considerable.

• You Don’t Need To Submit A Meter Reading

  You will not need to submit your meter reading with a Smart Meter, or have someone visit to take a reading. This is because all the data is collected remotely via Bluetooth.

• Accurate Billing

  You always know what to expect from your electricity bill with a Smart Meter, and it ensures that you are only billed for what you use.

Smart Meters are indeed a great way of managing the amount of energy your business uses, and as this article has highlighted, the benefits of getting one certainly out weigh the costs.

For further information about these and other ways a Smart Meter can benefit your business and how you can go about getting one, visit business energy websites like energy360.co.uk.

Sources – *http://www.microsoft.com/uk/smallbusiness/sbnews/small-business-finance/Smart-meters-can-help-small-firms-reduce-energy-bills-19435106.mspx
**4ecotips.com
energy-retail.org.uk, ecoswitch.com, carbontrust.co.uk

By taking a few simple measures to save energy in your business, you will see an immediate drop in the amount you are paying and reduce your carbon emissions.

This guide covers 10 such ways which are easy and virtually free to implement. So start improving the energy efficiency of your business and save on your energy bill today.

1. Track The Amount Of Energy You Use

   To be able to understand the amount you will save by becoming more energy conscious, you will need to know exactly how much you were paying beforehand. Keep track of your bills, especially after you have made the changes so you can see how much you are saving.

2. Switch Off PC’s

   Always switch off your office PC’s when they are not in use, especially over weekends and bank holidays. Research shows that leaving one PC on over a 24 hour period will cost you over £50 a year*. Turning it off out of hours is best practice, but even putting it on standby or power save mode will reduce this amount to £15.

3. Only Turn The Heat Up If You Need To

   Turning your thermostat up by just one degree increases your heating cost by around 8%*. So if you were to do it all the time, your bill would be through the roof! Before you reach for the heating control, think about whether you really need to turn it higher than the recommended 19°C. For instance, if your staff feels cold, then encourage them to wear warmer clothing.

4. Do Not Obstruct Your Radiators

   Now that your heating is on, you need to make certain that you are getting the most heat from your radiators. Putting furniture or files in front of them will stop heat from getting through. To stop heat from being absorbed through the walls, try putting aluminium foil behind your radiators.
   It’s also wise to get your radiators and central heating system serviced regularly, because you could be paying an extra 10% a year on heating bills if they are inefficient*.

5. Use Energy Saving Light Bulbs

   The government is phasing out inefficient light bulbs, and it’s no wonder because an energy saving one lasts ten times longer and uses around 80% less energy*. It costs about fifty pence, and according to the Energy Savings Trust will save you approximately £3 a year on your electricity bill. Although this may not sound that big on its own, if you replace 20 then you will save £60.

6. Keep The Heat In

   Where possible make sure doors and windows are kept closed to keep the heat in, especially where the temperature between rooms and corridors is different. It’s also wise to draught-proof your windows and doors with excluders that can be found for a reasonable price at all DIY shops.

7. Switch Off Lights When Not In Use

   By turning the light off when you leave an empty room, you could cut around 15% off your electricity bill. This applies to all unused rooms, including meeting rooms and toilets. You can also significantly cut your carbon emissions; for instance if you switched off a fluorescent light for one hour a day, you could reduce your annual carbon emissions by 30kg.

8. Use Natural Lighting Where Possible

   There is nothing like daylight coming through the office to improve the working environment, and your electricity bill! Where possible, work near windows and ensure that they are not obstructed with blinds or piles of files and paperwork, and make the most of natural lighting. A bright sunny day will also help to heat up a room.

9. Be Smart During Your Coffee Break

   Did you know that if everybody stopped boiling more water in their kettles than they needed, then we would have saved ourselves enough electricity to light all our nation’s streets! Only boil enough water you need to make your hot drink during your coffee break. Overfilling the kettle wastes energy and money.

10. Make It A Team Effort

    By talking to your staff about saving energy and reducing carbon emissions you are more likely to get them on side, which means energy saving becomes a team effort. Always lead by example, and encourage them to express their energy saving ideas.

You can find out more about how your business can save money and reduce its carbon emissions from energy advisory websites like energysavingtrust.org.uk or carbontrust.co.uk.

*Sources – energysavingtrust.co.uk, carbontrust.co.uk.