Minimizing your business energy usage is a great way of not only cutting down your operating expenses but also reducing your carbon footprint. There are plenty of changes that you can make to your business premises to lower your energy usage as we head into the new year. In this article, Josco Energy will take a look at 6 of the top business premises adjustments that you should consider.
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Upgrade Your Lighting
It is estimated that lighting accounts for around 15% of an office’s energy usage. You can significantly lower your energy usage by having your lighting system either fully replaced or upgraded. Remember to go for energy-efficient bulbs as they tend to use up to 75% less electricity. By choosing either Light Emitting Diode (LED) or compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs, you not only gain five times more energy savings, but you also get bulbs that last much longer than the standard ones. This means that you won’t need to replace your bulbs as often.
Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) Assessment
According to Josco, ESOS is a mandatory energy assessment program for organizations in the UK that meet certain criteria. This scheme audits the energy used by buildings of large organizations. If your organization has over 250 employees or a turnover of £38.9 million or a balance sheet of over £33.4 million. you are required by law to undergo an ESOS assessment. About 10,000 businesses in the UK meet these criteria.
This assessment helps to identify high energy usage areas, and recommend affordable and energy-efficient solutions. Not only does this help to cut down your business’ carbon footprint, but it also reduces your energy bills. The deadline for the first compliance period passed in 2015 and the deadline for the second phase compliance passed in 2019. To ensure compliance all enrolled businesses are required to undergo these assessments every four years.
The deadline for phase 3 compliance is in 2022. Our team at MSL can assist to make sure that your organization stays ESOS compliant. We will designate a Lead Assessor who will take you through the process and help you gather all the information and data required to remain compliant.
Switch It Off
While it may seem obvious, making sure that all your equipment including computers and lights are switched off at the end of the day or when not in use can reduce the energy usage in your building, and as a result, ensure cost savings for your business. Consider investing in lighting systems programmed to switch off at certain times of the day or are motion-sensitive and only light when there are people in the room. These types of lighting systems are particularly beneficial for larger business premises.
Ensure Regular Maintenance
Scheduling regular preventative maintenance helps to ensure that each and every aspect of your business is consistently checked and maintained. The purpose of this maintenance is to ensure that all equipment that use power including air conditioners, boilers, and lightings are running as efficiently as possible, thereby minimizing any unnecessary energy usage.
Did you know that a poorly maintained air conditioning unit requires more energy to operate normally than a well-maintained one? Having your unit checked regularly helps to identify issues with the equipment before they develop into bigger problems and it also helps to ensure effective usage.
Replace Windows and Doors
Doors and windows are some of the biggest culprits when it comes to air leakage in business buildings. The drafts of air often lead to increased heating or air conditioning usage, which consequently raises your energy usage and utility bills.
By having your windows and doors replaced with more energy-efficient options, such as double glazing, you will minimize any air leakage in your property. Thus, this will help to enhance your energy efficiency as well as your security.
Cycle to Work Schemes
Having a cycle to work scheme can really help you cut down the amount of energy your business uses indirectly. By encouraging staff members to make their way via foot or via other means of safe transport you save massively on fossil fuels.
Insulation
Having your property properly insulated not only helps to reduce your annual energy bills but also helps to lower your carbon emissions. Roof insulation is an easy low-cost solution that will help to prevent cold air from escaping, thus maintaining a favorable temperature at your facility. This ultimately reduces the amount of heating required in the winter months and ensures that your air conditioning unit is working well during the summer months.
