03 Apr Environmentally friendly energy options for your business

Simple changes to the way you work and the way your business operates can reduce the amount of energy you consume considerably.

Not only is this good for the planet, but it is also good for your wallet. A 20% reduction in energy use can slash your energy bills by hundreds of pounds a year. Being greener is also a great way to pitch your business to the public.

If you are looking for a few environmentally friendly energy options for your business, here’s some to consider which we have seen work for others.

Renewable energy production

First of all you could always generate your own energy. Depending on which energy source you seek to harness the amount of energy you capture and save could power your operation in part or full. Solar electricity, solar heating, wind, biomass, biofuel, geothermal and hydropower are all options available to you.

Solar power that generates electricity and solar heating which warms water are the two most popular types of renewable energy with businesses. Air source and ground source heat pumps are also increasing in popularity.

Switch your supplier to a greener one

If you want to reduce your carbon footprint indirectly, the best way to do so is by choosing an energy supplier who uses renewables, not fossil fuels, to produce their own energy – or alternatively, a supplier who buys renewable energy in bulk. Here are a few examples: Bulb offers 100% renewable electricity and 100% carbon neutral gas, and Green Energy also have 100% renewable energy which includes electricity and gas.

Try avoiding the big six. Although they often offer the best introductory prices, their energy mix is heavily reliant on fossil fuels like coal.

Pay more attention to how much energy you use

One of the easiest things a business can do to transform their energy efficiency, is simply paying more attention to how much electricity they’re using.

Smart meters have businesses divided on their usefulness but make no mistake they will improve your relationship with your energy. You can monitor energy use in real-time, often on your phone, anywhere in the world. There is no better way to keep tabs on energy use. If your business is office-based, you can also invest in a smart thermostat. This will enable you to switch the heating on and off and set timers from your phone.

Devices and eco-friendly electrical upgrades

There are a few recommendations we can make right away. But first of all, have an energy efficiency report carried out at your premises. This will reveal opportunities for you to reduce energy consumption at work. You can then put these into practice.

Once you have done that, you can look to your electrical appliances and how you use energy at work. One of the best ways for any business to be more environmentally-friendly is to replace old light bulbs with LED bulbs. You can recycle your old bulbs so they don’t go to landfill, and your new LED bulbs will last in excess of two years. This longer lifespan has the added benefit of reduced long-term bulb replacement costs.

We also recommend motion sensors and timers. These will switch your lights on when needed and off when they aren’t.

Something else we recommend is replacing old appliances. Fridges, freezers, air conditioning systems, computers, and even industrial machinery like CNC mills and lathes are less efficient the older they are. You want equipment and appliances that use as little energy as possible. Prior to 2010, a lot of appliances were very inefficient. Replace these to reduce your energy use and save on your energy bills.

We can help you make your business more environmentally-friendly thanks to our knowledge of energy-efficient electrical systems and emerging technologies. Please contact us on 0800 9788 168 or 0113 894 1968 for more information.