Energy Saving Tips

Energy Saving Tips

Energy walk-round

A walk-round is a great way to identify measures where energy and cost savings can be easily made in your business. It requires two members of staff walking round the office together, identifying areas where energy consumption can be reduced. This exercise, combined with using a smart meter, will allow you to monitor your energy usage and implement changes in your business that should greatly reduce costs.

Carrying out an energy walk-round

The areas to look at on your walk-round are heating, lighting, office equipment and, if applicable, factory and warehouse equipment. Download our walk-round checklist for guidance on what to look for

Step 1
Log in to your online account and review your half hourly electricity usage to highlight areas where usage is high and where energy is being used during unoccupied periods.

You can also review your electricity usage in near-real-time on your computer or mobile phone from your iGoogle homepage. Read more about Google PowerMeter>

Step 2
Using the first:utility checklist, conduct a walk-round to identify areas where energy is being wasted. Depending on the information gathered from step 1 you may need to conduct more than one walk-round to highlight problems during specific time periods.

Step 3
Implement changes to the problems identified in Step 2. Once you have done this, log back in to your account to review the effect your changes have made. With smart metering you can see precise results for specific times giving you greater control over your energy usage.

Lighting tips

Installing the most energy efficient lighting systems can save up to 30% (more in some cases) on electricity bills and often results in better lighting quality. Follow these light-savings tips to reduce costs:

  • Use natural light wherever possible
  • Update your fluorescent tubes. Slimline fluorescent tubes (26mm diameter) use 10% less electricity. Installing new high frequency fluorescent lighting eliminates hum and flicker, extends lamp life and can reduce consumption by around 25%
  • Replace standard light bulbs with energy efficient light bulbs - they have a longer life and use up to 75% less energy
  • Switch lights off when premises are unoccupied. A lot of energy is wasted when unnecessary lights are left on out of hours. Carry out an out-of-hours check to see if this is a problem
  • Use dimmer switches in areas such as corridors, stair wells and staff rooms
  • Turn off lighting that's used just for decorative effect, espcially in unoccupied areas

Heating tips

Heating costs rise by 8% for every 1OC of overheating. Follow these heat-savings tips to reduce costs:

  • Ensure heaters are serviced at least annually 
  • Review the use of portable electric heaters which are expensive to run. If portable heaters have to be used, install a simple time switch so they turn themselves off after a designated period
  • Heat areas of your premises differently - consider heating the building in zones to allow heat to be adjusted for each area. Areas such as store rooms and corridors, or where there is a high level of physical activity, require less heat
  • Make sure thermostats are correctly set  - they should generally be set at 19 to 20C for heating
  • Control your heating so it comes on only when it is needed, using your smart meter and a seven day timer. This allows your heat to be turned down or off during unoccupied periods
  • Instead of opening windows, turn down thermostats until a comfortable temperature is reached
  • Block cold draughts. Fit draught strips and seal up windows and doors that are no longer used.

Equipment tips

  • Switch off PCs, monitors and photcopiers each night and at weekends. If it's not possible to turn off the computer entirely, at least turn off the monitor and printer
  • Don't leave equipment on standby or leave phones or laptops on charge unneccesarily
  • Use lap tops for desk top PCs in your office. They consume 90% less energy
  • Install ink jet rather than laser printers. They also consume 90% less energy

Start saving money on your electricity bill when you join first:utility. Call us now on 0845 215 1935