How to save electricity in your business

Saving electricity is a good way of making your business more energy and cost efficient, and luckily there are lots of ways of cutting your electrical usage. Here we take a look at what you can do to save electricity in your business.

Turn it off!

It may sound obvious, but switching off lights and electrical equipment can make a huge difference to your business’s electricity usage. Encourage your employees to get into the habit of switching off lights and equipment such as monitors, computers, printers and radios, as well as kitchen equipment such as coffee makers, microwaves and dishwashers when they are not in use. If necessary, put in place rules or a rota.

Electrical equipment, appliances and systems

Use energy-saving mode

As mentioned above, office equipment should be switched off when not in use. If this is not possible, try to use energy-saving mode but bear in mind that, for instance, computers continue to use up to 40% of their power when on standby.

Testing, testing

Outdated or unmaintained electrical appliances are not only dangerous but can also be very inefficient where energy usage is concerned. Make sure all relevant appliances are regularly checked and tested to ensure they are compliant and energy-efficient. DRF Electrical offers PAT testing and maintenance services – find out more about why it’s important to maintain your electrical appliances in our blog here.

Upgrade or replace

Old and outdated equipment, fixtures and lighting, security, fire and HVAC systems can eat up between 50% and 90% more electricity than energy-efficient models. Upgrading, retrofitting or replacing older energy-consuming models will have a dramatic effect on your electricity bills and your energy-saving credentials.

When buying new equipment, assess its energy-saving credentials. Nowadays, a lot of equipment has energy rating labels to give you an idea of how green they are.

Lighting

On average, lighting makes up around 20 percent of the electricity used in commercial spaces and industrial buildings. Thankfully, there is a range of measures that can be taken to make your lighting more energy efficient.

Choose the right lightbulbs

Consider changing your lightbulbs. Even a small saving on one lightbulb can mean a big saving when you add up all the lightbulbs in your offices, warehouses or other commercial premises. Consider switching to LEDs, which use less energy than traditional incandescent, neon and compact fluorescent lighting (CFL), meaning that not only is your carbon footprint lower but your cost savings are higher. In fact, using LEDs instead of standard incandescent bulbs can cut your lighting bill by up to 80%. Read our blog here for more about the benefits of LED lighting.

It’s all in the timing

If you’re struggling to get people to switch off the lights when a room or area is not in use, then a timer may be the answer. These switch the lights on and off at set times. Timer systems are great for offices or other commercial spaces where the lights do not need to be on 24 hours a day.

Is somebody there?

Equally, motion sensors can detect the presence of people, and switch lights on and off accordingly. This is particularly useful for areas of your commercial premises that are not in continual use, such as corridors or meeting rooms.

Use natural light

Make the most of the natural light that enters your commercial space during the day by ensuring lighting is not in use when sunlight could work equally well. Automatic dimmers can also be installed that adjust to your requirements throughout the day. DRF Electrical can help design a bespoke system that both meets your requirements and is energy efficient, including through the use of natural light.

Blowing hot and cold

A major use of electricity comes from keeping your commercial premises at the right temperature by using heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. So it’s vital you try to heat or cool your premises in the most energy efficient way. Encouraging your staff to wear suitable clothing, using doors and windows effectively (shutting them when it’s cold and opening them when it’s warm) and setting timers are all ways you could minimise your energy usage.

Get an energy assessment

It can be a good idea to bring in a professional to assess your energy usage and requirements. As experts in commercial electrical work, DRF Electrical can advise and help businesses who are looking to reduce their carbon footprint by saving electricity. We’ll assess your business energy costs and electrical usage, helping you choose the most energy efficient lighting, upgrades or systems that best meet your requirements. We have been designing electrical, security, fire and lighting systems for our customers for decades, and offer full redesigns, upgrades or retrofits.

Contact us for more information about saving electricity on 0113 257 8212.