Ten simple steps that up your green credentials and save you money? Look no further, Michael Rossman, co-founder at EnergyBillKill.com, is here to tell us how.
The exhausting topic of climate change has been plugged so much that people and businesses are growing tired of it. However, even the most sceptical among us can agree that being green is important and a no-brainer if it takes very little effort at all.
Being green isn’t just about the environment – it’s also about cutting energy costs, being sustainable and enhancing your brand image. If you are an electrical company that wants to be green, there are ways to go about it while saving money in the process.
1) Carry out an energy assessment/audit
An energy audit will assess when, where and how your business uses energy so you can understand your energy use and identify energy-saving opportunities.
An audit will survey your business’ equipment, appliances, energy use, operating patterns and energy supplier to determine any areas of improvement.
It isn’t a disruptive process and it will go a long way to helping you save money and be greener. You can conduct your own energy audit (Gazprom has a good how-to guide) or there are companies that offer them.
2) Create a waste management plan
A waste management plan will reduce the amount of waste you produce and ensure that what can be recycled gets recycled.
At a basic level, a waste management plan should:
- Determine who is responsible for waste
- Establish areas in your business that produce waste
- Set targets for minimising waste
- Put in place measures for waste recycling.
It is estimated between 4.8 and 12.7 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year, as well as several million tonnes of glass and scrap metal. If we all start recycling more, we can make a profound difference to this number.
3) Change to LED light bulbs
If your premises use incandescent light bulbs, switching to LED light bulbs will slash your energy consumption per bulb by at least 75%.
If your premises use CFL bulbs (which are more efficient than incandescent bulbs, but not as efficient as LED bulbs), you will slash your energy consumption per bulb by 35%.
LED light bulbs are rated to last around 50,000 hours and they are the most efficient bulbs on the market. They are also available in all sizes.
4) Turn appliances off standby
Appliances and electrical tools like drills on standby consume around five to 9kWh of electricity each year. If you multiply that number by the number of appliances and tools you own that are left on standby, the wasted electricity soon adds up.
It’s better for the environment and your wallet to turn appliances and tools off at the plug, even if it adds a little inconvenience to your day.
5) Install low flow aerators on taps
Low flow aerators reduce the flow of water from the faucet of a tap without reducing pressure. You can install them in around 30 seconds, and they save around 50% of the water you would normally use at the sink.
Water bills are never extortionately high, however the energy used by water treatment facilities is enormous. By using less water, less water needs to be treated, helping to reduce your impact on the environment.
6) Use a dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers are great for garages, workshops and basements that are prone to high humidity. They are also useful indoors for air purification.
A dehumidifier reduces humidity by collecting water from the air. You can reuse this water in your business or on-site.
7) Insulate
The leading cause of poor energy efficiency in buildings is poor insulation, but how do you know if this is a problem in your premises?
The easiest way to find out is by having an Energy Performance Certificate conducted. EPCs are available from a commercial energy assessor.
If your building is exempt from requiring an EPC by law, then an EPC will be a voluntary endeavour. We recommend going for it if your business struggles to stay warm and heated when it’s cold outside.
8) Consider Demand Side Response
Demand Side Response (DSR) is an intervention you can make to reduce your impact and strain on the National Grid during peak times.
It requires you to turn up, turn down or shift your energy use in response to demand on energy infrastructure. It’s about intelligent energy use and timing your operation to reduce strain and potential electricity supply problems.
9) Supplement your energy supply with self-generated electricity
If you can supplement your energy supply with electricity that’s self-generated, you will lower your energy bills and reduce your dependency on the grid.
A large enough solar panel installation on the roof of your property could power 20 to 30% of your premises, such as lighting and small appliances.
Or you might prefer a wind turbine? One turbine is classed as permitted development in non-conservation areas, so long as it stands no taller than 11.1 metres with a swept area no greater than 3.8m. This size of wind turbine would produce around 8 MW a year.
10) Switch to green energy
It might surprise you to know that green energy can be cheaper than traditional energy, so long as you compare the market at the right time.
With electricity, you can switch to 100% renewable electricity that is either directly sourced from green and renewable sources or purchased from the National Grid and backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs).
With gas, there is no such thing as 100% renewable gas, however, some suppliers do a carbon offset to offer carbon-neutral gas. A carbon offset measures the amount of gas used and then invests in renewable projects around the world.
As a side note, you can also do your own carbon offsetting by measuring your carbon footprint and investing in renewable projects around the world.
You will be able to switch to green energy when your existing contract runs down. It’s a good idea to compare quotes early to get an idea about prices. Your existing supplier may already offer green energy, but it is unlikely the price they quote you on renewal will be the best you can get.
Energy suppliers are known for offering low introductory prices (for new customers) and high renewal prices (for existing customers). It’s a lot like car insurance in this sense – a merry-go-round that saps trust in energy prices.
Get your quotes in early and you should do well. Green energy should cost you no more than normal energy and it will slash your carbon footprint.
