Boost your business energy efficiency for a brighter future.

Energy efficiency for small and medium business owners.

Eighty per cent of UK small and medium-sized enterprises¹ (SMEs) are already taking action when it comes to saving business energy. We know energy is a significant cost for almost every business, every single day. By using less energy and investing in energy-efficient technology, your company could cut its energy bills and be more profitable. Every pound saved on energy goes straight to your bottom line, directly improving your finances². This makes saving business energy a direct path to a healthier balance sheet.

What's more, customers are increasingly interested in sustainable businesses³, which ties in closely with business energy efficiency. The more sustainable your business is, the higher its energy efficiency rating, and the more attractive you become to an environmentally conscious customer base. This can genuinely improve how people see your brand, bring in new customers who value green credentials, and even boost employee morale. Focusing on energy efficiency in business isn't just about cutting costs; it's about building an organisation that's ready for the future.

To help you get started with boosting your business energy efficiency, we've put together some advice for a range of SME industries. Take a look and see how you could transform your business's energy use and make the most of energy saving for business.

Preparing a tailored energy efficiency strategy.

Getting smart about energy efficiency begins with a solid plan. A tailored strategy isn't just about saving business energy; it's about making a positive impact and building a more resilient business. Here's how to create the foundation for effective energy efficiency.

Conducting energy audits and calculating carbon footprint.

First up, let's talk about energy audits – these are the basis of a smart energy strategy. Think of it as a business energy 'health check'. Despite wanting to take action, most small businesses have never worked out their carbon footprint⁴. By doing an energy audit, which includes your carbon footprint, you can find out what's draining your energy, as well as opportunities to boost saving business energy and cut carbon.

This detailed look gives you a clear picture of your energy consumption, helping you pinpoint exactly where your energy saving efforts will be most effective. So, crunch those numbers and find out where you can improve.

Installing smart meters for monitoring.

Want a helping hand? Try installing a smart meter – a useful tool to help you understand your business’ energy use. Smart meters give you near real-time information on your electricity and gas usage. This lets you monitor your energy use and set goals to keep your new energy strategy on track. This visibility is vital for truly understanding where your energy goes and for proving the impact of your business energy efficiency initiatives.

You can easily spot peak usage times, find out-of-hours consumption, and track the immediate results of changes you make, which makes saving business energy much more tangible.

Setting defined energy goals.

Now you have the right information, it’s time to set a clear energy strategy. This means setting goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Simply wanting to "save energy" isn't specific enough. Instead, aim for targets like "reduce electricity consumption by 10% in the next six months" or "lower gas bills by 15% this winter through better insulation." These specific goals will give you a clear target and motivate your team to make them better at saving business energy.

Break down bigger goals into smaller, manageable steps, and celebrate your successes along the way to keep momentum in your journey towards greater business energy efficiency.

Cultivating a culture of sustainability within the team.

The final step in getting ready to take action is creating a culture of sustainability within your team. Surprisingly, less than two-thirds of SMEs have an active workplace energy policy⁵. However, without getting the team informed and on board, making changes will be an uphill struggle. So, gather your team, spread the word, and set some guidelines.

Get everyone involved, because saving business energy and reducing emissions is a team effort that benefits everyone. When employees understand the 'why' behind the changes and see their contribution to business energy efficiency, they're much more likely to adopt new habits and find further opportunities for improvement.

Quick and easy no-cost actions.

Sometimes, the simplest changes can make the biggest difference, and the best part is, they often don't cost anything. These quick wins are a great starting point for any business looking to cut its energy use straight away and kickstart its energy saving journey.

Turning off lights and unused appliances: This might seem obvious, but it's surprising how often lights are left on in empty rooms or appliances continue to use power when not in use. Encourage staff to switch off lights when they leave a room and unplug chargers, computers, and other equipment at the end of the day. Even standby mode, often called "vampire drain," can quietly add up to a significant part of your energy bill.

Making switching off vampire devices a daily habit across your team is a fundamental step in saving business energy with no outlay.

Adjusting heating/cooling temperatures: Small changes can make a big difference to your energy bills. Dropping your thermostat by just one degree in winter can lead to noticeable savings, and similarly, slightly raising the temperature of your air conditioning in summer.

The recommended comfortable temperature for most offices is between 19-21°C in winter and 23-25°C in summer⁶. Make sure heating and cooling systems are only on when the building is occupied and that windows and doors are closed when they are running. This common-sense approach is a powerful way to improve energy efficiency in business without spending a thing.

Low-cost energy-saving actions.

Once you've tackled the no-cost actions, consider these low-cost investments that can offer significant returns on your energy saving for business. These measures often pay for themselves quickly, making them smart choices for improving your overall business energy efficiency.

Reviewing energy tariffs: It sounds simple, but many businesses stay on uncompetitive tariffs for too long. Regularly check your energy contract to make sure you're on the best possible deal for your business's needs.

We offer various business gas and electricity tariffs designed to suit different business sizes and usage patterns. A quick check could reveal substantial savings.

Conducting detailed energy usage assessments: While smart meters provide great data, a more in-depth assessment can uncover hidden areas of waste. This might involve using portable energy monitors to check the consumption of individual appliances, or hiring a specialist to analyse your specific business operations.

This deeper dive can reveal inefficiencies that aren't immediately obvious, helping you pinpoint exactly where to focus your energy saving for business efforts.

Stopping draughts and improving insulation for doors and windows: Heat loss through draughts and poorly insulated windows and doors can significantly increase your heating costs.

Simple actions like fitting draught excluders, sealing gaps around windows with sealant strips, and adding thicker curtains or blinds can make a surprising difference to your indoor climate and reduce the need for excessive heating. These minor improvements significantly boost your business energy efficiency and can be implemented gradually.

Upgrading lightbulbs to LEDs: We can't stress this enough – if you haven't already, switching to LED lighting is one of the most effective low-cost upgrades you can make. LEDs use up to 80% less energy⁷ than halogen bulbs, last much longer, and provide better quality light.

The initial cost is quickly recouped through lower electricity bills, making it a powerful tool for saving business energy. It’s worth paying particular attention to any lighting that is on for extended periods – such as signs, outdoor lighting, and areas that are operational 24/7.

Properly operating and maintaining boilers: An inefficient boiler can use a lot of energy. Regular servicing ensures your boiler is running at peak efficiency, and simple habits like bleeding radiators can improve heat distribution.

Understanding your boiler's controls and programming it effectively to match your business's operating hours can also lead to significant savings. Consider upgrading older, inefficient models when possible; a modern condensing boiler is far more efficient than older conventional types⁸, contributing significantly to your overall business energy efficiency.

Long-term investments.

For businesses ready to make a more significant commitment to energy efficiency, long-term investments can provide substantial and lasting benefits, not just for your bottom line but for your environmental credentials too. These investments often offer the most impactful energy savings over time.

Heat pumps: Replacing traditional fossil fuel boilers with heat pumps is a significant step towards decarbonising your heating. Air source and ground source heat pumps extract heat from the air or ground, even at low temperatures, to warm your premises.

While the upfront cost is higher than a conventional boiler, they're incredibly efficient, can drastically reduce your carbon emissions, and could significantly lower your heating bills over time⁹.

It's also worth looking into potential government grants or incentives, as schemes are often available to encourage businesses to adopt this greener technology and boost their business energy efficiency.

Energy Technology List: When considering new equipment or machinery for your business, always check the Energy Technology List (ETL). The ETL is a government-managed list of energy-efficient products that meet specific criteria for energy performance.

By choosing products from the ETL, you can be confident you're investing in technologies that are among the most efficient on the market, helping to reduce your operational costs and your environmental impact.

It's a valuable resource for making informed purchasing decisions and securing your long-term energy saving for business. The list covers a wide range of products from boilers and heat pumps to refrigeration and motors.

Taking action to boost energy efficiency for SME sectors.

Business energy efficiency solutions aren't one-size-fits-all. Different types of businesses have different energy demands and opportunities for saving business energy. Here's a look at some sector-specific considerations for improving your business energy efficiency.

SMEs in residential properties.

Many small businesses operate from home or from small residential-style properties. This includes businesses like dentist surgeries, hairdressers, and law firms. For SMEs operating in residential properties, simple yet effective actions can have a significant impact:

Smarter habits: This includes consistently switching off lights and unused appliances when not needed, such as computers, printers, and kitchen equipment. Get into the habit of unplugging devices when not in use, as even standby modes draw power. Every little bit makes a difference, and with your smart meter you can see the results in real time.

Energy-efficient appliances: Freshen up the break room by upgrading to energy-efficient appliances. Many appliances come with a helpful rating to show you how much energy they use. While the upfront cost may be higher, depending on the lifespan, it can still be more cost-effective to invest in a more efficient device.

Laptop vs desktop: Try setting up colleagues with laptops instead of desktops as they generally use less power, which saves on energy¹⁰. They also make your workforce more flexible, making it easier to travel or work from home. Just be sure any devices are switched off at the end of the day, as they still use power on standby.

Reduce heat waste: The average workplace uses 40% of energy on heating¹¹. So, look for simple improvements to get more out of your heating system and use less energy:

Check and seal draughts around windows and doors to prevent heat loss.
Make sure windows are closed when the heating is on (and in the summer if you use air conditioning).
Program the thermostat for working hours to optimise your heating routine, avoiding heating empty spaces.
Consider increasing insulation in the property. It’s recommended to have at least 270mm of roof insulation, and you may want to install wall and floor insulation too.

SMEs in commercial properties.

While many SMEs in commercial properties would benefit from the actions advised above for residential properties, there are some great additions that could really boost those savings for businesses such as retail stores, offices, and warehouses.

Upgrade your lighting: Larger commercial properties need a lot of lighting, which can really add up. Switch from halogen to LED lighting and see cost savings in under 3 years on average¹². LED tubes are also a great energy-saving alternative to fluorescent lighting.

Pay particular attention to any lighting that is on for extended periods – such as signs, outdoor lighting, and areas that are operational 24/7.

Get smart about building management: Managing a commercial property can be tough, so investing in smart devices may help make energy saving for business more achievable. Smart plugs and smart lighting can be controlled remotely via an app to switch off the entire building with one click.

Lighting sensors are another great option where spaces are used sporadically throughout the day, so that you are only lighting rooms in use. Plus, smart thermostats allow for room-by-room control, enabling fine-tuned optimisation of heating timers to suit your business, significantly enhancing energy efficiency in business.

Modernise your heating: If your SME owns its commercial property, consider investing in a more efficient heating system. Old boilers are often much less efficient than modern condensing boilers¹³ – meaning a significant amount of the heat you're paying for is being wasted.

It may also be an option to replace your boiler with a heat pump. Not only are they energy efficient but they could significantly reduce carbon emissions compared to a gas boiler, making a strong case for improved business energy efficiency¹⁴.

SMEs in the construction and manufacturing sector.

Manufacturing is one of the most energy-intensive UK industries¹⁵, relying on heavy machinery and power-hungry production processes. Businesses working within manufacturing and construction often benefit from special considerations to help improve energy efficiency. This includes businesses like commercial printing, production of goods, and construction sites.

Refine and upgrade key equipment and processes: Unlike many other industries, it’s not always possible to significantly reduce day-to-day energy consumption in manufacturing. Many of the largest energy drains are necessary functions of the business. However, always audit your energy use to make sure the business isn't wasting energy and money running intensive processes and equipment when they aren’t needed.

Optimise workflows to maximise productivity during operational hours – you may even be able to reduce the time machinery is active throughout the day. Plus, consider energy efficiency when investing in new equipment. The reduced running costs should lead to greater savings on your energy bill for high consumers, directly impacting your saving business energy.

Generate power on-site: As energy is undoubtedly a major cost for SMEs in this sector, investing in business energy technology is also well worth considering for long-term energy strategies.

On-site renewable generation, such as solar panel installations or wind turbines, enables businesses to produce and use their own electricity – cutting energy bills. But that’s not all. Installing on-site generation also improves energy security by providing an alternative electricity supply in the event of a power cut.

In some cases this can prevent costly stalls in production and improve safety as a failsafe for critical processes, particularly when combined with battery storage solutions. This is a significant step towards self sufficiency and greater business energy efficiency.

SMEs in the transport sector.

Transport is the second highest consumer of energy in the UK, ahead of industry as a whole¹⁶. Although, this is the result of a combination of commercial, public and private transport – not just the transport industry itself. SMEs operating in the transport sector, or any business which runs its own vehicles, could benefit from some unique energy adaptations to help improve efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint. This includes businesses such as taxi companies, driving instruction, and delivery services.

Drive electric: Whether your SME is running a single delivery van or a whole fleet of taxis – switching to electric vehicles could help to future-proof your business. The government is banning the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2035¹⁷, as part of efforts to phase out fossil fuels.

One of the biggest benefits of making the switch is the ability to install EV chargers on site for convenient recharging – so you can start every day at full power. Plus, for retail SMEs, installing a public charge point could help attract new business by being a handy pitstop for EV drivers. This move offers significant energy savings for business in the long term.

We can help you find the right EV charger for your business, from single wall-mounted units to ultra-fast charge points for whole fleets.

Fuel efficient driving: If going electric isn’t an option right now, you can still improve your energy efficiency in business with fuel efficient driving techniques. Train your drivers on best driving practices to save on fuel.

Slow and steady: High speeds use much more fuel than driving at lower speeds¹⁸. Plus, by anticipating situations as far ahead as possible, you can avoid unnecessary braking and accelerating, which also helps conserve fuel. This smooth driving style directly contributes to saving business energy.
Step off it: When slowing down or going down a hill, remove your foot from the accelerator as early as possible whilst remaining in gear. This activates the fuel cut-off switch in most vehicles, avoiding unnecessary fuel use.
Get in gear: It’s more fuel efficient to shift up early when accelerating, and even skip gears when appropriate. These small adjustments can collectively lead to substantial fuel savings across your fleet.

What government schemes and support are available to businesses for energy efficiency upgrades?

Luckily, if you want to upgrade the energy efficiency of your business, you aren't alone. Understanding the range of government support can seem daunting, but there are resources available to help businesses make the transition to greater energy efficiency in business. Knowing about these can help you unlock funding and expertise for your business energy efficiency projects.

Government financial support and external resources.

While specific programmes and grants can change, the UK government often offers initiatives to encourage businesses to invest in energy saving for business technologies and practices. Head to the GOV.UK site for the latest advice for business owners.

It's always a good idea to check official government websites for the most up-to-date information on available financial support, grants, or tax incentives that could help offset the cost of energy efficiency upgrades. There are also lots of tips and tricks to help you make small changes to become more energy efficient.

Beyond direct financial aid, there are invaluable external resources designed to support businesses on their sustainability journey:

Carbon Trust: The Carbon Trust is a leading expert in helping organisations cut carbon emissions and develop more sustainable practices. They offer a wealth of guidance, tools, and expertise for businesses of all sizes, including advice on energy management and funding opportunities for business energy efficiency.

UK Business Climate Hub: This platform provides practical resources, tools, and advice for UK businesses looking to reduce their emissions and tackle climate change. It's a great starting point for understanding how your business can contribute to the UK's net zero targets and find ways to improve energy efficiency in business.

Our business energy tech.

We're committed to helping businesses thrive and become more sustainable. We understand the importance of energy saving for business and have made it easier than ever to take full advantage of our smart technology designed to help you reduce your energy consumption and carbon footprint:

Insulation: Effective insulation is fundamental to business energy efficiency, reducing heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer, leading to significant savings on heating and cooling bills. We can help assess your premises and recommend appropriate insulation solutions.

Solar panels: Generate your own clean, renewable electricity with solar panels. This can dramatically reduce your reliance on grid power, lower your energy bills, and enhance your environmental credentials, significantly boosting your energy efficiency in business.

Air source heat pumps: Air source heat pumps are an incredibly efficient way to heat your business premises, offering a greener, low-carbon alternative to traditional boilers. They are a core component of modern energy saving for business strategies.

We can help you explore these options and find the right solutions to meet your unique business energy efficiency goals. Our experts are on hand to guide you through the process, from assessment to installation.