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Tips for Keeping Your Office Electricity Bills Down

Energy saving has been the buzz phrase for the past few years, but what can it do for your business? Inevitably, by saving energy in the office costs can be considerably reduced, therefore making energy saving a priority for small and large businesses alike. As such, we have compiled a list of ways in which you can keep your business electricity bills down.

Here are four specific areas that could save a lot of money for your business.:

– Lighting

Lighting is used all day, every day when someone is in the office, but that doesn’t mean that it has to cost the earth. Switching off the bathroom or kitchen lights whenever somebody leaves the room is an easy way to reduce costs. Installing automatic switches takes away the problem altogether and ensures that energy is only used when necessary.

Furthermore by labeling light switches, staff are instructed as to which light bulbs and appliances need to be switched off, reducing the likelihood that all switches will be switched on accidentally.

Finally, by installing energy efficient light bulbs, energy can be cut by 10%. Old fashion bulbs can be swapped for low energy or slim line tubes, reducing potential costs from £3/m2 to £1/m2 and a massive saving for larger offices.

Also, don’t close yourself into the office with all of the blinds shut. You need to make use of the biggest and cheapest energy source outside; the sunshine. Turn off the lights and open the blinds to let the natural light flood in. The chances are it will brighten the office environment whilst also saving you costs.

– Appliances

There are a large number of appliances used in the office, most prominently computers. Cut down on computer wastage by encouraging all of the staff to switch off their computers at night and especially over the weekends. Each computer can cost £20 a year if left in standby mode.

For a small business of 20 staff and computers, this is £4000 a year in preventable costs. Maybe you could create an incentive to switch off at night, or perhaps make it compulsory in the office to shut down the computers? Get your staff into the routine and encourage them to help you.

Whilst the obvious electricity users such as computers and lighting can be cut down and saved, it is the smaller appliances that can sometimes go unnoticed. The kettle is used on average ten times a day and boils for around 4 minutes. This can cost up to £54 a year per kettle.

Try reducing the amount of water you are boiling, using only the water that you need. This will reduce boiling times and cut costs, not to mention get the tea to the staff a lot faster. Slightly larger appliances like the photocopier and printers can also be switched off overnight and at weekends.

Put a member of staff in charge of turning off all of the machines and you could save up to £42 a year in wasted energy costs. Switching off a printer can also save £21 a year.


– Heating

Heating is the invisible electricity and energy user but can cost a considerable amount. Don’t throw it away by leaving windows open whilst you have it switched on. Close up the room and preserve the heat and energy you are paying for. If you do not want it to be so warm, then simply turn off the heat and wait for it to naturally clear; do not open the window for a quick burst of air as all energy will be lost and the heating wasted.

On the other hand, in the hot weather you do not have to always reach for the air conditioning. This is the time to open up all of the windows and let the fresh, natural air blow in.

– Extras

Some offices have started to go ‘Paper free’ – sending emails and viewing all material digitally. This could be a potential idea for your office. Reducing the amount you print can not only save energy, but paper costs, ink costs, printer maintenance and the cost of the printer itself.

The fewer printers you have, the less chance they are left switched on. The potential savings you could make is considerable. By considering these four areas, a business can begin to reduce their outgoings considerably. There is no point throwing money away on resources when all it takes is for someone to switch off a light switch.

Incentivising and encouraging staff to be more energy and cost aware may go a long way for your business.