10 Easy Ways to Reduce Energy Usage in your Business
29 May 2024

We all know that reducing energy usage in our business makes sound commercial sense but where to start?
We’ve put together 10 top tips to set you on your way to reduce your carbon footprint and save costs.
- How much is too much?
First things first, you need to identify how much energy you’re using and how much it’s costing you. The Chamber’s energy-saving workshops will help you produce your own energy audit for your business. Our expert trainer will guide you through analysing your annual electricity, gas and, where applicable, oil bills so you can produce an initial baseline of your energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions. In turn, this helps you to calculate the cost savings and emission reductions of the energy saving ideas you would like to implement.
- Blinded by the light
Manually switching off lights in unoccupied areas is an obvious quick win but did you know that businesses gobble up almost half of their electricity usage outside of standard operating hours?! Lighting timers in areas that are not used constantly, such as in toilets and storage facilities, can help to automatically reduce energy usage.
Consider upgrading to LED bulbs and tubes too.
- Turn down the heat
Set the heating in offices to 19°C and opt for extra layers of clothing instead. The cooler temperature is likely to make you more productive too!
Take a look at when your business premises are being used and set your heating according to those times. If you finish early on Fridays or you don’t work bank holidays, there is little point heating your premises during those times. Smart thermostats can be used too for greater flexibility and control.
- Sock it to your sockets
Think about what other energy sources you can switch off at the end of the day rather than leaving on standby.
- Wave goodbye to a bad deal
Are you getting the best deal possible on your energy tariff? Start by gleaning some tips from the Ofgem website and comparing different supplier rates on a comparison website
- Undertake Carbon Literacy training
According to the Carbon Literacy Project, ensuring your staff have the acquired knowledge and skills to lower their carbon footprint can typically realised carbon savings of 5-15% per person*.
Individuals attending the Chamber’s two-day Carbon Literacy for SMEs training course are not only equipped to reduce emissions in their workplace but also receive Carbon Literacy certification upon successful completion.
- Hold onto heat
You’ve paid to heat your business premises so hold onto it! A quick and inexpensive way to insulate your doors and windows is to install window film. It offers effective secondary glazing to stop heat escaping through glass and requires no expertise to fit.
- How low can you flow?
A boiler that is regularly maintained will be more energy efficient but did you know that reducing the flow temperature also adds to efficiency as it takes longer to reach your target temperature?
- Search for the hero…
The UK’s Energy Technology List offers a search tool where you can search, fund and compare over 8,000 energy efficient products from refrigerated display cabinets to hand dryers.
- Become a carbon management expert
Is your business on track to reduce its carbon emissions and help meet the government’s Net Zero target by 2050? Help your team develop the knowledge, skills and competencies they need to implement sound carbon management by signing up for the Carbon Management in Business training. The course, which is managed by the Chamber and delivered by Nottingham Business School and Nottingham Trent University academics and sustainability experts, will set you firmly on your way to Net Zero.
Access our full range of Accelerator Low Carbon Training workshops or webinars
Find Out More about Net Zero support across D2N2
This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and is delivered by East Midlands Chamber.
Back