Reducing energy usage on a business premises is brilliant for not only minimising outgoing expenditures, but also goes towards cutting your carbon footprint. There are a wide variety of adjustments you can make to your property to help reduce energy usage moving in to 2020 and we’ll discuss just a few here.
- Upgrade Lighting
Did you know that lighting accounts for about 15% of energy usage in an office? By taking the time to either completely replace or upgrade your lighting system, it can help to reduce energy usage. It is beneficial to ensure your bulbs are energy efficient, as this can use up to 75% less electricity. Switching to compact fluorescent (CFL) or Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs can not only save up to five times more energy but will last longer than standard ones meaning that you won’t have to change them as regularly.
- ESOS Assessment
The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) is a mandatory assessment for large undertakings which audits the energy used by your building. The ESOS assessment is only required for large organisations of over 250 employees or for organisations with a turnover of £38.9 million or a balance sheet of over £33.4 million; this would be approximately 10,000 businesses in the UK.
The assessment will help identify areas where energy usage is high, and suggest energy efficient, cost saving solutions. Designed to help reduce your business’ carbon footprint as well as reducing your energy bills. The original ESOS deadline passed in 2015 and the phase 2 closed in 2019; businesses who enrolled are required to have assessments every four years to comply.
Phase 3 has now begun and will run until 2022. At MSL we can help to ensure your business remains ESOS compliant; a designated Lead Assessor will guide you through the process and help you collate any information and data required to stay compliant.
- Turn It Off
It may seem like a simple idea, but ensuring that all your equipment, such as computers and lights, are turned off at the end of the day can help to reduce energy usage, and in turn, save your business money each year. Installing lighting systems which are programmed to turn off at certain times during the day or are motion sensitive and will only function when people are in the room, are great solutions, especially in larger business premises.
- Regular Maintenance
Having a have a well-planned, preventative maintenance schedule in place will ensure that all aspects of your premises are consistently checked and maintained. This will help to ensure that energy using apparatus such as boilers, air conditioning units and lighting are running efficiently, which will in turn help reduce any unnecessary energy usage.
For example, an un-maintained air conditioning unit will use more energy than one which is regularly maintained. If your air conditioning unit is checked regularly, any problems can be fixed before they turn into larger issues and it can help to ensure effective usage.
- Replace Doors and Windows
Doors and windows are one of the most common sources of air leakage on premises. These drafts may result in an increase in heating or air conditioning usage, which in turn will increase your energy usage and your energy bills. Replacing your doors and windows to energy efficient choices, such as double glazing, will help reduce any air leakage in your property, improving your energy efficiency as well as enhancing your security.
- Insulation
Adding insulation to your property can reduce your energy bills each year as well as reducing your carbon emissions. Roof insulation is a simple and reasonably inexpensive choice which will help stop cold air escaping, keeping your facility at a comfortable temperature. This will reduce the amount of heating you need to use during the winter months and keep your air conditioning working well in the summer months.
These are just some of the ways you can help to reduce your business’ energy output in 2020. With careful planning and regular assessments of energy usage your facility can become increasingly eco-friendlier.
If you have any queriers about ESOS, your business energy usage, or want further information about booking in a maintenance of building project, contact MSL today or call our help desk on 0333 1234 450
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