What does energy efficiency mean for businesses?

Picture your premises: The lights and heating are on, air condition runs, appliances whir on. Everything is running as it should – but uses less energy or uses energy more efficiently to do so.

That’s what being energy efficient means – but what has it required for your organisation to reach this point?

Comprehensive energy management considers every aspect of your consumption, including optimising your usage so you can consume energy more efficiently instead of just consuming less. Let’s look at some of the essential elements of energy efficiency for businesses.

How can I make my business more energy efficient?

First, you must know exactly how much power your daily operations require, address any wastage and consider your exact consumption in your forward planning.

With a combination of accurate and timely consumption data, effective monitoring and a robust software solution to turn your data into actionable insights, you can set yourself on a trajectory for business energy efficiency.

However, reaching this point requires a combined effort across your organisation. Energy efficiency requires stakeholder buy-in, whether this means investing in new solutions or coordinating efforts to align machinery programming with your consumption patterns.

Have you assessed the energy performance of your premises?

Every organisation is unique in portfolio and requirements, which means your required solutions will be as well.

For you, this could mean starting from scratch with an energy site audit where engineers visit a site to assess the current energy usage and operations and discuss any challenges, goals and priorities regarding improving your energy efficiency.

Another essential element is carrying out energy efficiency improvements in commercial buildings to ensure your premises operate within optimal standards.

Building energy inspection and certification schemes, such as Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), give your building an energy efficiency rating. Your rating serves as a starting point for improvements, but staying on top of your certificates is also a mandatory compliance exercise.

What will becoming more energy efficient cost?

Although some energy efficiency grants are available for UK businesses, these grants are often regional.

However, taking a comprehensive approach to your energy management often leads to cost savings opportunities, whether in the form of more advantageous energy procurement or eliminating wastage.

If you need to make a business case for energy efficiency, your software solution can help turn raw data into compelling and accessible outputs to present your case to board members and other stakeholders and secure investment for your ambitions.

Where can I learn more?

This free Inspired guide talks you through optimising your processes, technology and behaviours to reduce your energy use while maintaining – or even improving – your productivity and performance.