Small steps towards big savings Your energy saving smart pack. Packed full of energy saving tips

Transcription

1 Small steps towards big savings Your energy saving smart pack Packed full of energy saving tips

2 Getting started To survive and succeed in a competitive market as a small business, you need to ensure your business runs as efficiently as possible. This could include maximising productivity and trimming costs across the board. Although you may feel that taking energy efficiency measures is not a high business priority at the moment, you could be surprised by the benefits. You could achieve savings by cutting down the amount of energy your business uses and it s easier to do than some may think. At ScottishPower, we are dedicated to helping our business customers across the UK become more energy efficient. In this Energy Smart Pack you ll find plenty of tips and advice to help you get started. 1 Source: Better business guide to energy saving March 2012 Even low and no-cost actions can usually reduce energy costs by at least 10% and produce quick returns. 1

3 Get energy smart Below you ll find some valuable energy-saving measures to help you get started on improving your business energy efficiency which could assist in driving down your business costs. If you d like to find out even more about saving energy our Business Energy Team are available to offer further advice. Lighting Rearrange or install additional light switches to allow banks of lights to be switched on and off by individual fittings and consider installing automatic controls. Fit passive infra-red presence detectors to switch on lights when rooms or desks are occupied. A maintenance programme for lighting can reduce costs by up to 15% as well as improving light output and appearance 2 For lighting that is essential when dark (e.g. outside work yard), fit photocells so that they only come on when it becomes dark and will switch off when light. Use a time clock in conjunction with a photocell so outside lights, which need to be on, are on from dusk until 10.30pm and 6.30am to dawn. Consider marking light switches which need to be on all the time, so everyone in the business knows which lights can be switched off. Heating The recommended heating level for shops, restaurants and offices is C. 3 For every 1 C of overheating, costs can increase by 8% 4 Install frost thermostats and ensure they are set correctly. Ideally, these should be tamperproof. Install a 7-day time switch to match heating to occupancy, setting it to allow a pre-heat period in the morning. Pipe insulation is cheap and easy to fit. Ensure all pipes are adequately insulated to reduce heat loss. (This will offer frost protection too!) Up to 40% of a building s electricity use is accounted for by lighting 5 For many small businesses, heating is the major energy usage source 2 Source: Display lighting March Source: Heating, ventilation and air conditioning October Source: Heating, ventilation and air conditioning October Source:

4 Every 1 of energy you save = 1 towards profit for your business Equipment Ten computers and monitors left switched on all the time will cost approximately 500 per year. This cost can be cut to less than 150, simply by enabling standby features and switching the computers off at the end of each working day. 6 If your business has vending machines installed, check their sales. If they do not justify the energy spend, consider removing the machine. If left on continuously, a typical vending machine can cost around 120 per year in energy costs. 7 You can install simple devices such as a plug-in sevenday timer to reduce the likelihood of machines being left on out of hours and to control the operating hours of equipment such as photocopiers and printers. When purchasing new equipment, you need to compare the whole life cost of a basic model with an energy-efficient model. Insulation Consider fitting plastic strip curtains, swing doors or other suitable partitions between warm and cold areas. Fit spring-loaded door closers to reduce heat loss through doors being left open. Consider installing a suspended ceiling, which can improve insulation levels in large rooms. Carry out routine checks of doors and windows to detect any draughts. Modern double glazed windows not only reduce heat loss through glass, they also eliminate draughts. The running costs of electrical equipment often exceeds the purchase cost Insulation is the most cost-efficient way to make energy savings 6 Source: Better business guide to energy saving March December 2012

5 A refreshing approach When David Clarke, owner of Dumbarton-based Selectavend, set up his business over 25 years ago, he chose ScottishPower as his energy provider. He s been with us ever since. Great customer service Selectavend supplies vending machines to businesses across central Scotland. Their hot and cold drinks, food and snacks are purchased by thousands of workers. As a servicebased business owner himself, David expects to receive the same sort of quality service and support his business offers. That s what we get from ScottishPower. Going green Selectavend occupies about 1,000 square feet of business space and is conscious of how much energy they use, and committed to being as green as possible. They use energy efficient light bulbs and make sure all staff know about energy saving measures. David is quick to commend ScottishPower for its service to SME customers. They gave us a lot of good ideas that have helped us to become more energy efficient. David concludes, If we didn t have such an efficient and effective energy supplier, we wouldn t be able to run our business as successfully as we do. I ve got no doubt that ScottishPower has helped my business in the long term. Our Business Energy Team are here to help you get started

6 Useful contacts If you re looking to find out more information and advice around energy efficiency for your business, take a look at the useful contacts below. ScottishPower Our Business Energy Team can offer expert advice on many aspects of your business energy account. Call: customer.services@scottishpower.com Energy Saving Trust Offers impartial advice to businesses, households and communities to help reduce their carbon emissions. Call: business@est.org.uk Carbon Trust A range of programmes and initiatives to help businesses exploit the commercial opportunities available in low-carbon technologies. Call: Green Deal: energy saving for your home or business The Green Deal is a government scheme allowing businesses to make energy-saving improvements without paying the full cost upfront. Greener Scotland A site provided by the Scottish Government which offers information and resources to promote greener living. Resource Efficient Scotland Offers free, specialist advice and on-site support to help businesses, third-sector and public organisations cut down on energy, water and raw material costs. Call: Change Works An environmental charity which works with public and third-sector organisations, schools, communities and businesses to help people live and work more sustainably. Call: ask@changeworks.org.uk