As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, it’s time to start thinking about getting your workplace ready for winter. During winter, our energy bills tend to rise as we crank up the heating to keep warm in the colder months. When it comes to energy bills rising, the workplace is no different.
As a business owner, you’ll likely find your business spending more on energy bills as the temperatures outside drop. However, it’s not just your heating system that can cause your energy bills to rocket – even leaving computers on overnight can cause bills to spike.
If you’re looking for ways to save money on your energy bills in the workplace this winter, you’ve come to the right place. Minimising gas and electricity costs in a busy office during winter can seem like a challenging task, however, with a few tips and tricks, you can make a dent in your bill each month.
Below, we share our top tips for saving money on energy bills.
Insulate your building
Firstly, it’s important to make sure you have sufficient insulation in place. If you can’t remember the last time your building was inspected for insulation or you’ve noticed your workplace is particularly cold, it’s worth getting your insulation checked out. Over time, insulation can slump and become ineffective, so it’s important you take the time to make sure it’s still in top condition.
Any areas with insufficient insulation should be fitted with new insulation before the cold weather sets in. You can make huge energy savings if your building is well insulated; insulation helps to retain heat in your building and keep the cold air out. As you lose most of the heat in a building through the roof, it’s important to make sure the roof is adequately insulated.
Boilers, hot water tanks, pipes and valves should also be insulated to prevent heat from escaping the building. Foam insulation can be purchased from a DIY shop or you can have it installed and fitted professionally.
Install a thermostat
To save money on your energy bills, it’s important you take control of the heating in your building. When the weather is cold and dark outside, it’s important to make sure your building is warm and inviting for your employees – but this doesn’t mean you have to constantly crank the heating up. Instead, installing a thermostat and using timers can help you keep your heating under control.
A timer can be programmed to switch on just as your employees arrive to work in the morning and again in the afternoon to keep them warm. With sufficient insulation, just an hour or two of heating a day should be enough to keep your building at a comfortable temperature. When you install a thermostat, you can enjoy complete control over the heating in each area of your building. Even turning the temperature down by just one degree in each room can make a huge difference to your energy bills and save you money in the long run.
Use energy-saving LED bulbs
Replacing traditional light bulbs around your building with energy-saving LED ones can save you money in the long run. LED bulbs use less electricity than other bulbs and last far longer than traditional bulbs, making them an ideal investment for those looking to save a little extra on their energy bills each year. LED bulbs are energy efficient, completely silent and incredibly safe to use, making them the ideal lighting solution for workplaces and commercial buildings. They’re also brighter than traditional bulbs, which could brighten up your building on dark days and boost productivity levels in the workplace.
Avoid leaving computers and appliances on standby
After a long day in the office, some employees may leave their computers and devices on standby mode without thinking about it. However, when computers are in standby mode, they’re actually still switched on which means they’re wasting energy. It’s important to get into the habit of turning all appliances off when the working day finishes; doing so could save you lots of money on your energy bills each year. Monitoring and reducing your energy consumption where possible is also important to ensure you’re doing your bit for the environment.
It can be helpful to place signs around the workplace reminding employees to switch their computers completely off after the day and to remind people to turn the lights off when they leave.
Maintain your commercial boiler
The boiler is the beating heart of any building, supplying us with hot water and heating. To ensure your commercial boiler stays in top condition all year round, it’s important you carry out the necessary maintenance. Your boiler should be serviced annually by a professional to check there are no issues and it’s in good working order. Failing to get your commercial boiler serviced regularly could lead to a whole host of problems, from a boiler breakdown which could leave your building with no heating in winter, to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
To ensure everyone in your building remains safe and you always have heating when you need it, it’s crucial to keep on top of boiler maintenance and make sure your boiler is always inspected professionally.
Communicate with your employees
Sometimes, your employees just need a gentle nudge to remind them of the importance of saving energy. Without realising, many employees may be wasting energy and therefore money. From leaving the bathroom light on to not turning computers and appliances off correctly, there are plenty of ways your employees could be wasting energy and therefore money.
It’s worth taking the time to communicate the importance of saving energy to your employees. This could be a quick email, signs dotted around the office or even a quick talk on the importance of running an energy-efficient office. More employees will be drawn to work for a business that cares about the environment and does its bit to reduce energy consumption where possible.
Mitchells: Heating Engineer and Installation Specialists in Gloucester
Whether you need a new heating installation or your boiler needs replacing, the experienced team at Mitchells are on hand to help. Our highly qualified heating experts are qualified to work on a wide range of heating systems and commercial boilers, and will always help you choose the most energy efficient option for your workplace.
Our services are available on a one-off basis or they can be bundled into other service offerings for a more cost effective solution. In fact, our experts can take care of your whole building, from its boilers and plumbing right through to the IT systems too. Our experts specialise in air conditioning, electrics, heating, commercial refrigeration, IT services and support, facilities management and project management. We’re equipped with the skills, knowledge and experience to ensure your commercial building runs smoothly and you never run into any problems.
To learn more about us and how we can help you manage your building, visit our website today.