10 Ways to Reduce Energy Costs
Whether you are a small business or a multi-national corporation, becoming a more environmentally focused organisation should be one of your highest priorities.
As a more sustainable company, you will save money as well as limit your impact on the environment. Not sure where to start? Here are ten ways to reduce your energy costs.
Switch off systems
This is one essential key element of any energy management programme that delivers the fastest payback. You can easily bring all of your employees in on your mission to reduce energy costs by creating your own staff energy-saving awareness campaign, which includes turning off systems at the end of each day.
Check your bills
It’s surprising how many people are not on the correct tariff for energy bills. We recommend looking closely at your historic invoices and check for accuracy and make sure the bills show the right amounts for seasonal rates, DUoS / TuOS, CCL, Fits etc. You may even be due a refund of overcharges from your current or previous supplier and you can go back six years – but only if you claim them!
Switch to LED Lighting Systems
Switching to LED-based lighting is a great way to see an immediate impact on your energy costs. This is a quick and generally very easy change to implement. In fact, this can produce electrical savings of up to 80% and increase longevity.
Variable Speed Drives
Retrofitting Variable Speed Drives (VSD’s) to existing equipment helps to optimise the voltage and frequency of electrical supply. This allows the motor speed to be better matched to the required task.
Switch to High-Efficiency Motors
The annual cost of energy to run a motor can be up to 10 times the purchase cost. It is worth considering IE4 Super Premium Efficiency motors as part of your replacement strategy.
Compressed Air Leak Detection
Compressed air is a valuable resource but energy accounts for circa 75% of system lifetime costs. Leakage rates for un-managed systems can be as high as 40% to 50%. Use an ultrasonic gun to detect your leaks and repair them.
Building Controls
Computer-controlled Building Management Systems (BMS’s) control and monitor a building’s mechanical and electrical equipment such as ventilation, lighting, power systems, fire systems, and security systems. A BMS can manage up to 95% of a building’s energy consumption without the need for major equipment installation.
Intelligent Lighting Controls
Occupancy sensors can reduce electricity use by 30% by dimming or switching off lighting when a room is unoccupied.
Daylight sensors adjust the lighting operation according to the amount of natural light in a room and can reduce electricity use by up to 40%.
Voltage Optimisation
Voltage Optimisation involves installing Transformer based technology to reduce energy consumption in voltage-dependent loads. This is achieved by optimising incoming voltage levels for a whole site or for individual electrical applications.
Combined Heat and Power
A system that converts a single fuel source into both electricity and heat and is highly energy efficient. Suitable for organisations that use large amounts of electricity and heat.
If you’re ready to take control of your environmental impact and reduce your business cost at the same time, get in touch with us today and book a consultation with one of Integral’s energy consultants.