Small business owners have to wear a lot of hats, which can make it difficult to keep track of everything that’s going on. But one thing you can’t afford to neglect is your business’s electricity consumption. If you’re careful enough, your business could save money on its electric bill. But if you understand your business’s electricity consumption, you can take steps to reduce it.
Most businesses in the UK consume between 15,000 and 25,000 kWh of electricity per year. But, of course, this will vary depending on the type and size of your business. If you need to figure out how much electricity your business will use, you can ask for electricity quotes from your trusted business electricity comparison website. This will give you a good idea of how much you can expect to pay for your business electricity.
Your business’s electricity consumption can greatly impact your bottom line, so it’s essential to understand how it works. Here are some key things to keep in mind:
- The amount of electricity your company uses is calculated in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
- 1,000 watts of electricity used for one hour is equivalent to one kWh.
- Your business’s electricity bill will charge you for the monthly kWhs you use.
- The price of electricity varies depending on where your business is located, but the average price is about $0.25 per kWh.
- If your business uses a lot of electricity, you may be able to negotiate a lower rate with your electric company.
What Is an Energy Management System?
An energy management system (EMS) is a tool that can assist you in tracking and managing your business’s electricity consumption. EMS systems can be used to monitor electricity usage in real-time, set up alerts when electricity use exceeds certain thresholds, and create reports on electricity usage over time. EMS systems can also be used to control devices and equipment that use electricity, such as lights and air conditioners.
A basic energy management system includes the following components:
Sensors: Sensors are used to measure electricity consumption in real-time. Energy must first be measured in order to be managed. Some of the things that sensors will track in an EMS include temperature, pressure, and light output. These tools give business owners vital information to help them decide what to do next.
Controllers: The controller, in simple terms, is a device that takes measurements supplied by the sensors, compares them to desired energy levels, and then sends a signal to a device (if necessary) to raise the temperature, pressure, lighting levels, etc. to the predetermined desired level.
Controlled Devices: These items are the equipment that reacts to signals that the controllers send out. An appliance to an HVAC system is an example of a controlled device.
Tips to Understand Your Energy Bill
If you want to save money on your business’s electricity consumption, it’s important to understand your energy bill. Here’s how:
1. Know How Energy Is Measured
It might be complicated to grasp your actual electricity consumption from your energy bill because it contains so much technical language. It’s crucial to understand that your utility company evaluates energy usage in kilowatts (abbreviated as kW) before you take any action.
For example, let’s say your business runs several large machines for five hours a day. If each device uses 10 kW, you have used 50 kWh in total that day. At first glance, this seems relatively affordable, but keep in mind that the number of electronic devices in your company and the amount of time you spend using them can significantly raise your price. Computers, printers, thermostats, and refrigerators are a few of the office’s top energy devices.
2. Compare Energy Costs
Just as important to know how to read your energy bill is understanding how to compare the prices of different energy companies. After all, you need to be sure you’re getting the best possible deal on business electricity. The easy way to do this is by using a business electricity comparison site like Business Energy Comparison.
With Business Energy Comparison, you can compare business electricity prices from a range of providers in just minutes. They’ll also help you switch to a new provider if you find a better deal.
3. Understand Your Tariff
Your business electricity tariff is the amount you pay per unit of electricity that your business uses. The most common type of tariff is a standard variable tariff, which means the amount you pay per unit of energy can go up or down at any time.
If your business is on a standard variable tariff, keep an eye on the energy market and switch to a fixed-rate tariff if you see prices start to rise. With a fixed-rate tariff, you’ll pay the same price per unit of electricity for a set period of time, usually one or two years. This can help you budget for your business’s energy costs and protect you from rising prices.
4. Identify Your Biggest Energy Users
If you want to save money on your business electricity bill, you need to identify which devices or appliances are using the most electricity. Try out energy-saving choices such as Energy Star appliances and LED bulb upgrades. Energy waste can also be avoided with regular HVAC maintenance. Lighting, computers, and printers are just a limited of the items that require a lot of energy to operate.
To avoid wasting electricity and paying for it, be sure to switch off lights, utilize power-saving mode, and use timers.
In Conclusion
Businesses need to understand their energy bills in order to make the most cost-effective decisions when it comes to electricity usage. Comparing prices, understanding tariffs, and identifying the biggest energy users are all essential steps in becoming an energy-savvy business. Utilizing tips like these can help your business save money on its monthly electricity bill – translating into tangible profits.
Empowering business owners with this knowledge is one way to help make a more sustainable future for us all. It is not just about conserving energy but also utilizing it in the most effective way possible.
