Multi-Site Energy Management: How Businesses Can Save On Energy Costs

Navigating multi-site business energy management can be challenging, with many more hurdles to overcome than you would find with a single-site business.  

From cost variability to energy monitoring, we take you through some of the common obstacles you might face in multi-site energy management and show how implementing the right strategies can help you save energy across all your locations. 

The Challenges of Managing Energy for Multi-Site Businesses 

When it comes to managing large business energy requirements, things can get a little complicated, especially when you have multiple sites to consider.  

Some key challenges you might encounter include: 

• Energy cost variability – energy costs can vary significantly by region, so if your business has multiple sites spread across the country, you may find that your rates are not the same for all your sites. 

• Price volatility – though not a problem specific to only multi-site energy management, energy costs can fluctuate greatly depending on a number of factors, including supply and demand, world events and currency movement. To find out more about what drives energy prices, check out our in-depth guides. 

• Site-specific challenges – when managing multi-site energy, you will need to consider that different sites will have different energy requirements, which can present different challenges. Factors such as the age and condition of a building significantly influence its energy efficiency, which in turn affects overall energy consumption. This can lead to varying energy consumption profiles, which can make it more difficult to standardise your energy solutions across all sites. 

• Data monitoring and collection – if you do not have consistent energy management strategies in place across all sites, this may pose issues when it comes to comparing data and identifying areas for improvements. 

• Regulatory and compliance issues – different regions may have different regulations, especially if you operate branches of your business overseas. This can make meeting compliance as well as managing sustainability targets more complex. 

• Implementing sustainability goals – many businesses have sustainability goals such as reducing carbon emissions but may struggle to implement green initiatives across multiple locations. 

Implementing energy-saving strategies across multiple sites can make a substantial difference to your energy costs.  

Here are some practical tips for reducing energy costs at multi-site locations to improve efficiency and savings: 

• Introduce consistent policies across all sites – by setting uniform standards for heating, cooling, lighting etc across all of your business’s sites, you can better anticipate your energy outgoings and keep your costs down. 

• Standardise energy-efficiency equipment – by keeping things consistent, e.g. HVAC systems and lighting, you can choose the most efficient systems and ensure all your sites are operating in the same way. 

• Prioritise upgrades to old/inefficient systems– damaged or old equipment and systems will often use more energy than necessary, so keeping up with upgrades is essential. 

• Schedule preventative maintenance – similarly, carrying out preventative maintenance can help extend the lifespan of your equipment and keep it running as efficiently as possible. 

• Set site-specific energy goals – your multi-site energy needs may differ between sites, but setting site-specific goals that align with your overall company sustainability targets will help make multi-site management more straightforward. 

• Train staff on energy-saving best practices– By training employees in energy-efficient habits, you can help your team to make informed decisions to help lower your multi-site energy consumption. This can include introducing simple daily practices, like turning off unused equipment and understanding peak energy hours. 

As well as implementing energy saving initiatives for your multi-site energy management, there are also a range of practical tools and solutions available to help you take control of your business energy. 

• Business energy audits – by completing business energy audits across all of your sites, you can build a clear picture of your energy usage, spot areas where you can make improvements and use your findings to create your energy saving strategy. 

• Smart meters – smart meters are a great way to simplify your energy bills, with automatic readings and more accurate billing. 

• Dedicated account manager – when you sign a large business energy contract with Yü Energy, you will get your own dedicated account manager who will be on hand for any energy-related queries you might have. 

• Energy HealthCheck – our free Energy HealthCheck tool lets you find out if you’re paying too much for your business energy. Just answer a couple of questions about your business and current energy usage, and we’ll tell you how much you could be saving, as a well as giving you an efficiency rating.  

If you’re ready to start effectively managing your multi-site business energy, Yü Energy can help you! We specialise in working with businesses of all sizes and types, with solutions tailored to your needs. 

Find out more about our multi-site success stories with our case studies or get your free quote online today.