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Your business heating
Heating makes up a large proportion of businesses’ energy use. Reducing energy consumption is a no brainer. It saves money, helps reduce carbon footprints and can be beneficial for your reputation.
While it may look like a daunting task, heating costs for a business can easily be reduced by implementing small changes across your business.
What are the main causes of heat wastage in business?
Turning the thermostat up too high
Did you know heating costs for a business rise by about 8% for every 1 degree of overheating?
By turning the thermostat higher than needed, it can cause offices to overheat. People become uncomfortable and this makes them more likely to open windows. By simply turning the thermostat down to a sensible level, this would reduce the amount of heat wasted by it going straight out of the window.
Using air-conditioning and heating at the same time
When both the heating and air conditioning are switched on, your energy bill is significantly affected. To avoid this, you should set a dead band of 5°C between heating and cooling so they are not switching on at the same time.
Heating areas that you don’t need to
Corridors, stairwells and storage cupboards are just some areas of your building that don’t need to be heated. These are rarely used so heat is only going to be wasted getting trapped in these smaller spaces.
Underestimating how much heat is radiated from office equipment and people
The more people in a room, the warmer the room is likely to be. This is the same for any office equipment (e.g. computers/printers), which generate heat when switched on.
If office equipment isn’t switched off at the end of the working day, it can increase the room temperature overnight. The air-conditioning then gets switched on in the morning and the air-con/heating cycle continues.
What can your business do to reduce energy wasted on heating?
Insulate to prevent heat loss
By insulating pipes, hot water tanks and boilers you can reduce the amount of wasted heat flowing into your building. Fit draught strips onto windows and doors and seal those which aren’t in use.
Check thermostats regularly
Firstly, ensure your thermostat is not located near heat sources, draughts or in direct sunlight as this can impact the heating temperature. Thermostats should be set to approx. 19-20 degrees celsius for a comfortable temperature throughout the building. Remember, if there are more people/appliances within a room this can impact the temperature so check the thermostat regularly to ensure people are comfortable and no heat is being wasted.
Service boilers regularly
Did you know heating costs for a business can increase by over 30% if your boiler isn’t operating properly? You should service boilers annually and repair regularly for optimum efficiency. Although it may cost your business to have the service, it will pay off on your overall energy bills.
Regularly complete building walk-arounds
Check the heating throughout the building on a regular basis to ensure that there are no areas where heat is being wasted. Storage cupboards and rooms which are not regularly used do not need radiators to be switched on.
Consider the most comfortable temperatures
For most offices, the optimum temperature is between 21-23°C, with most people’s ideal temperatures between 18-26°C. This is taking into consideration the various heat emitted from office equipment and lighting in any given space.
Match your working hours
What are the operating hours of your heating system? Ensure that heating is on during necessary times during the day. You can also use time controls to automatically switch off heating at the end of the day-which is ideal for after work hours and weekdays.
Get your employees on board
Your office staff can be highly insightful when it comes to being aware of the office’s internal temperature. They may be sitting in a place that is particularly warmer, colder or more than other parts of the building.
By investigating these issues, it will make staff less likely to tamper with thermostats or use portable heating methods. You can also encourage staff to come up with their own ideas on how to reduce energy costs.
Use posters, stickers and signage throughout your building to make sure your employees are on board. We’ve got some great tips to help get your employees on board with energy efficiency!
See how much you could be saving
If you would like a greater in-depth look as to how much your business could be saving on energy this winter, check out our Energy Health Check tool.
We have analysed 1000’s of businesses across a host of sectors, allowing you to compare your usage with similar businesses like yours and see if you’re paying a fair price for your energy bills.
For more information on energy efficiency for your business, visit our latest tips and news or contact us for a quick and easy quote today on 0115 975 8258.