 |
| Businesses are well aware that acting sustainably and efficiently can help them secure a competitive advantage. Yet how many actually think about one of the biggest contributors to their overall environmental impact – their energy usage. Indeed, a recent survey by YouGov and the Telegraph found that almost half of senior managers don’t know how much they are spending on energy bills. The same study revealed that more than half of senior managers are unaware of who was responsible for energy management in their business.
Given that the amount being spent on energy can be tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds, it’s worrying this issue is often overlooked. However, the looming winter months might just remind bosses what they spend on energy, as it’s essential to keep the office warm and comfortable as the temperatures falls on the thermometer. So what can businesses do to avoid paying over the odds on heating their premises when winter rolls around and whilst minimising their environmental impact at the same time? Set your heating appropriately Vary temperatures in different rooms Limit aircon use Don’t block radiators Have one person in charge of office heating According to government figures, for a company with a 5% profit margin over three years, a £500 annual saving from energy efficiency makes the same profit as £30,000 of extra sales. That’s a huge amount, particularly when you consider that – according to a survey by Make it Cheaper – 94% of SME owners expect energy prices to go up in the near future, while two-thirds anticipate prices to increase by over 10% in the next year. This adds up to a strong case for cutting heating costs where possible, and what’s more it can bolster your green credentials at a time when a firm’s environmental commitment often influences purchasing decisions.
Further reading |
