Business owners are always looking for ways to reduce business energy usage. The good news is that it’s actually easier than you think to save on energy costs.
Here are some things often overlooked you can do to reduce your business energy usage.
Realise your rebate
If you want to simplify and reduce your business energy costs, you need to look for potential saving opportunities for your business.
There are various rebates available to businesses that are investing in solar energy. Each state offers different rebates, so you need to research what your business may be eligible for.
There also may be some tax incentives available when you buy energy-saving appliances for your business use to reduce your energy usage. Check if your business is entitled to any rebates or assistance and take advantage of tax breaks for energy efficiency practices.
Run off-peak
There are times during the day where the demand for energy is lower, this is referred to as off-peak. Off-peak times generally fall into periods during early morning, late evening or weekends when fewer people are using electricity. During off-peak times you can access energy at a lower cost than usual.
The exact times can differ depending on the state and energy provider. Being eligible for off-peak electricity prices can depend on the type of energy meter at your business or the way your meter is configured.
Off-peak electricity can also refer to electricity being used by a stand-alone appliance which is metered separately and can be billed on off-peak rates.
Be aware of off-peak times and take advantage of any potential savings your business could gain during off-peak periods.
Increase your efficiency
Check the energy rating of your business appliances. The more stars, the higher energy efficiency of the appliance.
Do your research to ensure you make a good purchase and can enjoy the long-term benefits of energy efficient appliances. Increasing energy efficiency within your business may involve an upfront investment, but it will provide significant long-term savings on your energy costs.
Upgrade all outdated equipment and appliances to better energy star versions. Older appliances may not be working at optimum efficiency, drawing on more energy, adding to your business energy bill.
Determine if installing solar panels is right for you
Adding solar panels may also be an option for your business. Though keep in mind when considering investing in solar energy that once installed, solar panels cannot be moved if your business moves. You want to be sure you will be staying put for a long time, to get the most out of your investment. When installing solar panels, your premises will generally require new metering to be installed and may also require you to move to a time of use tariff.
Also, don’t be tempted to install more solar panels than you need. Get the right number of panels for your installation to cover your normal daytime electricity use, in order to minimise your installation cost.
It’s important to understand that buying a solar system with extra capacity with the plan to export energy is not cost-effective. The return on your solar investment will be from avoided electricity costs, when the solar panels are generating electricity during the day.
Light up your savings
Lighting can be a business’s biggest variable electricity cost. Consider whether there are lights always on in your business, how long the lights are on for, and whether the lights are turned off at the end of the day.
Reduce energy costs by ensuring you’re not lighting a space that doesn’t need it and discourage excessive use of lighting. Make use of natural lighting during the day rather than turning on artificial lights.
Don’t bother constantly lighting areas not in use such as meeting rooms, hallways, bathrooms. Consider installing motion sensors, and replace existing lighting with more efficient bulbs such as LED, which utilise less energy.
Reducing lighting use can help save your business money, as less energy used through lighting means less money spent on electricity bills.
For more tips on how you can simplify and reduce your business energy costs, check out our recent business energy insights.