Keeping on top of your energy bills year round can often be challenging enough, but at the end of the year, costs can easily stack up if you’re not paying attention.
The holiday season can be a difficult time financially, and though many businesses are getting ready to shut down for a week or two, it’s an important time to consider your business needs going into the new year.
Limit cooling
The holiday season in Australia means summer time! And while temperatures in the workplace may be rising, try not to overdo it on the air conditioning as this may blow out your energy costs.
A controllable thermostat allows you to set the air conditioning at just the right temperature to keep your office comfortable without cooling it too much. You should also set a timer so it’s not running all day, nor left on overnight, as this will result in expensive energy bills. Only cool spaces in use, and don’t waste energy cooling every corner of the office.
To reduce reliance on air conditioning and reduce costs, use fans only when possible. They use less energy and are more cost effective to run.
Replace your air conditioning filters on a regular basis, as replacing a dirty, clogged filter can help lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption, making it run more efficiently.
You should also consider similar energy saving practices when it comes to winter. Even though it’s a long way off at the moment, winter can be a period when energy costs go up due to increased heating usage.
Be aware of the times of the year where your business may be using more energy through heating and cooling, and either look for ways to reduce usage, or budget for higher costs.
Consider future plans for your business
In order to keep on top of your energy bills in the new year, you need to think about the future plans of your business. Various factors impact your business energy, so consider what you have planned for the year that you may need to budget for.
Business owners may be looking ahead and thinking about how their business may grow in the new year. You may have new employees joining your team in the near future, or perhaps you have outgrown your current business premises. Or, perhaps you’re planning to encourage your employees to work remotely going forward, which means you can downsize to a smaller office.
The size of your office impacts how much energy you use, from lighting to heating and cooling the space, which affects your energy bills. And, if you’re planning to move to a new premises, whether bigger or smaller, you’ll need to get your energy transferred.
Are you planning to invest in renewable energy in the new year? Switching to more energy efficient and renewable energy sources to power your business improves the sustainability of your business, as well as the environment. Investing in renewable energy involves upfront costs that you’ll need to budget for, but the long-term savings can be significant.
The future plans of your business (and these will vary from business to business) can impact your energy usage and the costs involved, and so is something to consider when budgeting for the new year.
Review your energy use and costs from the year
Comparing year on year energy use and costs helps you see where you may need to make changes. Look back over your bills to assess how much you may need to budget for in the new year.
It’s important to understand your energy bill, and the various rates and costs each month. It can be easy to not pay much attention to the details on your energy bills, especially for time-poor business owners, but keeping an eye on consumption and costs, helps you budget and look for areas to cut costs in the future.
Reviewing your energy usage from the year helps you identify areas to reduce energy usage which can result in significant savings for your business.
To keep on top of your energy bills, you may also need to consider changing your energy plan to one that will better suit your business needs and budget. This may involve switching to a new energy retailer.
For more help on keeping on top of your energy bills in the new year, check out our blog on understanding your energy bill.