How to Save Money on Your Energy Bills

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Though summer typically means lower energy usage for many businesses, there are still plenty of chances to save money on your energy bills now and throughout the year. Our expert team at Valda Energy have compiled some top tips to help bring electricity bills down.  

1. Switch to a smart meter 

Installing a smart meter will allow you and your employees to see the energy being used throughout the day in real time. Being able to track throughout the working day which behaviours and processes are more energy intensive and cost you more money can inform what small changes you can make. For example, seeing the benefit of turning off computers fully, rather than leaving them on standby can motivate staff to make these small changes and foster an energy-conscious environment.  

Smart meters also offer better accuracy, helping ensure you don’t end up overpaying for your energy due to estimated usage. To learn more about smart meters, check out our benefits of smart meters page or read our debunked myths blog. 

2. Make small changes  

Small tweaks that don’t require much cost can be a simple way to bring your electricity bills down. One way is by shutting down computers after they are done with for the day. Did you know, a typical desktop PC consumes around 100 watts of electricity an hour? If you leave it on after work is over it can cost you around 38p extra per day (based on an energy unit rate of 24.0p per kWh).  

Another way could be swapping your overhead lighting to be motion-activated. With lights turning off after periods of inactivity, you won’t ever potentially spend money if someone mistakenly leaves lights on. Similarly, upgrading your bulbs to LEDs can reduce the amount of energy used and so in turn bring down your bills.  

As a business owner, you can also: 

• Upgrade equipment to more energy efficient models.
• Make the most of natural light – repaint in lighter colours and choose vertical blinds instead of horizontal to allow more light.

3. Get prepped for winter  

Getting winter ready might not be top of your agenda right now, but the warmer months are the best time to get ahead. Making sure your equipment is serviced and tested now will cost you less, as installers often charge more during their busier period.  

It can also allow you to get heating problems and lighting equipment fixed now than during the time you are most reliant on them. Being hit with an electrical problem on a dark winter afternoon will have a much bigger impact than getting it fixed during the lighter months!  

Finally, make sure your insulation is top-notch to avoid wasting any energy before we reach the colder months. Your property may be leaking heat and energy, without you even realising. Keeping more heat inside your premises will mean less money is spent on extra plug-in heaters for example.  

4. Think about switching your provider  

Depending on where you are in your energy contract, it can be beneficial to shop around and see what different suppliers are offering that suit your business’ needs. At Valda Energy, we have a free online quote tool where you get a free and no-obligation quote in under 60 seconds! If you’re interested in finding out more, you also contact our specialist team to help advise on the best energy deal options for you.  

If you are looking to switch suppliers, check out our blog on how to switch energy providers.