Top Tips from Energy Experts

Posted on 29 June 2011

Businesses in the West of England Carbon Challenge came together in June to quiz energy experts (from Business Link, the Carbon Trust and Encore Electrical) on the key issues of Staff Engagement, Lighting and Voltage Optimisation.

Here’s their top tips for cutting energy use:

Get data and focus on it (metering, gathering, monitoring, targeting) – build a case for investment using data.

Engage staff using simple measures first, such as avoiding waste.

Lighting and heating controls – Low cost measures are the least disruptive, use these first (e.g. turning off equipment,temperature radiator valves etc.) then move on to the more disruptive, higher capital, investment measures (changing fittings, retrofitting, insulation etc.).

Pick the right product – There are many options (lighting, fittings, daylight sensors, metering) think about what you need first, and research it, then buy it.

Make sure you negotiate the best price for your energy – go through an energy broker and make sure you are on the right tariff.

Understand where the energy use is in your business, and then you can see where to make changes. Monitor what you are doing.

Challenge the experts – make sure the supplier shows you how to use the technology and helps you understand what sort of payback you can expect. Always check their figures with your own calculations, before committing to any new technology (case studies on the Carbon Trust website can help with comparisons and figures).

The event went on to produce a range of top tips on Staff Engagement, Lighting and Voltage Optimisation, put into a short ten page guide by Forum for the Future to help businesses getting started on energy efficiency which you can download for free here.

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1 Response to Top Tips from Energy Experts

Energy Water Saver says:

June 29, 2011 at 8:09 pm

It is amazing how simple changes to the way we consume power can help cut down waste. Also every time a major electrical item needs replacing, I always upgrade to the best energy-rated appliance I can get hold of.

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Bristol city region

Making the West of England the most sustainable city region in the UK and one of the top green cities in the world, with leadership that understands the urgency of the need for profound change to create a sustainable, prosperous future.

Sustainable Bristol

West of England (Bristol, Bath, Thornbury, Weston Super Mare)