Cut Business Energy Costs and Save Big With These Smart Tips

Are you looking for ways to save money on your business energy costs? If so, you’re in luck. There are a number of smart tips and tricks you can use to cut your business energy costs significantly. Here are just a few of the most effective.

Compare Different Rates to Get the Best Deal on Business Energy

One way to save on business energy costs is to compare different rates and providers. This will allow you to get the best deal on your energy costs, and save money in the process. According to the team behind www.compareyourbusinesscosts.co.uk, there are a few things to keep in mind when comparing rates. First, make sure that you are comparing apples to apples. This means that you should be comparing the same type of energy (electricity, gas, etc.) from different providers. Second, make sure that you are aware of any taxes or fees that may be associated with the energy provider you choose. Finally, make sure that you read the fine print before signing up for anything. 

Educate Your Employees About Energy Conservation

Your employees are your front line when it comes to conserving energy and saving money for your business. Make sure they know how important it is to conserve energy and what simple steps they can take to make a difference. Educate your employees about the importance of conserving energy. Show them how much money your business can save by reducing energy consumption. Offer training on energy conservation techniques and make it fun and engaging. The more your employees know about conserving energy, the more they will be willing to do their part.

 

There are many ways to educate your employees about conserving energy. You can start by hanging posters around the office or placing stickers in strategic locations. You can also send out regular email reminders or set up a competition with prizes for the employees who save the most energy. Whatever method you choose, make sure your employees are aware of the importance of conserving energy and are given the tools they need to make a difference.

Take Advantage of Government Incentives

The government offers a number of incentives for businesses to save energy, which can help you cut your business costs significantly. Many of these incentives are tax breaks, so be sure to speak with your accountant to see if you qualify. One popular incentive is the Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA), which allows businesses to claim 100% first-year tax relief on investments in energy-saving equipment. This can be a great way to save money on energy costs, as you can effectively get all of your money back in the first year. 

 

There are also a number of grants and loans available to businesses that want to improve their energy efficiency. The Carbon Trust offers interest-free loans of up to £5 million for projects that reduce carbon emissions, while the Energy Efficiency Financing Scheme provides interest-free loans of up to £100,000 for energy efficiency measures. The government also offers a number of grants through its Energy Technology List (ETL), which can cover up to 30% of the cost of certain energy-saving technologies.

Switch to LED Lighting

One of the simplest and most effective ways to cut energy costs is to switch to LED lighting. LED lights use around 80% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last up to 50 times longer, so they can save you a lot of money in the long run. They also emit very little heat, so they can help to keep your premises cool in summer. If you’re not ready to switch to LED lighting yet, there are still some things you can do to cut costs. For example, you could use energy-efficient light bulbs These may cost more upfront, but they use less energy and last longer, so they’ll save you money in the long run. 

Turn off lights when they’re not needed. This one seems obvious, but it’s often overlooked. Make sure all lights are turned off when they’re not needed, such as in unoccupied rooms or during daylight hours. Use timers and sensors. Timers and occupancy sensors are a great way to make sure lights are only turned on when needed. For example, you could use an occupancy sensor in a toilet so that the light is only turned on when someone enters the room. Use natural light. Where possible, make use of natural light instead of artificial light. This will help to cut costs and also boost employee morale as it has been proven to improve productivity.

 

There are many ways to cut business energy costs, but these are some of the most effective. Educating your employees about conserving energy, taking advantage of government incentives, switching to LED lighting, and making use of natural light are all great ways to save money. So take a look at your business energy costs and see where you can make some changes to save money.

Electric Ireland launches new ‘Home Electric+’ electricity plans for customers with Smart Meters installed. #brightertogether

Electric Ireland customers who have had a Smart Meter installed as part of The National Smart Metering Programme will experience the benefits of Smart Meter technology for the first time when they choose one of Electric Ireland’s customer focused ‘Home Electric+’ plans. 

 The National Smart Metering Programme will ultimately see ESB Networks replace 2.4 million electricity meters with next generation Smart Meters. As part of the programme, all households in Ireland will receive a Smart Meter and once installed, they will be able to experience the benefits of the new technology.

Approximately 250,000 of all households in Ireland have had a Smart Meter installed over the last 18 months.

 Electric Ireland is today launching a range of unique plans for their customers who have had a Smart Meter installed. Customers who avail of these plans can, over time, better understand their energy usage, lower their overall consumption (particularly at peak times) and in turn reduce the costs of their electricity bills and carbon footprint. Electric Ireland’s free ‘Home Electric+ plans all have the following benefits:

  • Personalised insights on electricity usage via an online account portal (insights build incrementally over time).
  • Monthly emails that communicate which appliances are using the most electricity (available after 4 months data).
  • A monthly billing option and bill prediction alerts (billing is currently bi-monthly). 
  • Regular reviews to ensure that they are on the right plan.
  • Eliminates need for manual reads and estimated bills.

Electric Ireland’s ‘Home Electric+’ plans will enable customers to save money by availing of cheaper electricity at different times of the day – options include:

  • ‘Home Electric+ Night Boost’ offers a cheaper electricity rate at night (11p.m.-8a.m.) and a super cheap “boost” period from 2-4 a.m. when customers can charge their Electric Vehicles for just over 5c per kwh.
  • ‘Home Electric+ Weekender’ offers Saturday or Sunday electricity for free.
  • ‘Home Electric+ SST (Standard Smart Tariff)’ offers Day/Night/Peak rates giving increased flexibility and control over their home usage.

 

Marguerite Sayers, Executive Director, Electric Ireland, said:  “As Ireland’s leading energy provider, Electric Ireland is committed to providing our customers with transparency so that they can better understand what is driving their electricity usage. The introduction of our new Smart Meter offerings is a landmark day for us and our customers. Less consumption of energy at peak times means reduced carbon emissions, as well as reduced bills for households and businesses. Customers can use the insights we provide to discover how and when they use electricity so that they can change their usage patterns to make savings.”

 She added: “At Electric Ireland we also see Smart Meters at the forefront of enabling our customers to make positive changes in addressing climate action. We are delighted to bring this service to our customers at a time when reducing household costs is of upmost importance. From today, Electric Ireland customers can start availing of the benefits of our Smart Metering services and we are here to support them on that journey. Not only will Smart Meter customers see the end of estimated bills, but they can also now choose a new, innovative and free plan to suit their individual needs, while continuing to enjoy their enduring discount rate of up to 8.5% on gas and electricity.”

The new Smart Meter plans are inspired by research results from the Electric Ireland Brighter Energy Research Tracker*, which highlighted a recent significant increase in customers’ desire to make positive energy usage changes, and an expectation that their energy company should play a key role in supporting them on the move towards a low carbon future. Smart Meters are well placed to help deliver on this customer ambition: 82% of consumers want to reduce the amount of energy they use and 87% indicated they would look to their energy provider to offer real-time, digestible information on their energy usage and efficiency. And for Electric Ireland customers, this will be delivered through personalised insights available via the suite of free ‘Home Electric+’ plans.

 Smart Meter plans are available from today to Electric Ireland residential customers that have had a smart meter installed in their home. Smart meters have been installed in parts of the following locations: Dublin (North, South, Central), Sligo, Limerick, Cork City, Bandon, Portlaoise, Navan and Drogheda. These customers would have received a communication from ESB Networks when the Smart Meter was installed.

 Smart Meter services are the latest solution to be introduced as part of Electric Ireland’s Brighter Together Energy ProgrammeLaunched in 2020, the programme is designed to support homes, businesses and communities to maximise energy efficiency and collectively contribute towards a low carbon future. The National Smart Metering Programme will eventually see up to 1.3 million Electric Ireland customers avail of Smart Meter technology and services by 2024. Electric Ireland will support its customers on their Smart Meter journey with educational content on its ‘We’re Brighter Together Hub’.  There will also be on-going direct communications with customers as their Smart Meters are installed, ensuring they are aware of the best-in-class benefits of the programme for their homes and businesses.

 To be part of the change and to find out more visit: electricireland.ie/smart-meters