The largest cost and impact for most businesses.
WHERE ENERGY GOES
Lighting Cooling and air conditioning Heating and hot water Refrigeration Motors and machinery Equipment left running Generators
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
Which of these dominates in your operation.
WHAT COSTS NOTHING
Switching off what is not in use Setting temperatures sensibly Closing doors where cooling operates Maintaining equipment Cleaning filters and coils
WHY MAINTENANCE MATTERS SO MUCH
Dirty filters, blocked condensers and worn components increase consumption substantially.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
A maintenance schedule for anything consuming energy.
WHAT COSTS LITTLE
Efficient lighting Timers and sensors Insulation of hot and cold surfaces Draught sealing Voltage optimisation, where appropriate
WHY LIGHTING IS USUALLY FIRST
It is simple, it pays back quickly, and it reduces cooling load.
WHAT COSTS MORE
Replacing inefficient equipment Improving building fabric Solar generation Efficient motors and drives
WHAT TO ASSESS
Payback period: cost divided by annual saving.
WHAT TO PRIORITISE
Short payback, large consumption.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT GENERATORS
Their consumption and cost per unit generated.
WHY
Generator power is far more expensive than grid power, and reducing consumption saves disproportionately.
WHAT TO DO
Reduce load before increasing generation capacity.
WHAT TO MEASURE AFTER ANY CHANGE
Consumption, against the baseline.
WHY
It verifies the saving and it justifies the next investment.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
Who is responsible for energy.
