7 of the Best Energy-Saving Appliances for Your Business

Why is energy efficiency necessary?

Energy is a major expense for businesses. According to The Guardian, the average business’ energy bill represents almost 40% of its total turnover. One of the best ways to become more energy-efficient and save money is to switch to energy-saving appliances. 

From installing LED lighting to upgrading heating and cooling systems, there is a range of strategies businesses can employ to lower their energy footprints and reduce their operating costs. 

How do energy-saving appliances work?

Energy-saving appliances are designed to utilise the smallest amount of energy required to complete a task, while others use renewable energy sources such as solar panels. Some of the different types of energy-efficient appliances include:

• Refrigerators
• Air conditioners
• Water heaters
• Lighters
• Dishwashers
• Washing machines
• Dryers

Here is a round-up of 7 of the best energy-saving appliances for your business

• Refrigerators

Because fridges and freezers generally operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year, they can be a significant drain on energy. If you have had your fridge for more than10 years, then it’s probably time to consider replacing it. By purchasing a newer, more energy-efficient fridge or freezer, your business will save electricity for years to come. 

Another tip – try to keep your fridge reasonably full, while making sure that there’s enough space for the cold air to move around as this will also help to lessen energy consumption.

• Printers

If your office has a lot of paper-based work, then it’s likely that printers are one of the culprits using a lot of your energy. These days, it is easy to replace your printer with an energy-saving model. These newer printers are multi-functioning and have power-saving modes—such as automatic sleep and wake-up modes—that help save you money on your energy bill in the long run.

• Taps & toilets

Unknown leakage problems could be costing your business thousands of extra pounds per year in your energy bill. This is because electricity is used to heat water; so, part of your water and sewage bill is, in fact, an energy bill. If you want to save on utility costs, saving water and fixing all the water leak problems is very important. If you can, consider replacing your faucets with low-flow faucets as these are capable of saving up to 30% of the amount of water that flows through a faucet every minute. 

Alternatively, Smarter Business estimates that businesses can save up to 20% on their water bills by switching business water suppliers or renegotiating a better deal with your current supplier. 

• Water heaters 

If possible, replace your existing water heater before it fails to avoid a leak that could cause serious damage. Even if your heater isn’t in bad shape yet, it may be worth replacing it now if it’s not energy-efficient. The energy savings alone could pay for the new water heater after just a few years.

• HVAC systems

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems are one of the biggest energy-consuming appliances in a building with a typical system accounting for approximately 40% of a building’s total energy consumption.  

Over the last 30 years, manufacturers of HVAC systems have worked to continuously improve the energy efficiency of their products.Today, these appliances have proven to be more cost-effective and energy-efficient than ever before, resulting in energy savings of between 15 and 20%. This is because modern HVAC systems use forced air instead of water to generate and distribute heat throughout a building. This saves energy and ultimately keeps your costs down. If your HVAC system is the same as the one you took over when you moved into the premises, perhaps it is time to consider replacing it with a modern, more energy-efficient alternative?

• LED lighting

Lighting accounts for 20% of all the energy consumption in the UK, which means it is also responsible for a significant portion of your businesses’ energy bills. By switching to LED lighting, your business could use up about 25%-80% less energy.

Although LED lights are initially expensive to buy compared to fluorescent tubes, they have an operating lifespan of up to 70,000 hours, which is 8 to 10 times longer than standard lamps. This is because, unlike ordinary incandescent bulbs, LEDs pass electrons through a semiconductor which means they have no filament to wear out. So, although they are more expensive to buy at the outset, you’ll achieve savings through a lower energy bill and because you won’t need to replace them as regularly.  

• An energy management system

An energy management system (EMS) is a computer-aided tool used to monitor, control, and carry out optimal energy management. The purpose of an EMS is to determine how much energy is being used and create an energy management strategy to reduce your consumption. In other words, an EMS will establish when you are using the most energy and what kinds of appliances or equipment are contributing to this. This will help you to pinpoint your energy waste with advanced data analytics. Reducing your consumption will, in turn, reduce your costs, and, if your business has operations in different locations, will provide benchmarking across your different buildings. 

Partner with a consultant

A Smarter Business energy consultant will be able to advise you on the best appliances and energy-saving solutions to help your business meet energy-efficiency targets and save money on energy bills.  

Need expert advice? Get in touch with a Smarter Business energy consultant today.