With these top energy saving tips from Greenlite

At Greenlite we help businesses, large and small, across the UK upgrade their lighting while saving thousands of pounds on their energy and maintenance bills.

It almost sounds too good to be true: that there is a simple way to boost your profits, without having to increase sales, and any business owner would be forgiven for wondering what the catch was. But by making a few simple changes, energy costs can be reduced and margins increased. According to The Carbon Trust, a 20% cut in energy costs can equate to as much as a 5% increase in sales.

With the ‘lighting season’ here, there’s no better time to look at how businesses could reap rewards from a few tweaks.

Make staff energy aware: 

Hold a training session, to put energy efficiency firmly on everyone’s radar. Ask employees to turn off the lights when vacating training rooms, meeting areas etc, and post signs as a friendly reminder.

Install sensors: 

Lighting accounts for up to half a building’s energy usage, but with several low cost technologies you can ensure your business isn’t wasting money. For example, sensors can lead to energy savings of up to 40%. Fit movement sensors in rooms that aren’t always occupied, such as toilets and staff rooms. Daylight sensors are ideal for spaces where natural light sometimes suffices. They can be preset, so they activate when the light level outside dips below a certain level, such as on a gloomy winter’s morning.

Swap to LEDs: 

Replace outdated incandescent bulbs with energy efficient alternatives. The Carbon Trust estimates that exchanging incandescent light bulbs for LEDs could mean energy savings of up to 80%. LEDS also last up to 50 times longer, which means less time and money spent changing them.

Label your lights: 

In bigger spaces, such as store rooms, zone the lighting. Then clearly label the switches, so staff can easily identify how to illuminate the area they need, rather than flooding the entire space with wasted light.

Do an audit: 

If you’re taking on a new premises, find a reliable electrician to give it the once over. You might be surprised to find that a few simple changes could dramatically reduce your bills. For example, swapping halogen floodlights for LED alternatives could make an energy saving of up to 75%.

Maintain fittings: 

Wear and tear, dust and the elements can stop light fittings working efficiently, so maintain and clean them regularly. Ensure windows and skylights are regularly cleaned, to maximise daylight and minimise reliance on artificial lighting.

Fit a last man out switch: 

These mean the last person to exit the building just presses one button to turn off all the lights.

Cheaper isn’t always better: 

Beware buying low-cost lighting products as this could result in higher costs in the future. Cheap packages often contain poor-quality lamps and probably won’t include lighting maintenance for when those bulbs start flickering. Not only will this create a financial burden, but poor lighting could impact on staff health and productivity – costing even more.

Take advantage of a refurbishment: 

Planning an overhaul? This is a cost effective time to incorporate energy efficiency measures.

Find out about finance: 

Research the available options, including government funds. The Carbon Trust’s Green Business Fund is available for SMEs up to 250 employees, through Accredited Suppliers like Greenlite. This means customers could receive a capital contribution of up to 15% of the project cost, up to a maximum of £5,000.

For more information on how Greenlite Group can help you, call 0844 880 2116.