Electric & Gas Connections
The Energy Action Group provides advice and assistance for all energy related issues, whether you need a new connection, a new meter, or help in reducing your energy consumption.
Saving money and saving carbon emissions is one of the principal services the EAG can help you with. Taking action, whether through simple, incremental steps, or with a full scale Energy Audit and Energy Management program, are all steps on your Energy Efficiency journey.
The Energy Action Group can help you with a full range of Energy Efficiency Services.
Improving energy efficiency is the most cost effective way of reducing your Carbon Emissions and cutting your Energy Costs.
The driving force behind commercial energy efficiency projects is a reduction in running costs and carbon emissions. Businesses know that global heating and the environmental impact can bad for businesses and can affect reputations. Their clients, and the wider community, are holding them to account as they are increasingly subject to public scrutiny.
Environmental and sustainability initiatives not only produce cost and carbon savings for the long term but deliver positive reputational outcomes. Making organisations more energy efficient and reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a fundamental necessity.
What is meant by ‘Energy Efficiency’?
In simple terms, it means using energy more efficiently to achieve the equivalent level of output currently consumed to produce a product, sale or service.
Measurements of output can be various, such as: energy used to achieve production of manufactured goods, delivery of services, attending to customers in hotels and restaurants, productivity within offices, numbers of patients processed in the medical sectors and care homes. It’s applicable to all sectors and circumstances.
Most buildings consume energy in the form of gas, electricity and water in some form or another. This energy is used to maintain staff comfort and produce goods and services. The intensity of consumption relates directly to the Energy Efficiency of the site.
It won’t surprise you to learn that there are significant opportunities to increase Energy Efficiency in many commercial organisations in the United Kingdom. These sectors are estimated to have an energy savings potential of up to 40 percent by eliminating waste and improving performance.
Energy Efficiency, what are the benefits?
“Almost a third of small firms highlight the cost of energy as a barrier to the growth and success of their business. Finding energy efficiency savings is the single best way of reducing these costs over the long-term. Small businesses need all the support and information they can get to help to make these savings wherever possible.”
John Allan, National Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses.
The rapid adoption of wind turbines and solar power are costly and will take time. On the other hand, increasing energy efficiency curbs energy prices, reduces dependency on energy imports, counteracts energy distribution costs and cuts climate-damaging CO2.
A Written, Published Energy Policy should:
- Communicate the commitment of senior management to everyone in the organisation
- Raise awareness throughout the organisation
- Demonstrate commitment to key stakeholders outside the organisation such as investors, customers, and suppliers
- Provide a foundation for the organisation’s energy strategy
- Provide a structure for the implementation of the strategy.
Improving Energy Efficiency. Where should I start?
Do you have a written Energy Policy? If not, this is the place to start. A written Energy & Sustainability Policy will help you formulate your goals and objectives and provide you with a road-map for your journey. Once completed, communicating your intentions to staff members and stakeholders will be essential to launch the enterprise and carry it through successfully.
Do you need help writing a Policy for your organisation? The EAG can help.
Simple Energy and Water Saving Tips to improve your energy efficiency.
Turn it off!! If computers, monitors, printers, lights, and other equipment are not in use during unoccupied hours (when your staff aren’t present), you are burning money and emitting carbon unnecessarily. Train your team in the habit of shutting off all equipment and processes that are not necessary for the running of basic services (servers, freezers etc), before they leave the premises. Turning off and unplugging as many devices as possible at the end of the day is a simple way to cut back. Delegate this responsibility to a small team.
Take advantage of natural sunlight. If your building has the potential to benefit from natural sunlight via windows or skylights, make sure you use it. With electricity becoming more and more expensive, every kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity and gas you save will help your bottom line. On a sunny day, you might not need to turn on the lights at all in some areas where windows can give all the illumination you need.
Reduce Maximum Demand. Do you know that reducing your electricity Maximum Demand, (or gas – Peak Demand) is one of the best ways to save energy?
Times of high demand vary depending on business sector but often, although not always, are during typical working hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Among methods of reducing your demand during these times is to stagger work hours and create shift patterns that run energy intensive equipment during evening and early morning hours. This helps conserve energy throughout the day when it is most expensive.
Prevent ‘Wasted Energy. Wasted energy is the energy that is drawing power whilst not in use for the purpose it was designed. Examples: pumps and fans running, unused equipment on stand-by, hobs and grills left on.
Think about the outdoors. If you control what happens to the outside of your buildings and the surrounding landscaping, you have a great opportunity to create energy-savings with energy-efficient landscaping. Strategically planted trees and bushes can create shade and block winds, which is a great way to reduce your heating and cooling costs and help wildlife at the same time.
Employee Engagement. Businesses that are contemplating ways to reduce energy costs need to engage with their staff. Try and identify those that are environmentally aware, motivated, and have the capacity to create change within your organisation.
Nominate Energy Champions who will take the lead and support environmental initiatives. Reward and energise staff who find ways of saving energy and lowering energy costs. Motivate your staff and raise morale with updates on success stories.
Install low-flow plumbing fixtures. Improve the efficiency of your plumbing system by switching to low-flow outlets. Install low-flow toilets and faucets with aerators to reduce water wastage from high-pressure streams. The average toilet in the UK (manufactured from 1985 onwards), uses about 18 litres (3.5 gallons) in every flush, an efficient one will use 3 litres or less.
Identify and fix leaks. A dripping tap can lose up to 50 litres of water daily. Check your bills, if you notice any irregular or excessive usage, you might have a leak. Fix any leaks as soon as they are identified.
Lighting. Install motion sensors or turn off lights when not needed. Lights in storage areas, conference rooms and restrooms, or near windows can be left off when the space is unoccupied, or daylight is sufficient. Install timers, time clocks or photocells to ensure that interior and exterior lights are turned off at the appropriate times.