War and conflict are affecting energy prices right across Europe. By reducing our energy use at work, we can limit our reliance on expensive, imported fossil fuels. Working with businesses, The Sustainable Authority of Ireland (SEAI) understands the impact of rising energy costs and the need to reduce your energy use and save money in order to get winter ready.

An average SME could potentially reduce its energy bills by up to 30% by implementing energy efficiency measures and 10% savings can be achieved with little or no capital cost. Listed below are some key actions that your business and employees can take now to get winter ready and become more resilient to rising energy costs.

Heating

The longer your heating is on and the higher your thermostat is set the higher your bills will be. Remember heating costs increase by 8% for every 1-degree increase.

* Check your timers are set to the correct date and time considering different working hours on weekends and bank holidays. Turn off heating in vacant spaces.

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* Ensure your office heating is set to 19 degrees and in areas of higher physical activity set to below 19 degrees.

* Identify who is responsible for heating controls and communicate this to your employees, asking that they avoid tampering with the controls.

Draughts

Up to 30% of heating costs can be saved by preventing cold air entering a building. So, controlling this is one of the easiest ways to reduce your heating energy bills.

* Ensure staff are aware of the cost of wasted heat.

* Identify sources of draughts and fit appropriate draught proofing. Think about seals around doors and windows, and whether they require maintenance.

* Ensure that doors are not being propped open for convenience, and consider fitting spring-loaded door closures.

Lighting

For many businesses lighting is one of the most energy intensive parts of the business and can be responsible for 40% of a building’s electricity use. 

* Make use of natural light, relocate objects that are blocking windows, ensure window blinds are open during the day, and arrange desks near windows without causing glare.

* Identify and label your lighting switches to encourage staff to turn them off when not in use, and agree with your employees that the last one out turns the lights off.

* Consider installing occupancy sensors which can reduce lighting energy use by 30%.

* LED lamps use up to 90% less energy than traditional lamps and can last up to five times longer. Consider replacing existing non-LED lamps with suitable LED ones.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland provides grants and supports to help your business get winter ready and reduce your energy use.

SEAI Business Supports

* Encourage your staff to join the SEAI Energy Academy where they will learn about the basics of energy efficiency, helping you embed a sustainable energy use culture within your organisation.

* Register for the next SEAI Introduction to Energy Management training to learn how to start tracking your energy use and create an energy action plan.

* If you spend more than €10,000 per annum on energy, apply for the SEAI’s Support Scheme for Energy Audits and receive a €2,000 voucher towards a high-quality energy audit. This will help you identify your significant energy users and steps you can take to reduce your energy use. 

For further information on supports available from SEAI and to sign up to our SME newsletter please visit seai.ie/business-and-public-sector/small-and-medium-business/