Future Proof your Energy Costs

The cost of energy is set to rise by an estimated 50% over the course of the next five years.

Now is the best time to future-proof your energy costs.  Energy is operating in an uncertain market and in this blog, we explain how you can future-proof your energy infrastructure to achieve sustainable costs.

The news is regularly full of stories of how energy costs are rising which are affecting the profit of businesses and consumers alike. For businesses, this, of course, impacts on the overheads which in turn reduces profit. So, it makes sense to take all the steps possible to keep those energy costs down.

Did you know that lighting makes up 18% of the UK’s total energy usage? Commercial lighting makes up a whopping 80% of that lighting energy use. In comparison, residential lighting makes up only 16% and street lighting the remaining 4%. (*)

There is undoubtedly a strong move towards renewable energy sources. This is something which the team here at PLM support. We all have a responsibility to look after our world. Energy efficient lighting, which also drives down energy costs, is a great way to do that. But, we’re unfortunately a long way off renewable energy sources being the norm. So, what can companies do to keep their energy costs down? Here’s our expert advice.

Intelligent lighting

Get lighting which will work for you. LED lighting, along with smart controls such as motion sensors or with automated timers, will ensure your lights are only on when you need them to be. There are so many locations where this would be beneficial. Have intelligent lighting in your retail stockroom. Have intelligent lighting in the office hallways. Get intelligent lighting programmed, so it is only used when you want it. This will all help to keep your energy costs as low as possible without having to cut corners on lighting provision and provides excellent ROI.

LED

When it comes to lighting options which will keep your energy costs low, LED is the obvious choice. There has been a definite move towards this technology – it is also predicted to keep on growing and to account for up to 70% of general lighting by 2020.

Prices of the initial installation as well as the lamps themselves have significantly reduced over the years. This has made LED the more financially sound lighting option for a long list of reasons. LED lighting has long been seen as the most promising technology when it comes to commercial viability with energy costs only being one contributing factor.

So, what does that mean when it comes to your electricity bill? LED lighting does not convert so much energy to wasted heat – which is up to 90% of the energy used by traditional lamps. Watch those energy costs drop, giving you more money to invest in more beneficial areas of your business or increase your bottom line profit.

By relying on our knowledge of and expertise with LED lighting solutions, Planned Lighting Maintenance helped Santander make the move to a more energy efficient option whilst bringing a host of benefits for both their staff and clients.

Don’t sit back and relax, yet.

No one can afford to be complacent when it comes to energy costs. As a business, you would monitor staff performance, profit and turnover as standard practice. Your energy costs and efficiency should be no different.

There is a legal requirement for companies which meet specific criteria to carry out energy audits to highlight energy-saving opportunities through ESOS. But, there are many reasons to monitor your energy costs and usage, even if you don’t qualify for ESOS. PLM  provide energy monitoring as a recommended option for clients. We also run it through a wireless system, so it does not interfere with your existing business operation, either.

THE PLM WAY

We use Measure My Energy (MME), who  install sensors prior to the project/or for clients who simply want to measure their energy. MME state – Our Global Energy Management (GEM) Platform lets you easily monitor your utility usage in real-time. Capturing data every six seconds ensures you never miss a thing. Other competitors are known to offer 30 minute tracking.

The energy costs of a business should always be factored into what lighting options are the right choice for your business. It can be tricky to navigate to ensure that you are ticking all of the boxes when it comes to both energy efficiency and legal compliance. But, an informed expert can guide you through the whole process and continue to provide recommendations going forward.

It may require an initial investment but working within a more energy-efficient environment, businesses will make long-term savings on energy usage and bills. The team here at PLM will keep your energy costs down, as well as ensure your entire commercial lighting solution is performing just as it should be. We will also provide energy usage reports as standard to ensure you hit those projected savings. Contact us to find out more.