Energy efficiency strategies gone wrong are costing UK businesses millions, report argues

The government's failing energy efficiency strategy for the commercial sector is putting an unnecessary strain on businesses' energy bills, a new TUC report argues today.

Efforts by government to boost commercial energy efficiency are not working, and end up costing UK businesses millions of pounds every year, says the TUC within the "Money to Burn" report, which details the need to improve energy efficiency in offices, supermarkets, hotels and other commercial businesses.

Figures published in the report suggest that the average rate of improvement to UK commercial energy efficiency has stagnated since 2007, with the Committee on Climate Change confirming there has been "little progress" in the sector.

To improve non-domestic energy efficiency in the UK the report says that policy must focus on five different areas: regulation, tax incentives, access to finance, information gathering and dissemination, and 'greening the workplace' — with staff, unions and management working together.

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:

"Clamping down on the 'Great British Energy Waste' is a win-win for businesses, the government and the environment. Even small businesses can save far more from energy efficiency measures than switching suppliers.

"Better energy regulations backed by access to finance, a one-stop shop for energy advice, and encouraging green workplaces would all help tackle this pointless and expensive frittering away of energy."

HeatingSave Energy Management Systems — the game changers

Energy Management Systems are designed to optimize energy consumption within a building and reduce carbon emissions. In the private sector, this most usually applies to offices and factories, especially to firms with a large number of smaller buildings.

Most of these heating / cooling systems have very simple time clocks and boiler thermostats to control the heating; a hopelessly inefficient system of control based on technology of 100 years ago. Some of the more modern buildings have improved upon this position by installing a Building Management System. These reduce the waste somewhat, but are often incorrectly set up or even switched to "manual" has they are too complicated to use.

Our award winning HeatingSave Energy Management Systems change this. No need to replace your boilers, plant or equipment? It's far more cost effective to "better run" what you already have. Of course we can't turn an old boiler into a new one, but, we can make a typical saving of 25% to 50% savings off your fuel bill.

HeatingSave uses occupancy sensors to turn down the heating when nobody is about and automatically turns it up when the building is occupied, which makes it particularly suitable for variably occupied buildings. All organisations should consider retrofitting HeatingSave to existing central heating or cooling systems as part of their cost reduction scheme.

If you'd like to find out more about the HeatingSave Building Energy Management System, just Contact Us or Book a Demo, we'd be more than happy to answer all of your questions and queries on the matter.