Energy bills can be a significant cost for manufacturing companies. By implementing energy-saving strategies, you can reduce your environmental impact and improve your bottom line. This guide provides practical tips to help UK manufacturers conserve energy and save money.
Start with an Energy Audit
Conducting an energy audit is the first step to identifying areas for improvement. An audit will analyse your energy consumption patterns and pinpoint areas where you can make the biggest impact. Many energy consultancies and utilities offer audit services.
Optimise Existing Equipment
- Regular maintenance: Regularly maintaining equipment ensures it operates efficiently. Clean filters, lubricate moving parts, and promptly address minor issues to prevent them from turning into major energy drains.
- Upgrade inefficient machinery: Consider replacing outdated equipment with energy-efficient models. Newer machinery often incorporates features like variable speed drives that adjust power consumption based on demand.
Embrace Smart Controls and Automation
- Building Management Systems (BMS): Implement a BMS to monitor and control heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. BMS can automatically adjust settings based on occupancy and weather conditions, reducing energy waste.
- Process automation: Automate processes to minimise human error and ensure consistent energy use. Sensors can detect when equipment is idle and automatically shut it down.
Harness the Power of Efficient Lighting
- LED lighting: Replace traditional lighting with LED fixtures. LEDs are significantly more energy-efficient and last longer, resulting in long-term savings.
- Daylight harvesting: Take advantage of natural light by installing skylights or light tubes. Utilise occupancy sensors to automatically turn off lights in unoccupied areas.
Reduce Heating and Cooling Demands
- Improve building insulation: Ensure proper insulation in walls, roofs, and windows to minimise heat transfer. Sealing air leaks around doors and windows is also crucial.
- Optimise HVAC systems: Schedule regular maintenance for HVAC systems and consider upgrading to models with higher efficiency ratings.
- Behavioural changes: Encourage employees to dress appropriately for the season and switch off lights and computers when not in use.
Explore Renewable Energy Sources
- Solar panels: Installing solar panels can significantly reduce your reliance on grid-supplied electricity.
- Other renewables: Depending on your location, consider wind turbines, biomass, or geothermal energy as potential renewable sources.
Work with an energy consultant
Implementing all these changes, plus keeping on top of your energy bills could prove difficult for a large business. This is where the help of an energy consultant could come in. An energy consultant can:
- Procure contracts for you: An energy consultant will find energy prices for your gas and electricity contract that suit your business and budget.
- Negotiate with energy suppliers: An energy consultant will also negotiate with suppliers on your behalf. This ensures you can get the cheapest price possible.
- Suggest different ways to save on your energy bills: An energy consultant can help you make decisions on what energy saving technology will be best for your company. This includes solar panels, voltage optimisers and much more.
- Take care of your renewals: One big reason companies end up overpaying on their energy bills is being put on out of contract rates. If you work with an energy consultant, they will remind you of when your renewal is due and even find you the cheapest renewal offers.
Learn more about the services an energy consultant can offer you today or get a quote to start saving now!
By implementing these energy-saving strategies, UK manufacturing companies can significantly reduce their energy consumption and costs. Remember, even small changes can add up to substantial savings. Don't hesitate to seek professional advice and explore government resources to make your energy-saving journey a success.
If you're looking to save money on your energy bills then why not get in touch today? The relationships Resolve Energy has developed with over 24 of the UK’s biggest business energy suppliers allows our energy experts to source the best business energy rates available for your company right when you need them. Request a free quote today and start saving money on your energy.
