AN Edinburgh design company is encouraging other small firms to seize the chance to get creative in saving money on their energy bills.
Multi-award winning StudioLR, which specialises in branding and experiential graphic design, is now looking forward to saving hundreds of pounds a year and improving cash flow after a visit from an ‘energy doctor’ provided a range of tips for saving on energy costs – including getting a smart meter.
Many small businesses like StudioLR struggle to keep track of how much they spend on energy and to pinpoint which equipment or activities are causing unnecessary waste – and therefore additional costs.
But with the help of a smart meter, business owners can ensure their gas and electricity costs are being tightly monitored.
Energy consultant, Roddy Hamilton from Carbon Trust Scotland, provided his top tips for the business to cut down energy use, as well as some tailored ideas for changes that could be made to StudioLR’s premises at Breadalbane Street to help keep consumption at a minimum.
He advised that people can often underestimate the difference the little things can make and using time switches and setting plugs to switch on and off on certain appliances, such as printers, is a great example of this.
Additionally, he offered his expertise on lighting, stating that it has come on in leaps and bounds in the past few years and that LED lights not only run on a fraction of the cost of older bulbs and last a lot longer, but can also provide a much softer and more pleasant light.
Finally, he recommended that, in small offices, it can also be particularly worthwhile to consider insulating solid concrete flooring to create a thermal barrier and to have a draft lobby at the front door to help keep the heat inside.
Lucy Richards, Founder and Creative Director at StudioLR, said she is keen for the office to be as efficient as possible.
Lucy said: “For a small business like mine, little amounts can make a huge difference to cash flow every month.
“It was great to have the energy consultant come and talk us through what we could be doing to cut costs on our bills. A few of the money saving tips he gave are very simple to do. Some we hadn’t considered before, but which we’ll now be sure to look into.
“It was particularly useful to hear about the benefits a smart meter could bring to our business, and we’re now keen to have one in place as soon as we can.”
Many small businesses (with fewer than 10 employees) are eligible for an upgrade to a smart meter from their energy supplier. They provide accurate readings directly to suppliers, bringing an end to estimated bills, and show customers what they are spending in pounds and pence, in near real time, ultimately allowing people to manage their energy costs better.
The Carbon Trust is an independent, expert partner of leading organisations around the world, helping them contribute to and benefit from a more sustainable future through carbon reduction, resource efficiency strategies and commercialising low carbon technologies.
Roddy added: “When you have the right information and you pay attention to it, it’s simple to find ways to take control of your energy use. Many microbusinesses feel they can’t make energy efficiencies, because they think they have to invest lots of money into new equipment to make a dent.
“But with the help of a smart meter, it’s easy to identify what is using the most energy, at what times, and take action – big or small – to cut down. Every penny saved on energy is a penny saved on the bottom line.”
John MacNeil, Head of Policy and Communications Scotland at Smart Energy GB, said: “As Roddy has shown, knowledge is power when it comes to saving energy. It can be hard for business owners to know where to start when they want to cut their energy costs – especially when they can’t see how much they’re using, and at what times.
“Many small businesses are eligible for an upgrade to a smart meter from their energy supplier. They will give small businesses, firstly, confidence that they are only paying for what they use – and won’t get any unexpected bills at the end of the year. And secondly, the visibility they need to make changes to the way they use energy.”
Contact your energy supplier to see if you can get a smart meter for your business.
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