Heating and Cooling

Heating and cooling can be largest area of electricity usage. The below can help you reduce your costs:

• Check timer settings. It’s unlikely you’ll need your heating or cooling on all day. Make sure it’s switched off outside of peak hours.

• Every 1°C of overheating could increase your heating bill by 8%. So check room thermostats and radiator settings.

Air conditioning

• Set temperature controls as high as possible in summer as lower temperatures require more energy to reach and maintain. Set your air conditioning to come on only when the temperature reaches 24°C or more to ensure that it is not operating at the same time as the heating.

• Fitting simple cut-off switches can immediately turn off air conditioning as an external door is opened.

Lighting

Did you know lighting typically accounts for approximately one third of energy costs in retail businesses?

Use LEDs and energy saving light bulbs. These use up to 85% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb. They also have differing light outputs and come in a variety of shapes and sizes to match the décor of a room or display area.

• Colour code light switches. Labelling switches makes it easier for staff to identify which lights they need to turn on, rather than illuminating the whole building all the time.

Refrigeration

Here are some useful pointers that can help reduce your refrigeration electricity costs:

• Equipment location. If the refrigeration unit is in direct sunlight or close to heat sources including radiators and ovens. To reduce running costs, appliances such as fridges and freezers,should not be situated in your cellar, in direct sunlight or close to heat sources like radiators or ovens.

• Keep it closed. Don’t leave doors open longer than necessary and ensure that stocking up takes place as quickly as possible. For chill cabinets, do not set the temperature unnecessarily low.