Are You Due a Business Energy Audit?

At Nexus we’ve seen that there is more pressure than ever on small and medium sized UK businesses to lower their carbon footprint and move towards greater environmental responsibility. There has never been a better time to seek out a comprehensive commercial energy audit to see exactly where your business stands – and how you can make improvements.

When to get an energy audit

Most businesses (and indeed ordinary homeowners) first consider getting an energy audit because they want to find ways to save money. A professional commercial energy audit gives you a clear snapshot of your exact energy usage, which you can then use to inform improvements that could save you hundreds or even thousands of pounds a year. The best thing about these efficiencies is that they often make no difference to your operations or the service you deliver to your customers, so they’re an easy first step for enterprises looking to save in 2021.

But a professionally conducted energy audit from Nexus is not just a great way to save money and hunt out potential areas of waste, but to make a lasting impact on your carbon footprint and do something positive for the environment. If you’ve never had an audit before or it’s been some time since your last one, now is your chance.

If you’re replacing old and inefficient equipment or are trying to be more compliant with the government’s Green Deal, your first step should be an energy audit. Likewise, if you’re applying for a grant to fund your energy efficiency project or are considering an upgrade like solar panel installation, you’ll need an audit to get a crystal-clear picture of your current use. Finally, energy audits are typically needed if you’re concerned about the frankly rigorous new governmental energy efficiency standards, and don’t want to risk being fined or investigated.

Committing to smarter energy use

No business can afford to ignore their responsibility when it comes to sustainable practices. The trouble is, many enterprises end up spending too much on initiatives that bring only mediocre returns, or else focus their attention on insignificant areas while ignoring the ways their business is really wasting money and energy every day.

An energy audit gives you insight and clarity into what really matters, so any green initiatives you make are guaranteed to be the most impactful. If you are planning to make upgrades to your machinery, energy systems or premises in general, it’s a good idea to get an energy audit first. You’ll be given an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and some recommendations for how to improve your ratings. This requires more than just an assessment though, since you need to carefully analyze the cost-benefit ratio of green upgrades for your unique business.

Design your business energy policy

An energy audit allows you to take charge not only of your budget, but of your overall business plan when it comes to environmental accountability. Keeping a clear record of energy efficiency assessments over time will give you an idea of your overall development, so you can track the effectiveness of various initiatives. Smaller organizations don’t need to draw up lengthy documents to get a handle on their energy policies, though. An energy audit can help you draft a few simple values and objectives, and shape your general energy strategy going forward. It’s so much easier to implement any energy saving plan when you have data-driven goals and a realistic plan to achieve them.

Make meaningful changes

Do you know exactly how much energy every piece of equipment is using on your premises? Do you know how much this is costing you yearly? What processes do you have in place to identify energy-inefficiencies? An energy audit can help you answer these questions, and take immediate action. Even companies that work hard to use energy wisely can find they can shave an extra 10 or 20% energy use off their operations.  

Every little bit helps. An audit can point you in the right direction, so you can start making savings by replacing energy-hogging devices, placing boilers and refrigerators on timers, upgrading to LED lights, or improving your building insulation. You could also consider saving both money and carbon emissions by training staff to be more mindful of energy use, or implementing incentives for meeting recycling and waste reduction targets.  

No matter the size or nature of your business, there are creative and practical ways for you to not only save money and ensure compliance with governmental regulations, but boost your green reputation and send a message that you value corporate climate responsibility. Detailed information from a professional energy audit can get you started on the right foot.