February 22, 2012

A Greener Place to Stay!

Filed under: business energy — Tags: — admin @ 2:09 pm

Many tourists who have decided to remain in the UK for their holidays this year have expressed an interest in staying in hotels which are showing some concern for their environment by trying to reduce their business energy costs.  There is considerable evidence to show that these visitors want to stay in hotels which are making headway in the reduction of their carbon footprint.  This is borne out by visitors feeling that these hoteliers are likely to offer a higher quality service.

How likely this is, isn’t clear, but wanting to stay in a hotel where they are concerned about the future of the planet seems reasonable.  Another point is that if these hotels make a higher charge because of measures they have incorporated, and if the client is happy to pay the additional amount that is their choice.

The choice people make is most important, and to allow them to take that decision shows a level of their own commitment towards wanting a greener future.  Hotels are, in many cases, providing key cards which allow entry to their bedroom.  These same key cards in some instances are able to switch off the lights when no-one is in the room, and will switch them back when the key card is inserted upon return to the room.

These same cards can, if programmed, and the technology is available in the hotel, switch heating off and on, cope with air conditioning units and arrange a specific temperature for the shower which when switched on, automatically reverts to the same heat.  These are all wonderful measures which reduce the need for anyone of the hotel staff running round from room to room to check that the lights have been turned off when the bedroom was vacated.

Many hotels now have a note asking whether you require the towels to be changed every day, or whether you are happy to use the same towels for an additional day.  Obviously, every time there is a new occupant in the room it is essential to strip all the bedding and to change the towels.  That is perfect common sense, and indeed an essential part of being an hotelier.  For clients remaining for two or three nights though it isn’t essential to have clean bedding every night.  Very few people will go to the trouble of changing their bedding every day as it isn’t necessary.  In fact think of the amount of waste water and electricity which would be used if everyone were to change their bedding every day.

The same is true regarding towels.  Obviously every time there is a change in occupant of a room, the towels must be changed.  Would you change them every day if you were at home?  You wouldn’t and if there is no necessity for it at home, why would anyone insist on fresh towels every day when staying in a hotel.  Be sensible, enjoy your stay, and don’t place additional stress on the hardworking housekeeping staff.  They have enough, already!

February 14, 2012

Save the Pounds – And the Pennies Will Follow

Filed under: Energy News — admin @ 12:00 pm

A recurring theme which is causing difficulties throughout the UK regarding the reduction in the amount of energy being used in the home and in small and medium sized businesses appears to be the unwillingness to consider changing the way in which we currently use our electricity and gas.

More than sixty per cent of business owners confirm that they don’t know how much electricity or gas is being consumed.  Even though medium sized organisations may have an accounts department which pays these bills, surely there must be a system in place so that directors can check these payments.  It is unhealthy and unwise in the current economic market for the boss of any organisation not to be aware of all running costs and overheads.

Without knowing the situation fully it is difficult to make any decisions as to whether savings can be made.  Once there has been a close investigation then progress can be made towards energy savings

When leaving the business one evening, switch off absolutely everything which isn’t essential.  Obviously, if there are refrigerated units these will need to be left switched on.  Apart from these items if everything else can be switched off.  Next morning when arriving at the business, check the meter and that will give you a base level of the amount of energy which had been used overnight.

It is important to then work all day as usual, but at the end of the day, before going home, do another meter reading which will then show the amount of energy used that day.  Ask an employee to assist, and each day before they go home switch off all non-essential equipment.

Another job for the assistant is to start them with finding small energy-saving ideas which can be passed to you for comment.  If it seems sensible, go ahead and try it.  Change all the light bulbs for low energy ones, which will save a considerable amount of money.  The bulbs also last considerably longer.  Reduce the temperature on the central heating boiler by one degree.   This will reduce the heating bill by approximately ten per cent, and no-one will notice any difference at all.

Ask your assistant to switch off radiators in unused offices, which will also reduce the existing energy bill.  Ensure that computers are switched off in the evening when they are not being used, rather than just having them left on “stand-by”.  This saves a considerable amount of money.  In many areas of the business, you will find that small savings can be made which, but when these are amalgamated they can contribute significantly to reducing the energy bills.

February 13, 2012

From the Frying Pan – and Into the Fire

Filed under: business energy — admin @ 1:32 pm

 

Whilst the big six energy providers have had their own well publicised price increases this year which has culminated in Ofgem, the regulator, seeking answers through their own investigations, other High Street names have entered the energy market looking to provide a better price structure and service than the larger suppliers.

Co-operative Energy entered the market in May 2011 promising that they would have a single tariff to keep it simple and fair for consumers.  They also said that customers have previously been confused by complicated tariffs, changing prices and by unfair contracts.  Co-operative Energy also said that their customers, who would be the owners of the business, would receive a twice yearly profit-sharing deal.

This was only a few short months ago.  However, this early optimism by Co-op Energy has evaporated completely with an announcement that they need to increase their prices – electricity has an eleven per cent hike, whilst gas prices are going to be increased by a huge eighteen per cent.

These increases, which will affect 14,000 consumers, come into effect on 3rd November 2011.  The reason given by the energy provider is related to price increases in the wholesale energy markets.  Co-op Energy has apologised to its customers saying that they have delayed increasing prices for as long as possible, but they have problems which are similar to the rest of the industry.  They continued to explain that the wholesale energy prices which rise during winter months, distribution charges and increasing government levies which fund renewable energy policies are all contributory factors towards the increased charges.

This doesn’t help the customers who will have signed up with Co-op Energy because they felt that the Co-operative brand is a well-known High Street name which they could trust.  The effect of these increases will put additional consumers into fuel poverty.   The current number of households in this situation has been estimated at about seven million throughout the UK.

Chris Huhne, the Coalition Government’s Energy Minister, has already stated that the regulator, Ofgem will have additional powers to enforce the big six energy providers to treat customers fairly.  Will this be extended to include all new companies entering this market?

It is great that other big well respected companies want to provide competition in the energy market, leading to a better deal for consumers.  The problem arises when, after a very short period, claims made by the new providers, turn out to be little more than window dressing in order to encourage new customers.  Whilst accepting that this enthusiasm is good, it obviously needs solid strategies in order to be able to back up their claims, and to ensure that these don’t collapse within a short period of time.  If this isn’t resolved from the beginning, consumers will surely feel that they are jumping from the frying pan into the fire.  In that position, where confidence in the economy as a whole is low, this won’t improve the situation.

February 6, 2012

Waste Not – Want Not!

Filed under: Energy News — admin @ 9:59 am

We need to issue a timely reminder about the new rules and regulations that became law on 28th September 2011.  This is in relation to the disposal of all waste and rubbish!  Every single business from the smallest office with one person to huge organisations with several thousand employees will need to follow these instructions, or they will be liable to receive a fine.

It is now totally irrelevant of the type of business being operated.  Solicitors, accountants, estate agents and at the other end of the scale huge organisations including government offices, factories and supermarkets are included.  In other words there are no exclusions at all.

Before any products are discarded the following will need to be considered.  A preventative use – which actually covers things similar to – documents and whether they require printing, or could just be seen online.  If they do need printing, can this be double-sided.  Does everyone need to receive a copy or can it be shared.  Also emails shouldn’t be printed off without due consideration.

The next items on the list are reuse and recycle which applies to paper and cardboard and requires paper to be shredded and cardboard must be sent for recycling.  These are fairly straightforward as the majority of organisations have shredded paperwork for some years now.  The last item is whether something can be recovered – so can it be reused elsewhere?

This is a new way of thinking and something which needs to be taken seriously.  Energy saving measures can also be incorporated by switching printers and shredding machines off when they are not in use.  The easiest way to tackle the new regulations is to find one employee who perhaps doesn’t have too much responsibility, and task them with ensuring that the company complies with the regulations.  As long as the employee is given help and training on how to start the process, and that they have someone to report back to, then this can be a good opportunity for an employee to take their turn in the limelight.

Whichever way this is tackled it must be started immediately, as with less than two weeks before this legislation becomes law there isn’t much time to dither about it.  Embrace the changes which will need to be made, and they’ll soon become second nature.  Encourage all members of staff to be involved, but ensure that they know the person who is overseeing the project.  It could be interesting how many other suggestions may come from staff members regarding the saving of energy as well as reducing waste.

Once everyone understands the process and their part in it, it will soon become a habit – at the same time try to encourage everyone to switch off as many machines as possible when they go home each evening.

February 2, 2012

We Can Save Our Energy – If We Want To

Filed under: Energy News — Tags: — admin @ 9:47 am

For the first six months of 2011 electricity usage was down 2.7% on the same period as last year.  Interestingly during the second quarter of 2011 the total power consumption was down four percent on the same period in 2010.

Perhaps in both the business and residential markets the consumer is beginning to take heed of our entreaties to reduce the amount of energy being used.  At times it feels as though no-one listens at all; however the news just available regarding the energy savings being made must be encouraging.

Turning the same coin on its head though, and in the scheme of things overall, the latest figure of 4% reduction is fairly minute.  Given that with a little effort it is easy to make ten to twenty percent savings without any loss of comfort, four percent seems slightly pathetic.

Is it possible for every business and every home to take a few minutes in order to switch appliances off, rather than leaving them on stand-by?  Surely for those small businesses where let’s say their energy bill is £2000 per year – a ten percent saving is £200, and it is possible to make greater savings.

Energy prices are moving quite rapidly at present, and for the business owner who is looking to make regular reductions on their energy bill, a consultation with an energy broker would certainly be advantageous.  They are the experts who can advise whether a contract should be taken out to fix the cost for a period of time.  They can also advise as to the right length of time is the optimum to be tied in.  They will be able to discuss tariffs and whether yours is correct.  You may be better advised to be on half-hourly metering.  There are many different sources and opportunities to improve the current position.  They can provide an “energy audit” of your premises which will identify the usage and will also uncover where there are the possibilities of savings.

When it comes down to it there are many different alternatives for both the business user and the residential consumer.  Every single person should be making their contribution towards saving the energy which is available.  It has only been available for one hundred years and look at the distance which has been travelled in that short period of time.  We won’t be here to know what is happening after another hundred years – however our great grandchildren may still be around.  It would be interesting to know what they would think of our current efforts to save our beautiful country.

Regardless of what might happen in the future, the present is what everyone needs to consider and we must all do our small part in the reduction of energy consumption.

January 24, 2012

Small Changes – Show Big Results On Business Energy

Filed under: business energy — Tags: — admin @ 2:27 pm

There appears to be some confusion relating to the amount of energy which can be saved by making a few little changes.  The savings obviously depend on the amount of electricity being consumed in the first place which is why they are normally given as a percentage of the total amount.

Every business or household in the UK need to do their bit in order to either go down the micro generation route or, certainly in the short term, reduce the amount of gas and electricity they use both at home and in their businesses.

The quickest results can be achieved by taking a few minutes out of the business day to look all electrical equipment  or if you are a residential consumer, a wander around the home to take an inventory of all electrical applicants.  Only by making a note of each appliance will you notice the difference in the amount of energy being used by each one.

If you have a small business, switch off everything off which isn’t essential to be left switched on.  Once you have done this, take a look at the electric meter to check that it has completely stopped moving – or moving much slower if some appliances needed to be left on.

At home you should be able to turn everything off other than the fridge and freezer.  Check that the meter has slowed down and next morning look to see how many units of electricity have been used.  Once you know the minimum amount of electricity used overnight, look at the difference the next night when everything is left plugged in.

It saves money when televisions are unplugged rather than left on standby, and over the course of a year this can add up to a considerable sum.

Both business and residential users can save money by altering the thermostat on the central heating boiler just one degree lower.  A comfortable temperature is nineteen or twenty degrees Celsius which is approximately 68 degrees Fahrenheit.  Those homes where there are babies or older or disabled people living there may need the temperature to be a little warmer if they aren’t able to move around much.

In both the home and in the workplace placing tinfoil behind each radiator will reflect the heat back into the room.   Switch the radiator off in rooms which aren’t used regularly – alternatively, turn the radiator to minimum which will ensure that it can be increased quickly when required.  If each radiator doesn’t have a thermostat as standard it is worth purchasing these for every radiator so that every room can be individually regulated.  These are worth the small investment – they can be bought one at a time – as then extra heat isn’t being wasted where it isn’t needed.  These are just simple ways to save energy in the home and the workplace.  It’s worth making a little effort which can save pounds.

January 20, 2012

Energy Savings in London – Benefits for All

Filed under: Energy Efficiency — Tags: , — admin @ 9:52 am

It is good to hear that The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson appears to be leading the way in encouraging consumers to be involved with the London energy efficiency scheme which has just been extended to include properties in another nine boroughs.  This deal, not particularly excitingly called the RE:NEW programme was originally planned to improve 200,000 London properties by 2012.

The programme is a collaboration between the 32 London Borough Councils and The Energy Saving Trust and with additional funding this has allowed for the extra boroughs to be included.

The deal set out with the intention of providing homes with energy efficiency measures to enable consumers to be able to save on their energy bills.  Currently, only approximately 9,000 householders have chosen to take part.  However, it is still early days and with further funding from the Government’s Green Deal Mr Johnson is hoping to assist 1.2 million homes by 2015.

A further scheme has involved L&Q Housing and British Gas joining Mr Johnson’s merry band of followers to provide 150 housing association homes with solar panels, and a further 22,500 more properties are expected to have these installed over the next few months.

Before any work is carried out every property has a full energy survey which also confirms whether loft and cavity wall insulation is required in the home and whether it is appropriate to install it.  The homeowners are also advised on whether they are eligible for any grants.  After the energy survey the consumers receive a full report which confirms the best products available for them.

The original programme centred on providing low energy light bulbs, switches for stand-by, and loft and cavity wall insulation.

Mr Johnson has commented that the scheme delivers on many different levels.  The homeowners obviously benefit, but the work means that there are additional jobs.  Consumers can expect annual savings in the region of approximately £180 on their energy bills.

Although there haven’t been as many customers showing interest in the scheme as would be expected, over the coming winter months when energy bills are, obviously higher, the level of customer enquiries should increase considerably.

Although this scheme is contained within the London area, similar opportunities are likely to be available throughout the UK, particularly with the introduction of the Government’s Green Deal.  Solar panels are likely to become regularly seen on roofs across the UK over the coming years, particularly with the benefits of consumers not having to pay any upfront capital costs and repayments for the panels being made from the income received by selling excess electricity back to the National Grid.

It will be interesting to monitor Mr Johnson and the programme which has started in the London Boroughs to establish the uptake by homeowners, and the levels of savings which are achieved by these energy efficiency measures.

January 16, 2012

Save Money On Business Energy

Filed under: business energy — Tags: — admin @ 9:32 am

Many small and medium sized business owners don’t have any plans in place to reduce their business energy consumption.  Many business users don’t even know how much energy they use, and have no idea of the cost each month or quarter.  As smaller businesses are able to make substantial savings on their energy bill it is somewhat disappointing to learn that very few business owners know what they spend!

A small business should be able to make approximately twenty percent savings against their current energy bill so it is well worth spending the time to ensure that everything is done to maximise these savings.

A good way to make a start is by checking how much energy is used on a daily basis.  Start on a Monday morning just after arriving at the office and make a note of the energy figure.  Once that figure is written down, it is then easy to check it each following morning.  For the first couple of days just write down the figure on the meter. It is obviously easy to calculate the net amount of energy used every day.  After two or three days, take a walk round the office and make a list of all electrical appliances.  This may take a little time but it is certainly worth the effort.

That evening before leaving the office switch off or unplug everything which isn’t essential to be left on including computers.  Don’t leave them on standby – actually switch them off.  The next morning it is essential to arrive before anyone else, as this way nothing will have been switched back on.  Take a meter reading as the first job of the day.   This should be several units less than previous mornings.  It’s then fine to plug everything in ready for the start of business.

The advantage of this little exercise is that you’ll know how much electricity is being wasted with computers and photocopier etc being left on standby.  It may be useful to have an “energy audit” carried out on the premises which will identify all savings which can be made.  Once aware of the savings which can be achieved by switching appliances off overnight, then there’s a good opportunity of making further economies by changing to low energy light bulbs and reminding everyone to switch off the lights when they aren’t necessary.

If there is money available to change to solar panels and other green alternative methods of generating energy that is great; however, at the present time the majority of business owners are just managing to keep their heads above water.  Don’t spend where it isn’t necessary, but change the things which cost very little and which may translate into considerable savings.  The old adage is – look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves.

January 12, 2012

One Person’s Rubbish – Another Person’s Treasure

Filed under: Energy Efficiency — admin @ 2:18 pm

Landfill sites are coming closer to being full and when that time happens and they can take no more what changes can be made?  The UK buries more waste in landfill sites than any other European country and by 2018 it is anticipated that the landfills will be completely full.

There have recently been several alternatives being trialled to obtain the best solutions, or combinations of solutions.  The EU has been pushing the UK into making changes and in 2000 the Government started a landfill tax which is still applied in 2011.  At the beginning the base rate was £7 per tonne and now it is £56 and due to increase again so that by 2014 the cost will be £80 per tonne.

The changes require waste to be thought of as a resource – not rubbish.  Recycling rates need to increase and alternatives are being considered for using the waste or rubbish for the generation of power.  This could be for homes and businesses alike.  Incinerators could be utilised for this, as modern incinerators are completely different from the kind which is remembered from the past which were dirty and smelly.  The pollution levels being discharged from modern incinerators is much reduced and some councils in the UK are already using modern incinerators to heat office buildings.

An alternative to incinerators is by using anaerobic digesters and converting organic waste into electricity.  Yet again, another method being used at mechanical-biological treatment plants uses heat and drying to convert rubbish into blocks of fuel which can be utilised at industrial sites and power stations.  Many other methods are also being trialled and it will be interesting to know which of the above alternatives are the most satisfactory.  When any results will be available isn’t known at this time, only that progress is rapidly being made.

Although landfill sites are still being used throughout much of the UK there are many alternative methods of dealing with waste being tried across the country.  Local councils all have to pay their own landfill charges and with extra monies from government being in short supply, county councils certainly can’t afford to be burying their money in landfill sites.  All councils have many demands on their budget and already the books don’t completely balance with many county councils having to make cuts across the various services provided by the councils.

In addition to providing services which are essential in every part of the UK, the problems and cost of burying waste at landfill sites is becoming larger with every passing year.  They are looking for the best alternative solutions – however we don’t know the cost of these – and how quickly these solutions can be implemented.  There won’t be one answer, maybe a combination is necessary.  Sometime soon, would be a good reply.

January 11, 2012

Door-Step Sales …Five Down, Just One to Go!

Filed under: Energy Efficiency — Tags: , — admin @ 12:52 pm

Five out of the big six energy suppliers have now confirmed that they are stopping the business of door-step sales.  Scottish Power has just made it known that they will be ceasing that part of their business. The comments made by them include stating that it isn’t relevant to today’s market and they need to engage with their customers in a different way.  Regardless of the fact that they should have stopped this months ago, at least they have now decided to do so.

The only one of the six not complying with stopping the door-step sales and the doubtful techniques employed is E.on – surely we’ll have some confirmation shortly that they are following the other suppliers.

During the period when stop-step sales were permitted, many customers switched to deals which were much worse for them.  Consumer surveys of people who switched supplier as a result of a door-step sales person have found that nine out of ten people wouldn’t ever buy energy products at the door again and only four per cent were positive about doorstep sales of energy products.

At the end of the day, door-step sales haven’t worked satisfactorily and those people who switched providers as a result of underhand tactics and ended up by paying more should leave those providers as quickly as possible.

What people need to do is to reduce energy consumption, and with the winter upon us it is a difficult time of year to make savings.

There is a new device which, it is claimed, can assist in making savings although how effective it is isn’t known at this time.  It is a smart sensor which is wirelessly connected to a socket and when a room is empty it reduces the power to all appliances.  After it has been set-up nothing further is needed as it works automatically.    Apparently it can tell when someone is in a room, even if they aren’t moving at all – and they won’t need to move, as the sensor realises they are there.  It is suggested that this is a passive way to reduce electricity – you don’t need to change anything regarding lifestyle.

It has been designed by a family man with three daughters who kept forgetting to switch appliances off.  One concern though is if the sensor works only in the room that it’s in, will one be necessary in every room of the home.

Another question relates to the level of savings which can be achieved and how long it takes to pay for one sensor.  It is wise to consider everything – however by changing to low energy light bulbs and turning down the central heating thermostat by one degree make work as efficiently as this sensor.  If anyone has one fitted, I’d be interested in knowing their opinions.

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