Increased energy bills can lead to excessive running costs that cause cash flow complications for businesses all over the country. On top of that, wasted energy contributes to your business’s carbon footprint, increasing it beyond what you need it to be and making it harder to meet any preset sustainability requirements.
Some causes of wasted energy are obvious, but it’s the hidden issues that often have the biggest impact. Here are several things that can cause your business to consume far more energy than necessary:
Hard Water
Yes, hard water can contribute to wasted energy because the mineral deposits collect inside water systems and create limescale. Minerals like calcium and magnesium accumulate on the heating elements, and this means it takes longer for things to heat up, putting a bigger demand on your boiler.
The result is a business environment that uses up excessive energy to perform simple tasks – like heating a kettle in the office kitchen or running a hot water tap. It’s an issue that can be solved by installing a water softener on your premises to reduce limescale build-up and improve water heating efficiency. Of course, limescale removal will also be necessary to clean the heating elements so they can work properly once more.
Poor HVAC Maintenance
Commercial buildings rely on HVAC systems to control the internal temperature, but did you know that poor maintenance can lead to wasted energy? Badly maintained HVAC units don’t work as efficiently as they should because the filters are clogged and the fans have to work harder to push air throughout the system.
A lack of refrigerant in the system can also limit performance and push the units to work much harder and consume more energy than is normally required. Regular HVAC maintenance will put a stop to this and ensure that your commercial building maintains the desired temperature without wasting energy.
Idle Equipment
By far and away the biggest cause of wasted energy in commercial settings is idle equipment. This refers to equipment or machinery that stays running when it is no longer being used. On a simple level, you have computers that are left on standby or in “rest” mode overnight. They consume energy when nobody is using them, so it’s a complete waste.
In more industrial environments, you’ve got manufacturing or heavy-duty machinery that continues to run when it’s no longer needed. You close the building for the night, but there are still lights on some equipment, or motors continue to run. Get into the habit of fully switching off anything that’s not currently in use or doesn’t need to be turned on, and you’ll save a lot of energy.
Does your business suffer from any of these three problems? They’re remarkably common, and yet many companies are unaware of them because they appear to be hidden. Don’t let your water heating system drain energy because of something as simple as hard water. Keep up with HVAC maintenance so clogged filters don’t wreak havoc on your energy bills, and always turn off equipment if it’s not being used. This will help your company reduce overhead costs and hit sustainability targets by reducing your carbon footprint.
