How can we save money on energy in our office?

We run a small import and export business and have an office of about 25 people.

During the coronavirus pandemic we currently have about a third of our staff in the office on any given day, with the rest working from home, due to social distancing.

We still have to heat and light the premises to the same degrees as before and staff have asked us to turn up the heating, as with less people in the building feels colder.

What can we do to save energy and money on our bills over winter?

Keeping energy bills down in an office environment can be tough but there are steps to take

Grace Gausden, This is Money, replies: It is tough out there for small businesses surviving through the pandemic and any way to cut down on costs in all areas will be on the forefront of many minds.

With fewer people in the office, it is likely they will feel the cold even more – depending on how on how modern the building is, how easy it is to heat and insulation.

For this reason, the office could be using the same – or even more energy – for just a third of staff, compared to having a full office full of body heat.   

Heating a half empty office can be a real headache but there are still ways to save energy and money.

This is Money, with the help of our partner, Bionic, a site that helps small businesses save money on their bills, have put together some top tips. 

According to Bionic, the first thing to do is move people as close together as possible, while still observing social distancing rules, and make sure all doors and windows are kept shut. 

It is also worth checking for draughts and installing self-adhesive thermal strips around doors and windows to help keep the heat in and the cold out.

Try to keep the thermostat at a steady 22 degrees, and insist that employees don’t adjust the heat – constant tampering with the temperature can significantly increase your energy usage. 

Make sure there’s nothing obstructing the radiators, including filing cabinets and curtains, as this both cuts the amount of heat entering the room and means the radiators use more energy.  

Another thing businesses can do to save money is switch to a better energy deal.

Switching provider is one of the most tried and trusted ways of saving money on domestic energy bills and it is just as effective a tactic for saving money on business energy.

Bionic has a Make It Cheaper service which makes it simple to change your energy supplier. 

You can give its energy experts a call on 0800 188 4979 to find out more about business energy and switch to the best tariff.

Switch off: Turning off all lights after usage is a good way to ensure that you are saving energy

Another suggestion is to carry out an energy audit.

Any business that employs at least 250 people, or have an annual turnover of above around £40million and a balance sheet above around £34million, must carry out an energy audits every four years, and try to identify ways it can cut usage.

However, even if you run a small business, it could be worth undergoing a professional audit to obtain an accurate breakdown of when and where you’re using energy to work out where you can cut down and save money.

Carrying out your own regular maintenance checks between services is also important.

Keep an eye out for leaks or discolouration around pipes and valves, as well as drops in pressure on the boiler. Any problems, call out an engineer as soon as possible.

It could also be worth fitting thermostatic radiator valves which sense the air temperature around them and then control heat by regulating the flow of water through the radiator they are fitted to.

Turning a TRV to a lower setting results in the room being controlled at a lower temperature, and saves energy. 

This is useful where there are natural temperature variations as it stops heat being delivered to the warmer areas.

Insulating your office can be another way to save money. 

If heat can escape, it means your boiler must work harder, using more energy and costing you more money. Make sure roofs are also properly insulated – a building can lose 22 per cent of its heat through the roof.

Another top tip is to use energy efficient bulbs as these can cut costs.

When it comes to lighting, only use the ones you need and encourage employees to turn off all lights after use.

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk