Business Appliance Energy Use (& Costs)

Energy efficiency is important in commercial settings. Not only is the unnecessary use of energy bad for the environment, but it could also affect your bottom line. Understanding your business energy consumption is, therefore, critical to keeping your costs under control when energy prices continue to fluctuate.  

PCs and Laptops

The amount of energy consumed by laptops and desktop PCs can vary greatly according to make and model, but desktop PCs tend to use far more electricity than laptops, around 60% less, on average. 

Factors that influence how much they draw include how long they’re left on for, how bright the screen settings are, and how onerous the tasks are that they’re being asked to complete. You can reduce their energy usage by switching them to power-saving settings and ensuring they’re switched off at night rather than left on standby. However, switching from desktop PCs to laptops is the biggest single move you can make to reduce energy use. 

Identifying Most Energy-Consuming Appliances in Businesses

There’s a big difference between the appliances in your office that use the most energy and those that use the least. The most energy-hungry appliance in most offices is the air conditioning system, which uses around forty times the energy per hour a desktop PC uses. If your business has had the same air conditioning system in place for a long time, it may be worth investigating whether you should be looking to replace it with a more modern, energy-efficient one. 

Other office appliances can have a surprisingly high energy consumption level, even when not in active use. Photocopiers, for example, use more energy than an average laptop per hour even when they’re not actively used, while printers use the same. It remains a common belief that appliances not using energy when on standby is a myth, but that’s not the case. They can use up to a third as much energy, even when they’re not being used!

Servers can be particularly expensive to run, but they’re ordinarily designed to be switched off at the end of each working day. Making sure that appliances are switched off when not in use is the quickest and easiest way to start reducing your energy bills. When upgrading, you should also switch to less power-hungry equipment, while switching from traditional lighting to LED lights will save you considerable money. 

Calculating Energy Costs for Business Appliances

The methodology for calculating electricity costs of office appliances is straightforward. According to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the average cost for standard electricity in the UK as of April 2024 is 24.5p/kWh. To determine how much energy it costs to run an appliance, we can apply the following formula: 

Firstly, calculate the appliance's energy use: power rating in kilowatts x hours used per day. Then, calculate the energy cost: kWh per day x unit cost = cost of electricity each day.

For example, if you have a 500W (0.5 kW) tumble dryer and run it for a whole day (24 hours), it will use 12kWh of electricity (e.g. half a kilowatt every hour). If your electricity costs 24.5p per unit, then multiply 12kWh by 24.5p, and you get an overall total of 294p, or £2.94, per day. Here are some hourly usage rates for other popular domestic appliances: 

It may also be possible to reduce your energy costs by switching to a more suitable tariff for your needs. If you’re in a position to be able to do this, Switchpal can help by finding you the best deal for your business needs. 

Tips for Optimising Energy Efficiency in the Workplace

There are several steps that you can take to optimise energy efficiency in your workplace: 

• Turn off appliances completely when not in use – don’t leave them in standby mode.

• Only boil the amount of water you need in the kettle.

• Switch to low-energy light bulbs.

• If you’re buying a new appliance, look for one with an ‘A’ rating for energy efficiency.

• Switch energy suppliers only to pay what you need to.

• Switch from desktop PCs to laptops.

To successfully drive down these costs, you’ll need the buy-in of your employees. This means that the way you communicate matters. Awareness and engagement are important in the fight against climate change, so ensure that everybody knows what they need to do. 

Can Upgrading Office Appliances Help in Reducing Utility Bills Significantly?

Upgrading to newer models that boast improved energy efficiency can potentially reduce utility bills significantly over time. However, the decision to replace appliances should be approached strategically, considering factors such as the payback period, prioritisation of replacements, and alternative energy-saving strategies. 

Are There Government Incentives for Businesses to Adopt Energy-saving Practices?

Many government schemes offer loans, grants, or subsidised energy-saving measures to support small businesses in reducing their impact on the environment. These can include the upfront costs of investing in energy-efficient equipment—the GOV.UK Business Finance and Support Finder is an excellent place to start.  

How Can I Encourage Employees to Participate in Energy Conservation Efforts?

Your employees may already be interested in energy conservation, but some tricks you could use to grow their participation include leading by example, defining goals and clear metrics, effectively educating and informing them, and providing incentives and recognition for hitting your targets. 

Are There Any Specific Energy-saving Regulations or Standards for Commercial Buildings?

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) set minimum energy performance standards for commercial properties. These standards are expressed in Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), which rate buildings on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). From April 2023, MEES regulations have been extended to cover existing commercial premises, requiring landlords to upgrade properties with an EPC rating below E to meet the minimum standard before letting them out. 

Rising energy prices have been a thorn in the side of business over the last couple of years, but there is action that you can take to reduce your costs. From replacing outdated equipment to switching energy suppliers, there’s plenty that you can do to help the green revolution that is currently changing how we do business.