One way that businesses are trying to reduce gas and electricity bills is by reducing energy usage. Implementing a series of energy-saving measures can significantly reduce rising energy bills.
Here are some of our top tips for retail stores to save energy:
Lighting
Lighting will be one of the biggest uses of electricity for most retail stores. Exploring ways to reduce lighting costs is advisable for all businesses. In particular, it can offer significant savings for large businesses.
Switching to energy-saving LED light bulbs will cut your energy usage. They typically use less than half the energy incandescent lighting uses.
Another great way to reduce your energy usage through lighting is to install motion sensors. This is great for areas that aren’t used as often. It ensures lights aren’t left on and are only activated when someone is there.
Making use of natural light is another way to reduce the need for artificial lighting. Skylights and well-positioned windows are great ideas.
Heating
Heating can be difficult to manage. In cold weather, it will be essential for many retail stores to heat their buildings.
Exploring different heating methods to find the one that best suits the property is essential. You should speak with a heating expert who will be able to check the building type and space that needs to be heated.
One way to reduce a heating bill is to turn the thermostat down by just 1°C. This small difference can save as much as 10% from the heating bill.
Air conditioning
Using air conditioning during the summer can make the premises inviting. It can encourage customers to stay and browse so it can be a worthwhile investment. There are some things that can be done to ensure you aren’t wasting energy when using air conditioning.
Using air conditioning in a space that keeps doors or windows open can waste a lot of energy. The air conditioner will be fighting to cool the air when warm air is allowed to enter. Keeping doors and windows closed allows for greater efficiency.
While natural light will help to reduce lighting bills, direct sunlight can increase the temperature and may damage stock. Investing in tinted windows can reflect direct sunlight and stop dramatic temperature increases.
This can make it easier for air conditioning units to moderate the indoor temperature.
Insulation
A properly insulated space will be able to retain heat during the winter. This is an essential part of reducing energy consumption and lowering business energy costs.
Purpose-built retail structures will typically be designed to be efficient. Sometimes older premises will be repurposed and won’t offer this same efficiency.
In this case, you can look at insulation options or install energy-efficient windows. While there will be an initial outlay, it can help to reduce business energy bills over time.
Another great way to minimise the impact hot or cold air from outside has on the shop floor is by installing a vestibule.
Not all retail premises will have the space or capability for a vestibule to be fitted. However, they are a great way of improving efficiency and security.
Having two sets of doors stops the air from outside from getting into the store directly. You might have noticed many supermarkets have two sets of automatic doors to minimise the chances of this happening.
It can also prove to be a deterrent for opportunistic thieves who look at easy entrances and exits when considering their risk factors.