Lighting

Lighting uses around 20% of all electricity in the UK, despite this, many people still use inefficient lighting solutions such as the incandescent bulb. In addition to its short lifespan most of its energy is dissipated as heat - not light. Switching to CFLs or LEDs can greatly reduce the energy you use due to the increased efficiency and the much longer lifespan, 10,000 hours and 50,000 hours respectively- compared to the incandescent’s 1,000 hours.

Sensors

Energy costs and carbon emissions can be greatly reduced by just having better control of your lighting - typically between 30-50%. Devices such as occupancy sensors and daylight sensors are great options. These devices detect either if there is someone in the room or If there is an adequate amount of natural light, they then dim/turn off the lights accordingly.

Heat Pumps

Ground source heat pumps circulate a liquid through pipes in the ground to absorb natural energy. The energy it extracts can be used to heat radiators, warm air heating systems and to provide hot water throughout the building. Using a heat pump can lower energy bills along with carbon emissions. Also meaning you could benefit from the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant.

Solar PV

Solar Photovoltaics (PV) systems convert daylight into electrical current. Because they produce energy from daylight, Solar PV still works on cloudy days. Solar PV is a renewable energy source meaning that using it will reduce your carbon footprint as well as reducing your bills. Each panel also can last for 25 years.

Voltage Optimisation

Voltage optimisation concerns reducing the amount of voltage coming into your building – typically saving around 10%. The benefit of this approach is that once the process is installed operations can go back to normal and no further changes are needed, whilst lowering energy consumption and energy bills.

Insulation

Buildings without insulation can lose approximately a third of their heat via the walls and a further quarter of heat can be lost through an uninsulated loft. This means that insulation can  save money in the long run – £140 per year with cavity wall insulation, and up to £490 per year with solid wall insulation. Cavity wall insulation fills the gaps between walls to prevent the heat loss, whereas solid wall insulation includes boards being used to fill this gap, proving more effective.