Gone are the days of simply accepting large utility bills as a necessary part of running a business. Energy bills make up around 20% of the average office building running costs and in the majority of cases those bills are rising faster than inflation; meaning that businesses now have a sharper focus on achieving energy efficiency and better managing energy budgets*.
However, whilst many companies will already be working towards reducing and controlling their gas and power costs, many may not have yet maximised on the opportunities available for better management of their water bills. Here we take a look at a few of the things your business could be doing to better manage both your energy and your water bills this winter:
1. Optimise your boiler performance
Your boiler is where your energy and water use meets, and an efficiently running boiler will help you manage your energy bills whilst it simultaneously protects your hot water supply this winter. As the temperature goes down, your business’ dependency on your boiler goes up. Without it you can’t keep your buildings at the minimum working temperature of 16 degrees Celsius or run hot water, meaning a problem with your boiler could force you to ‘shut up shop’ until issues can be resolved. You’ll not only lose revenue, but also incur the costs of getting your boiler fixed. It’s for these reasons that regular boiler services should be at the top of your winter priority list.
2. Change the way you pay
Spreading the costs of your water bills over the months of the year could help with cash flow and prevent you from having to pay a large quarterly bill at the end of the winter. When you run a business, whether large or small, you have so many things to think about; setting up a direct debit for secure monthly payments of your water bill as you probably already do for your energy bills, could mean one less thing to worry about this winter.
3. Fix those small issues
For those businesses who have a metered water supply, there may be changes you can make to cut down your consumption. This may mean small fixes to taps and sinks or even shorter flush settings on toilets. Alternatively, this may mean a more detailed check for hidden leaks and a wider water efficiency audit of your business. It could all add up to a significant reduction on your water bill.
If you’d like more information about the ways in which SES can help you to better manage your water bills this winter, please get in touch.
*facts from Harvard Business Review 2015