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Business energy savings techniques, like reducing your usage, improving efficiency and finding grants, can reduce costs for your small business in 2025. Bills might have dropped from the highs seen in 2022 and 2023, but the UK is still feeling the effects of the energy crisis, and businesses have less support than domestic customers.
Of course, comparing energy suppliers to find the best deal can be a great way of saving money, but there are other ways to save. Read on to find out how you can make business energy savings in 2025.
Short-term changes to save on your business energy
There are some things you can do almost instantly that could help you save when it comes to your business energy bill. Simple changes can make a difference.
1. Carry out an energy audit
To find out where you can make savings, it’s worth first carrying out an energy audit to find out where you use the most energy in your business and where you might be wasting money.
You should assess your workplace at different times throughout the day to get an idea of when and where your business uses the most energy.
For example, you might notice that energy bill usage is high overnight despite no one being in the office. This might mean you are wasting energy on computers on standby or heating an empty office. By assessing how much energy is used, when it’s being used and why, you can make a plan for change.
2. Turn appliances off when they’re not in use
Appliances such as computers can use energy even when they’re on standby. If you leave your laptop or desktop computer on overnight while you’re not using it, you’re wasting electricity. The Carbon Trust estimates that by turning computers off at night and at weekends, you could cut the amount of energy these devices use by 75% per year.
Printers, TV monitors and even appliances such as microwaves in your work kitchen can also use energy when switched on but not in use. Hitting the off switch at the socket could save your business some serious cash.
3. Get your employees on board
Saving energy in the workplace is a team effort. If you have employees, get them involved in the little nudges that can save your business money.
Send emails to staff about what they can do to help, stick up signs next to equipment that should be turned off, or ask for their suggestions on improving energy efficiency in the workplace.
4. Control the heating
Another way to reduce your business’s energy consumption is to get a handle on your heating. According to the Carbon Trust, heating can make up to 40% of your energy usage – and every 1°C of overheating can increase your heating costs by 8%.
Make sure you’re only switching on the heating when it’s necessary. There is little point heating an office on a warm, sunny day, for example. You can buy controls that automatically adjust your heating settings to match the weather, or you may want to put someone in charge of setting the heating correctly each day.
If you have a heating system and air conditioning in your workplace, you will want to ensure that they are not competing against each other. If you’re constantly heating your workplace and then having to put the air conditioning on full blast to maintain a comfortable temperature, you’re likely to be wasting a lot of energy and money.
5. Insulate your workplace
If heat is escaping from around windows or doors, your heating system has to work harder to keep your workplace at the right temperature. That means using more energy and spending more money.
Insulating your workplace can help you reduce your energy bill. Even simple fixes, such as making sure that windows and doors are closed when the heating is on or sealing windows that are no longer in use, can make a difference. If there are few places for heat to escape, your business premises will be cheaper to run.
6. Check your lighting
According to EDF Energy, the right lighting setup could save a business 15% on its energy bills. Here are some ideas for optimisation:
- Another simple solution is to utilise natural light. You can even use vertical blinds and light coloured paint to ensure areas are as well-lit as possible.
- Turn off lights if you are not in the room. It sounds basic, but leaving the lights on overnight or over the weekend could be a big waste.
- Buy energy-efficient bulbs, such as halogen, LED or CFL bulbs. These are more expensive, but more energy efficient and last for longer.
- Consider motion sensors for corridors and outside lights.
7. Get a smart meter
Smart meters aren’t just for domestic energy customers. Small businesses can also use a smart meter to track their energy usage and send readings to their supplier. This helps to ensure that you’re accurately charged for just the energy you use.
What’s more, your smart meter has a display that can show you how much energy you’ve used over a certain period, acting as a visual reminder to keep on top of your energy usage.
You can check whether you’re eligible for a smart meter for business by contacting your energy provider, or by asking your landlord if you rent your business premises. Many small businesses, if eligible for a smart meter, can get one for free, though other charges could be applied by your energy provider.
Long-term strategies to save on your business energy
If you’ve already made some short-term switches, you may be looking for longer-term fixes to decrease your energy usage and reduce your business energy bill. These may require larger-scale changes, but they could be worth the payoff for a smaller energy bill and to support the environment.
8. Replace or repair inefficient appliances
How energy-efficient your appliances are has an impact on how much energy they use and, as a result, how much energy your business has to pay for.
Although it may not always be possible when budgets are tight, replacing older, less efficient appliances with more modern, energy-efficient ones can help you save some money on your energy bill. You can also make sure existing appliances, like boilers and refrigerators, are well maintained and working correctly.
9. Go digital
You may not be able to digitise your entire business with a click of your mouse, but making a move toward paperless working could help minimise the amount of energy your business uses.
Think about what you’re printing. Do you really need a hard copy of that email? Major email providers store your emails in the cloud, so you can access them from anywhere with an internet connection.
10. Invest in greener energy
Ofgem has a list of schemes and grants, which can help your business become more energy-efficient without breaking the bank. For example, you may be able to get help from the government to pay for new energy-efficient equipment. Your energy supplier may also offer grants for small businesses to help with similar costs.
It’s worth checking what funding is available from a range of sources, as you might find that going green is easier or cheaper than you think.
11. Switch energy supplier
It might be possible to save money by switching your business energy supplier.
If you’re in the middle of a business energy contract, you’ll usually have to wait until the end of your current contract to switch, and you may need to give notice too. If you’re not tied into a contract – if you’re on a deemed or default tariff, for example – you should be able to switch whenever you choose.
If you’re not fixed into a contract, compare energy suppliers to find the best deal.
If you are still in contract but want to save money on your business energy bill, your current supplier may let you switch to a cheaper tariff. Contact your energy provider to see if this is an option.
NerdWallet has partnered with Love Energy Savings to provide you with the latest business energy deals from leading UK providers, including:
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