Winter can be a challenging time for businesses and even more so with the current economic climate and cost-of-living pressures.
Increases to heating and energy bills remain challenging for local business owners. While they still feel the pinch of rising costs, they know that their office premises need to be warm and inviting for employees, visiting clients and customers. Coupled with the need to be cost-effective, companies throughout Kent and the wider area are also conscious of having sustainable workplaces, meaning there is a balance to be struck.
This article looks at four quick tips to ensure your office premises are heated effectively this winter without breaking the bank.
Overriding energy pressures on businesses
There is no doubt that businesses have been hit hard in recent years thanks to the double whammy of soaring energy costs and rising inflation. Added to this is the cost of living crisis that lingers on. Although business energy unit rates have been reduced they are still 50% higher if you look back to 2021.
In the first throes of the energy crisis, the UK Government pledged support in its Energy Bill Relief Scheme which offered some level of financial relief to businesses. This Bill was replaced by the Energy Bills Discount Scheme in April 2023 with current energy discounts on unit rates on fixed-price contracts subject to a minimum threshold.
Tackling rising costs to maintain office comfort
For today’s businesses, facing the colder months can be daunting with the thought of the additional costs. However, there are key ways to winter proof your office premises while negating some of the costs and easing the pressure.
For the comfort of your staff, especially those employees you are keen to attract into the office more working days per week, consider the following steps to prepare your office for the cold, maintain employee productivity and taper costs.
1. Upgrading Your Heating System
Checking the age and efficiency of your office premises’ boiler is one of the most effective ways to improve the efficiency and performance of your heating overall. If you haven’t done so for a while, upgrade your boiler and improve your office building’s energy efficiency at the same time. Modern boilers are substantially more efficient than old models, converting more than 90% of power into usable heat which can significantly reduce your energy consumption.
Installing thermostatic radiator valves and smart heating gadgets allows you to control the temperature of each room separately so you aren’t wasting heat in unused spaces. It’s also important to organise for your heating system to be serviced annually to keep it running safely and efficiently. Your heating engineer can advise if upgrades would be beneficial and whether a complete overhaul might be beneficial before the colder weather starts to bite.
2. Installing solar panels
Generating your own electricity through solar panels reduces your power bills and your carbon footprint. With the right conditions, solar panels installed in an optimum position on your property can meet a significant portion of your business’s electricity demand. An expert installer can also assess your premises and advise on the best solar system for your needs.
Solar power is therefore a smart investment for businesses looking to reduce their environmental impact and save money on energy costs. As a business you can reduce your energy reliance on the local grid, future-proofing your company’s dependence on energy in years to come as well as achieving lower utility bills in the process. In the longer-term and solar panel system lifetime, these energy savings are significant. In addition, by adding solar energy to your commercial property, you are increasing the building’s value to future buyers when the time comes to sell.
3. Improving your building’s insulation
Another mainstay for keeping your offices warm is to improve the building’s insulation. Consider ways to prevent unnecessary loss of heat that can escape easily from poorly insulated windows, doors, entry points. You can ensure your premises retain heat by:
- Topping up low loft insulation to 270mm depth
- Installing cavity wall insulation if walls are unfilled
- Adding insulation to solid walls (internal or external)
- Insulating floors above unheated spaces
- Replacing single glazed windows with double glazing
- Installing heavy curtains or secondary glazing as a cheaper alternative
- Draft-proofing doors, windows and letterboxes.
4. Optimising office radiators and heating select spaces
There are other smaller adjustments and valid heating tips to be aware of to keep your office premises warm while still being mindful of cost. If you remember and ask staff to consider this, set your radiator thermostats or smart heating app to a comfortable 19-21°c..
It’s also sensible to only heat spaces where you know office staff and other employees will be occupying and working within. Again, use the thermostats and timers carefully to control usage. Close curtains, blinds and shutter whenever the office is empty to retain heat. Be diligent about keeping doors closed and avoiding leaving windows open unnecessarily.
Winter proofing your business involves some upfront costs, the benefits of creating a welcoming space for your staff and visitors to meet, work and operate in comfort is important. With some key adjustments, improved insulation and installing solar energy, your office premises can also reap the reward of lower energy bills and a more comfortable, productive workplace.