Enigin Update - Over Half of UK SMEs losing out on Energy Saving
POWER utility Npower have announced that the results of research showing over half of the UKs SMEs are failing to benefit financially from energy saving.
Although small to medium sized businesses (SMEs) are seeking ways to manage the bottom line in the current tough economic climate, many have no measures in place to monitor energy efficiency, hence missing out on major savings.
The findings from the energy company’s latest Business Energy Index (nBEI) show that 53 percent of the 4.8 million SMEs in the UK have no methods in place to manage energy efficiency, and nearly one in five (18 percent) didn’t know if they had reduced their energy consumption over the past 12 months.
This is despite figures from the report showing that where energy efficiency is being measured, 50 percent of SMEs reported savings of up to 10 percent, showing there is huge scope to make significant business savings, while also reducing carbon emissions.
Statistics from the Carbon Trust also highlight the potential for SMEs to reduce emissions further. The Trust found that SMEs have a potential energy saving opportunity of up to 20 percent, compared to 8 percent for large businesses.
Patrick Harvey, head of customer loyalty at npower, said: “This year’s npower Business Energy Index found that for SMEs, the greatest driver for increasing energy efficiency is cost, rather than the environment. This is why it is surprising that so many are still not measuring the positive impact that implementing energy efficiency measures can have on their business.
“The results of the research show the huge untapped potential for SMEs to both reduce emissions and increase savings.”
However, encouragingly, overall the nBEI found that the importance SMEs place on energy management and efficiency is at its highest level since 2005. When asked to rate the significance of energy management to their business out of 10, SMEs gave an average score of 6.7, which is up from just over 5 when the Index began.
Coupled with this, many reported to be proactively measuring their energy usage and recognising the payback of low-cost, quick-win measures such as turning equipment off, which was ranked as the most popular action over the past six months. This was followed by regularly monitoring consumption and reducing heat loss.
Using intelligent energy efficiency technology, such as from Enigin, can multiple the amount of savings dramatically.
Patrick Harvey continues: “It is really encouraging that energy efficiency is working its way up the business agenda but there’s still a long way to go.
“More businesses need to realise that through simple to implement and low or no cost measures, they can lower their bills by around 10 percent. In today’s tough operating environment this is a saving that SMEs can’t afford to over overlook.
“Smaller businesses don’t have to rely on their landlords or have a big team in place to identify and implement energy saving measures.”
Enigin Distributors also enable businesses to control and monitor their energy use and fine tune their needs and costs by installing Enigin plc's Eniscope Real-time and Analytics solution.
Picture: View across to small business units at Lon y Fedwen © Copyright Eric Jones and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
