Our Top tips to save energy at home.
We've tried to be as realistic as possible with these suggestions. For example, you could use a lot less electricity if you hang your clothes outside to dry, instead of using a radiator or tumble dryer. But let's be honest, we live in Britain, so this is great for the 5 days of summer we have but realistically isn't practical.
Switch energy providers
When's the last time you reviewed the prices you pay? The average household we helped switch providers in 2016, saved £267 per annum!
Switch off or unplug any charges or appliances you don't need on
This may sound strange but if they have stand-by light or are hot to touch, they will be using energy.
Washing at a lower temperature will use less electricity
Washing at 30ºC rather than 40ºC can save you a third of the cost to run the cycle.
Keep out draughts from your home
Try using secondary glazing film as a cheap alternative to double glazing. Film for 4 windows should cost around £8.
Empty your vacuum cleaner regularly
A full one will use more energy than an empty one to do the same job, as it will take longer to do the same amount of work, as well as being more likely to break down.
Think in advance when setting your heating
Set your heating to come on 15-30 minutes before you need it on, and off 30 minutes before you go to bed.
Not using a running tap will save energy and up to £25 per year
Use a bowl to wash up rather than a running tap and save £25 a year in energy bills.
Switch to LEDs
You can now get LED spotlights that are bright enough to replace halogens, as well as regular energy saving bulbs. If the average household replaced all of their bulbs with LEDs, it would cost about £100 and save about £35 a year on bills.
Turn off the lights to save energy
Turn your lights off when you’re not using them. If you switch a light off for just a few seconds, you will save more energy than it takes for the light to start up again, regardless of the type of light. This will save you around £14 on your annual energy bills.
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This morning we were all delighted to receive a testimonial from Kirkby Motors. We're so proud to help businesses of all sizes and it's nice to know that what we do, helps family businesses to excel and grow. The client just didn't have the time and expertise to probably manage his energy and needed the right advice to reduce his overheads.
"At Kirkby Motors we are a small local trustworthy garage, with a focus on customer service and reliability. With us being a family business, we need to keep our out-goings down as much as possible.
I was introduced to Rhys by Richard Stockdale from Rebus Design, and thank god he did!!
We just didn't have the time to sort the energy out ourselves and didn't think we would be overpaying by so much. Rhys came through to see us to gather all the information he needed, and in the end managed to save us over £1,300 per year!
We were 'over the moon' with the result and would not hesitate to recommend Switched On to anyone else we know. We are so grateful for his help and opening our eyes to how much the other utility companies can take advantage."
Nick Gatford - Kirkby Motors
Kirkby Motors Testimonial Energy
If you're a small business and you're looking to compare energy prices, get in touch today on 01943 609213, or get a quote within 24 hours.
We understand that you need to make savings on your outgoings so you can grow your business. We are proud to have helped over 6,000 businesses across the UK save on their essential services every day. But don’t take our word for it, see what our customers have to say.
We loved helping local business owner Rachel, in reducing her energy bills by £1,200. Rachel was kind enough to say a few words about our service and what we do every year for the busy clinic.
Rachel Wilkinson, Owner, Wilkinson Chiropractic, said:
"Really friendly, really professional and very eager to help.
The bottom line is that Switched On Energy saved me £1,200 on my previous deal. As a business owner, when you're running a busy clinic, you just want to focus on your business and not rising energy bills. The team at Switched On Energy gives me the time by doing everything for me. I honestly don't know how they do it, they just do! Having them on my side means that I can focus on my business and our clients.
They are an essential part of any business, I'd recommend them to anyone wanting to reduce their energy bills."
Watch what Rachel said about our service here
If you're interested in finding out more how we can help your business, get in touch today on 01943 609213, alternatively request a call back.
Get your sun cream ready because it's only a few weeks away until the 2017 Driffield Show! 20 days to be precise but who's counting 🙂
After exhibiting last year with our partners Derwent Buyers Group, we're back for more! It's estimated that a whopping 25,000 people will enjoy a great day out at the Driffield Showground on 19th July 2017. Being one of the biggest shows in the agriculture, we couldn't pass up the chance at meeting you all and exhibiting again.
Michael Boven, one of our farm energy experts, will be at the show with lots of giveaways and prizes. Make sure you drop in and say hello, we're at stand E76, which is opposite the members stand.
Don't feel down as Michael won't be alone! the fantastic team at Derwent Buyers Group will be there helping with the prizes and offering free advice on all things buying. Derwent Buyers Group (DBG) has been supporting farmers since 1995 to achieve the very best prices for farming and agricultural products.
So with only a few weeks left, I thought I'd give my top 3 tips to do before your day out at the Driffield Show. These are especially handy if you're travelling with the family!
1.) Print out directions and plan your route on the SatNav.
With an estimated 25,000 people attending the Driffield Show. The roads are going to be more busy than usual, so plan your times and route, giving you plenty of time to make the most of the day. The gates open at 9am on 19th July and close at 5pm. Below is the address details to put into your GPS.
The Showground, Kellythorpe, Driffield YO25 9DN
Tel: 01377 257494 Email: office@driffieldshowground.co.uk
2.) Get the ground map and plan where you want to visit
With over 100 different exhibitors and many competitions/shows, you'll be amazed how time flys. So I recommend visiting the Driffield Show website and printing the site map, so you're not missing anything. And of course, the most important stand to visit is E76 🙂
3.) Pack the wellies!
The showground is grass, so the surface maybe uneven and wet, so I'd put the suede's back and bring out the wellies. especially with British weather, not doubt in some areas it'll be boggy and muddy.
I know we're excited for the show and look forward to seeing you there and hope you'll have an awesome day out.
Let us know if you're attending the show, get in touch on social media.
https://www.facebook.com/switchedonenergy/
It's a question which no doubt has crossed your mind in the past few years with the influx of call centers, hassling you over the phone. So What is a business energy broker? and more importantly, how can they help you reduce your overheads?
Well, firstly let's look at the definition of the word, broker. A person who buys and sells goods or assets for others. A business energy broker is an intermediary between the energy suppliers and business energy consumers. Similar to a mortgage broker, we search the market and negotiate on your behalf to source the best deal for you.
Also known as a dealer, agent, negotiator, trafficker; middleman, intermediary, representative.
I'm not personally fond of the word, energy broker, simply for the reason that it 'under-plays' the amount of work involved in helping customers. I will say however, it's better than dealer or trafficker!
How can a business energy broker help your business?
Our main priority is to increase your business' profitability and reduce your overheads. Electricity and gas in most cases will be one of your top 5 biggest expenses for your business. Having a market expert look at your current arrangements and seeing if they can improve on it can only be good, right? After all, you could save up to 50% on your renewal offer from your current supplier.
Gone are the days in which energy suppliers offered better rates if you went direct. We work with 20+ different suppliers and broker over 7,000 contracts every year, without the energy suppliers lifting a finger. We look after all the paperwork and advice so they don't have to. This means the prices they offer to us are much cheaper than the prices they'd offer you directly. Not to mention, they will see you as just one customer, whereas we've got over £200 million worth of buying power.
To put simply, a business energy broker helps businesses to find the cheapest energy supplier. To find out more about how we do this, visit our post.
Alternatively, if you're interested in seeing if using a broker can help your business to save money, request a call back from one of the team.
When thinking about what an energy broker does, for most, this would be to source prices from the cheapest energy supplier. Which is absolutely correct, among other things our role is to work with you to find the cheapest energy supplier and the cheapest energy prices.
To a novice, this seems like a simple and straightforward task. And once again, you're right! If everything was honest and simple, managing your renewal contracts should be 'child's play'
Before we start making our judgment, let's go through some of the 'hurdles' when searching for the cheapest energy supplier.
Is cheap best?
Firstly, you've got to weigh up whether the cheapest energy supplier is best for your business and requirements. It may be best for your wallet but the price isn't everything when it comes to most things in life. For example, eating a donut may be the best for our tastebuds, but it's not the best for our health. Energy is similar, although less tasty.
When it comes to buying anything you've got to look at the bigger picture, not just price. Would you go with the best price if you knew it would cause problems in the future? In retail for example, if you buy cheap, you buy twice. Unfortunately, when it comes to energy if you buy cheap, you're stuck until your contract expires. So when you're in a position of choosing your next supplier, it's important to weigh up all the options. Yes, the price is important and reducing your overheads as much as possible is the priority but beware of choosing the supplier who is going to cause you a headache.
When searching the market we look at a number of things which the chosen supplier has to be good at and meet our high standard. Things like price, service, reputation, recent reviews, customer service levels and whether their customer service team is in the UK or abroad. These are so important in making sure the supplier we recommend is going to deliver and meet our expectations.
Everyone is 'best'
If you run or own a business with a working telephone, you've not doubt been flooded with calls. Most just trying to get you to agree to a long-term contract over the phone. I'd recommend avoiding these like a rash. The one thing these call centers all have in common is that they are all the 'cheapest'
No matter which supplier or contract length they offer, they are always offering you the cheapest deal. Which begs the questions, what does 'cheapest' mean? Because clearly 99% of them are not the cheapest and you could source better prices elsewhere from a more reliable source. The confusion lies where you have 20 different suppliers all offering the same energy but at different prices, which are all the cheapest. Doesn't make sense does it, that's because most suppliers will do or say whatever it takes to make the deal.
Something to think about
A few years ago, a new supplier stormed the market with a large call center and unbelievable prices. Prices which literally were 15-20% lower than the second cheapest energy supplier. It was unheard of and took us back to 'electricity direct' days. In the first year of trading, they supplied more than 50,000 business across the UK. The most frequent question was "where's the catch" "how are they making money."
The simple answer to this was that it didn't take long to start seeing the woodwork. The once, the magical dream quickly turned into a nightmare. Fast forward two years, the supplier is breaking all kinds of records...for complaints. The moral of the story is that the price is not most important. Don't choose the supplier you're going to have a headache with, choose the reliable one who is going to offer a guarantee.
In summary, when you get your 2-3 different suppliers to quote, make sure you're choosing the correct supplier for your business and not your wallet. Saving money is important but so is your time. If you're going to be on the phone with problems 6 months 'down the line' what's the point?
If your energy renewals are upcoming or due, let us do the 'leg work' for you. We'll come back to you with a full report detailing what we found and who we recommend. To learn more, have a look at our website.
Hope you all have a wonderful week ahead!
When thinking about energy efficiency, for most, it means a lengthy audit. From site visits to sub-metering to 32-page reports, you have to have a degree to understand. Luckily, reducing your energy spend is quite simple and won't 'break the bank' to do.
Like the old saying goes, let's walk before we can run. In other words, it's better to take a small step than no step at all. So first step towards increasing your energy efficiency is team engagement. As the name suggests, this is getting all the team members to be actively aware of the energy and how not to waste it.
It can be a challenge to get people engaged with saving energy - especially when it's not been made a top priority for them. But I believe in you! By just being more aware of the energy you use, you'll be amazed the difference on your monthly bill.
So, here's my top 5 tips for energy efficiency in the workplace. Use these jewels to show your employees or colleagues how they can make a big difference to your business energy bill and your bottom line.
1.) Energy Champion
Ever thought of an energy warden? it would be weird if you did, but it's a good idea worth considering. One person who does an end-of-day check on energy waste is a simple way to ensure you're not leaving machines on etc... Usually, it's the person to leave the workplace last and it won't take long at all. You can even create a checklist to ensure you know what to look for!
2.) Make it Official
If you're proactively wanting to reduce your energy usage, that's fantastic and definitely worth shouting about. You're not only concerned about reducing your overheads but you're doing your bit for the planet. When a new employee joins the business, make sure they are aware of their energy saving responsibilities and make it clear how important it is. It's also a great insight for the employee about the type of business you are and your values.
3.) Tea/Coffee Rota
Everyone knows that us humans cannot work to our full potential without a proper brew by our side. Instead of boiling the kettle ten separate times, take it in turns to go and make a big round. It sounds daft but it's the little things which are going to make the difference. And while I'm on kettles, make sure if someone is going to make 1-2 cups of tea, that they don't fill the kettle to the top. The more water, the more electricity it uses and the longer it takes! (Rant over)
4.) Reward
The more you can bring energy saving into the culture of your business, the more you'll save. And when you do start reducing your energy bills, let the employees know and even reward them. A great way to do this is to say "thank you, everyone, for your commitment and hard work, the money we've saved will go towards the staff Christmas party." I guarantee you'll start noticing everyone being wearier now the word Christmas party is involved! A word of warning - if you are using this technique, you will actually have to deliver a good Christmas party or you'll have a riot on your hands!
5.) Energy Wastage Jar
Similar to the 'swear jar' this can work really well and adds a bit of humour to the process. Give each department or team a jar and a set of energy saving goals to follow, such as turning off computers overnight. If anyone forgets, ask them to cough up and contribute some money to the energy wastage jar. The money collected can go towards the Christmas party or a charity of choice.
These are some really simple but effective ways to engage your employees to be more conscious of the energy they use. Follow these 5 tips you'll no doubt benefit from cheaper energy bills, not to mention one heck of a Christmas party! 🙂
If you want further ways to improve your energy efficiency, download our Essential Guide to Making the Workplace More Energy Efficient. Alternatively, give us a call to discuss how else we can help to reduce your energy overheads.
Very interesting article from Which? confirms that after a recent survey, 66% of people are worried about the price of energy?
And it's no wonder that you are worried after a number of suppliers going bust and price hikes in the news on a daily basis, the market is proving to be a nightmare for most.
With some of the big energy suppliers increasing their tariffs by 15%, it's now more important than ever that you compare prices and switch to a better deal.
We can help! Give us a call and we'll talk you through what all the suppliers are offering and which one is best for you. Join the 6,000 other homeowners and businesses who have used our service year on year.
Most energy suppliers charge different prices around the country, supposedly to reflect the varying cost of distributing electricity.
Now households in some of the least well-off regions are being hit the hardest. For example, the average gas and electricity bill in north Wales is £1,149 a year - £20 more than the national average.
Energy eats up 7.4% of the average person’s annual income. That is the same amount as for those in north-east England, where the average income per head is £15,189, and in south Wales, where it is £15,302.
Yet areas with some of the highest average incomes also have among the lowest average bills. In London, for instance, the average gas and electricity annual bill stands at £1,126
Full Story at http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/britains-poorest-areas-being-hit-10135568