11 clever ways to save money on heating

To get an idea of how much energy is being used and wasted on your premises, it makes sense to get something that can accurately read this for you.

Investing in a smart meter will keep you in check with your heating energy costs. Plus, having a smart meter won’t just tell you about your energy usage but will also provide a reference point to see how much energy you’re saving when taking measures to reduce consumption.

Another benefit of a smart reader is that it gives you an accurate reading of your energy as opposed to having the hassle of arranging manual meter readings.

As of September 2021, there were 26.4 million smart meters in UK homes and small businesses. If you haven’t already, it’s time to get on board with the smart meter incentive.

So, first thing’s first. Get yourself a smart meter and see what levels of energy are being consumed and wasted on heating.

For any business trying to keep energy costs low, it’s vital to educate and incentivise your staff.

Rather than just telling your team, let them know why it’s important, not just to cut business costs but greater impacts like climate change.

To really get your team on board, you can set up a reward system if certain energy targets are achieved. The mission to lower heating bills is much more difficult when the whole team are not pushing in the same direction.

Did you know, 1°C of heating can increase the cost of energy by up to 8%?

Be mindful at what temperature you’re setting the heating, and if you can afford to bring it down a few degrees, do so.

This simple solution can save you lots of money over long periods, and all for something that people may barely notice. Start your temperature low and build up if necessary. Thermostats should be set at 19-20°C as standard.

Portable heating devices can contribute to a huge economic cost if left unchecked. Most devices have timers, so if you do use portable heaters, keep them to a timer of 30 minutes max.

If portable heaters are being used, then there are deeper heating issues with your premises. We’d highly suggest you get to the bottom of this and try to come up with a more suitable solution.

Try to unblock all radiators on your premises. If there’s furniture in the way, it will absorb the heat and block it from heating the intended atmosphere.

Heating costs can rise by 30% if a boiler is in a bad condition. When was the last time you checked your boiler was performing efficiently?

You should arrange for your boiler to be checked annually and regularly adjusted for optimal efficiency.

Can you install thermostat radiator valves onto all your radiators? This solution will give you control over usage and ensure radiators are performing correctly.

Does heating automatically come on at certain times? If so, is it needed? Use specific timers on specific days, factoring when optimal heating times are required.

Unoccupied periods should be complete without heating. If heating is triggered when it’s utterly unnecessary then this is a huge oversight on the part of the person responsible. A programmable thermostat is a smart solution.

It sounds obvious, but windows and doors are often opened or left open when a room has overheated. If this is a result of central heating, you have a big problem.

Instead of opening windows or doors, adjust the thermostats to reach a comfortable temperature.

Inspecting the building is well insulated without holes or gaps will help go a long way to keeping the outside air out. Cold draughts blowing through gaps is a major cause facilitating overheating consumption.

You can invest in installing seals to any gaps where draughts may enter. Overall, improving the energy insulation of the building will keep heating costs low.