Earlier this year, British Gas launched their innovative Energy Insight Challenge, which had the sole aim of educating businesses as to how they could save money on their energy bills.
5 businesses were selected to take part in the challenge, and through 3 main steps, they were shown where money was being wasted and how they could make their businesses more cost-effective.
British Gas were horrified to find out that up to 46% of a business’s energy consumption when they aren’t even open.
No business can sustain these unnecessary costs, especially in the current economic climate, so British Gas decided to do something about it.
Thanks to the new smart meters that are being installed across the country, the challenge was split into 3 sections.
The first step was to teach them to understand their usage, the second to reduce the usage and the third is the important one, to show them the savings they can make and put that into reality.
By tracking the usage on their smart meter and showing the business customers how to make sense of the energy reports, the education begins.
There is also invaluable support
Available at the end of a phone if they need it. Taking on board this information and turning it into practical measures and implementing energy-saving devices showed them how much energy they could save by taking a few easy steps.
The Sydney Arms, a popular Dorchester pub, and 3 short yet fascinating videos showing their progress from beginning to end can be viewed on the website dedicated to the Business Energy Insight challenge.
They realized the importance of cost-effectiveness but never realized how much was being wasted by the likes of fridges, fruit machines, industrial microwaves, and extraction fans.
All their necessary appliances, and the fact that the pub was in a large Victorian building that cost a lot to heat, were their primary concerns.
The building was assessed by a British Gas analyst and advised the owners of the Sydney Arms where savings could be made.
By just making the few simple changes that were suggested to them, the Sydney Arms were told that they could save in the region of 10% off their energy bills, or about £887.
So far, in only a few months, they have realized a saving of 4%, or £345, and they, along with the other 4 companies involved whose stories are also on the website, are certainly glad that they were able to take part in the British Gas Energy Insight Challenge.
