As energy costs rise and environmental expectations grow, business energy saving has never been more important — or more achievable.
From cutting carbon to protecting your bottom line, reducing your energy use is one of the smartest investments your business can make. Whether you run a café, a retail store, or an office, these tips can help you lower bills, meet sustainability goals, and make smarter use of your resources.
Assessing Your Current Usage: Start with an Energy Audit
Before you can cut your bills, you need to know where your energy is going.
- Check past bills to spot seasonal trends
- Install a smart meter to monitor live usage
- Compare energy use by area, time of day, or appliance
An energy audit helps you look at your usage in a lot more detail, to identify inefficiencies, and prioritise changes. You can carry out a simple self-audit using our tailored checklist, or bring in professional support for a more detailed review.
For example, Tops Day Nursery in Bournemouth achieved around a 60% reduction in energy bills by introducing energy-saving measures, including installing smart meters, and switching to LED lighting.
Source: GOV.UK Business Energy Efficiency Campaign – Tops Day Nursery Case Study
Download our free Stay Energy Safe Audit Checklist and walk through your workplace and log:
- Heating and ventilation performance
- Lighting systems and controls
- Insulation and air leakage
- Equipment usage
- Staff behaviour and awareness
The more you understand, the more you can control, and even small fixes like sealing gaps, or resetting thermostats, can result in real savings.
Business Energy Saving Tips
Start with the quick wins — they’re often free or cheap to sort out. Once you know your starting point, these business energy saving tips can help you act quickly and effectively, and these changes alone could cut your energy use by at least 10–15%.
- Switch to LED lighting
- Unplug or power down devices after hours
- Set heating, lighting and hot water to match business hours only
- Replace old fridges, cookers or compressors with A-rated models
- Install timers, sensors or zoned heating systems
- Use thermostats or smart controls to avoid wasted energy
This might cost more upfront, but payback is often under 2 years — especially in high-use settings like hospitality, manufacturing or retail.
1. Switch to LED lighting
Save up to 65% on lighting costs by replacing old bulbs with LEDs, and consider installing motion sensors in low-traffic areas. LEDs also have a longer lifespan and lower maintenance costs, contributing to further savings over time. (source: Earlsmann)
2. Adjust heating controls
A room thermostat keeps your space at a steady temperature by turning the heating on and off automatically. Most people find 18°C to 21°C comfortable — and lowering your thermostat from 22°C to 20°C could save your business around £140 on every £1000 you spend on heating.. You can also time heating and cooling to match when you are in the property, and avoid heating unused areas. (source: Energy Saving Trust)
3. Fix dripping taps
Hot water waste adds up fast, and fixing dripping taps is usually a straightforward task for a plumber or maintenance team.
4. Install a smart meter
Smart meters help you monitor energy use in real time, spot waste, and get more accurate bills. Check out our Smart Meter Guide
5. Power down and unplug
Encourage staff to switch off computers, printers, and appliances when not in use. Standby still consumes energy.
6. Improve building insulation
Insulate hot water pipes and cavity walls. Seal windows and door gaps to prevent heat loss. A small investment now can result in big savings later.
7. Consider green energy generation
If you own your premises, solar panels can offer long-term savings. For example, a 10 kW system could save a medium-sized business over £2,000 a year. Battery storage can boost efficiency even further.(source: whatcost.co.uk)
8. Make energy efficiency a team effort
Display reminders, hold team energy-saving challenges, and include efficiency tips in onboarding. Energy saving for businesses works best when everyone’s on board, and even small habits like shutting doors or using blinds will reduce heating and cooling costs.
- Run an energy awareness day or create a toolkit for colleagues to refer to
- Put up “switch off” signs near lights and equipment
- Nominate a green champion for each department
Support Available for Businesses
Whether you’re looking for funding or guidance, there’s help available:
- Grants and local funding — many councils offer support for green upgrades, insulation, or equipment.
- Free advice — the Carbon Trust and Energy Saving Trust offer guidance for SMEs.
Installers and suppliers — some offer interest-free financing for energy-efficient upgrades.
If your energy bills don’t match your usage — or if something feels off with your supply — it could be a sign of commercial energy theft.
Energy crime can:
- Void your insurance
- Put your staff and customers in danger
If you spot strange wiring, extra or missing meters, or unauthorised changes — report it.
See how commercial energy theft affects business safety and bills
Energy Saving Tips by Sector
Retail
- Use natural light in display areas
- Fit timers to signage lighting
- Set fridges and freezers to efficient temperatures
Hospitality
- Train staff to switch off appliances when not in use
- Invest in efficient kitchen equipment
- Insulate hot water tanks and install tap restrictors
Offices
- Switch to laptops over desktops
- Zone heating and cooling
- Use smart plugs and set sleep timers on screens
Industrial / Warehousing
- Upgrade motors to high-efficiency models
- Repair compressed air leaks
- Schedule energy-intensive processes during off-peak hours
Use our Audit Checklist to identify relevant actions for your business.