How to Make Your Business More Energy Efficient

Going ‘green’ was once something businesses did because they believed in it or because they wanted to appeal to a certain customer base. But with growing awareness of the impact that things such as industrial heating and ventilation equipment can have on the environment as well as potential cost savings, more business than ever are looking to be energy efficient. So how can your business improve?

Aim for equipment efficiency

If you ask industrial heating engineers in Wolverhampton, one of the top reasons that industrial central heating isn’t efficient is because it needs servicing or repairs. Heat equipment is a top cause of wasted energy because they need regular servicing or may even have small faults that a heating service would pick up. This may come from the industrial boiler installations or develop over time due to the heavy use of the system.

Make sure you have the right system

Around 30% of the energy used by industrial buildings is wasted and one of the reasons for this is that businesses may not be using the right equipment. For example, industrial oil boilers may be ideal for some types of businesses while getting gas engineers to install a gas boiler is great for many smaller businesses.

Factory heating is often a customised system that needs specific heating maintenance to keep it working properly. But if you have the wrong system in place, you are often wasting energy – and therefore money.

Ensure you need the systems

When you take over a building, there are often things like heating and ventilation systems, air conditioning units and even older styles of boiler already in place. Between them, heating, ventilation and air conditioning along with lighting can account for three-quarters of a building’s energy usage.

So the question should be – do you need these systems? There are always considerations around staff comfort and what is needed for equipment in use but working with an expert in these systems can help to analyse them.

Look at a building management system

The Internet of Things and smart devices are a common sight around our homes, but many businesses don’t realise you can also use them in the company properties. Known as building management systems, they use the latest in smart technologies to make your business systems run more efficiently and save you money on utility bills.

They can be as simple or as complex as you want. One example is to have automatic windows that open on warm days to allow natural air flow and cooling. Or blinds that shut on warm days to cut down on the glare from the sun and reduce the need for air conditioning. The systems can also be extremely complex – one example even adjusts the heating depending on the warmth of the bodies in the building. So your staff could actually be your heating!

Conclusion

Being energy efficient and ‘green’ is not only a benefit for the environment but also for your business. By cutting down on unused systems and making others more efficient you can cut down on wasted energy and utility bills, saving the company money.

Industrial Boilers – How to Choose the Right One

When the time comes to have industrial boiler installations in your business properties, there is always the temptation to stick with what you have. And that can be a good move – if your industrial oil boilers are efficient and working well, then simply getting a newer model will only improve that. But if you are unsure what path to take, here are some considerations from industrial heating engineers.

Energy efficiency

Top of the list is energy efficiency. A growing number of businesses are looking at the general efficiency of their business and the industrial heating system you are using can be top of the list. As much as 30% of energy from industrial properties can be wasted due to systems that need to be upgraded or even just a heating service being required.

The good news is that it is easier than ever to understand how energy efficient a boiler will be. Heating and gas engineers use the Energy Labelling Directive (ErP) which tells performance and efficiency information for every boiler. This lets businesses make an informed choice about the heat equipment they select. Similar systems can be found for industrial central heating, ventilation equipment and air conditioning systems for factory heating and cooling.

Whole life cost

Manufacturers often now provide a whole life cost for industrial boilers. This predicts how much energy a boiler will use, what it will cost to run based on current fuel prices and even factors in things like heating maintenance costs and repairs. If you are looking at two systems that are very similar in energy efficiency, this can be a useful way to help split them apart.

Installation cost

The cost of installation varies between different systems and will also take into account the work needed on existing pipework and fixtures to accommodate the new system. This is why some businesses stick with what they have. But if there are savings to be made on energy efficiency and whole life cost, then higher installation costs are often worth it in the long run.

Replacement part costs and availability

Because industrial heating systems and boilers work hard, there is always the need for replacement parts, whether as part of a heating service or just when a breakdown occurs. Looking at the cost and also the availability of them is another important step. For example, if you are in the Wolverhampton area, can you find a local company who can supply and fit the parts for you? Or would you have to wait for someone to come from further afield?

Warranties and guarantees

The final consideration is the warranty and any guarantees offered with the system. Most boilers will have at least a five-year warranty on them, usually with the condition that annual maintenance is completed. This has the benefit of ensuring that the boiler runs at peak efficiency for the longest time and may be worth paying a little extra to have included in the package. Also, ensure the work being done is guaranteed by the installation company.

How to Know a Gas Engineer is Qualified

Businesses understand that there are regulations to follow in many areas and that the onus is on the business to ensure they comply. One example of this is if you are having a industrial boiler installation or need a heating service and you have gas, you must ensure any gas engineers are Gas Safe registered. But what is this and how does it work?

Who is Gas Safe?

The Gas Safe Register is the official UK body that works under the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Industrial heating engineers in Wolverhampton and around England need to be Gas Safe registered in order to work on heating maintenance, industrial heating installations or even general servicing if there is gas in the property.

Gas Safe replaced the former CORGI system in 2010 and issue licenses to carry out work on gas fixtures in domestic and industrial properties. These licenses look a bit like a driving license and you should always ensure that any company working on industrial central heating where there is gas has this license.

Another aspect of their work is to investigate illegal gas work. This is then passed to the HSE who are able to prosecute where required. Gas Safe also works to raise public awareness of the dangers of unsafe and illegal gas work as well as risks around gas such as carbon monoxide poisoning from heat equipment. This is also a risk from industrial systems such as factory heating or office boilers.

Professional bodies

Another way to be sure that the company you are working with have the highest standards is to look for professional membership.

One example of this is OFTEC, who have established competency standards for the domestic oil heating and cooking industry. This also includes industrial oil boilers. Their role is also to provide technical information for companies that are installing and maintaining these systems as well as details for customers to better decide if these systems are the right ones for them.

There are OFTEC-approved centres for training around the UK and they operate a competent person’s scheme. This is ideal when you are looking for a company do work on your property and want guarantees about the quality of that work. By ensuring they are OFTEC registered or with a similar trade body, you can be certain of the standards they work to.

Get recommendations

If you are unsure where to start looking for a qualified tradesman, then you can always get recommendations. You may be surprised what services a company offer as well. So the company who came and installed new ventilation equipment in the property may also be Gas Safe registered and able to work on your boiler.

Check websites for both membership of schemes like OFTEC and that they are Gas Safe registered. Then look for customer reviews or case studies that show they have worked on businesses, even ones in your own industry. Check for guarantees on their work as this offers reassurance that if something does go wrong, they will be there to help you.