Energy costs continue to be one of the biggest overheads for Irish businesses - especially during the colder months. Rising gas and electricity prices, increased heating demands, and longer working hours under artificial lighting can all take a toll on your bottom line.
The good news? With a few smart strategies, you can reduce consumption, improve efficiency, and keep your energy bills under control - without compromising comfort or productivity.
Here are some practical steps every business can take to lower electricity and gas costs this winter.
1. Understand Your Energy Usage
The first step to saving money on energy is knowing where and how it’s being used.
Conduct an energy usage review to identify your biggest cost areas — such as heating, lighting, or equipment. Smart meters and energy management tools can provide real-time insights, helping you spot inefficiencies quickly.
Understanding your usage patterns is key to making informed decisions and setting realistic reduction targets.
2. Optimise Heating and Gas Consumption
Heating is often the single largest energy expense during winter. You can reduce electricity & gas usage and stay comfortable with a few simple changes:
- Lower the thermostat by 1°C - this can reduce heating costs by up to 10%.
- Schedule heating smartly, ensuring it’s only on during working hours and in occupied zones.
- Service boilers and heating systems regularly to maintain peak efficiency.
- Improve insulation around pipes, walls, and windows to reduce heat loss.
- Encourage staff to close doors and windows when heating is on.
Small operational changes can add up to substantial savings over the winter period.
3. Cut Down on Electricity Waste
Electricity usage rises sharply in Winter due to lighting and heating equipment. Try these simple but effective steps:
- Switch to LED lighting, which uses up to 80% less power and lasts longer.
- Install motion sensors or timers in low-traffic areas.
- Turn off non-essential equipment at the end of the day.
- Upgrade to energy-efficient appliances and office equipment when replacements are due.
- Use natural light where possible - it’s free and boosts productivity!
A workplace energy policy can also help reinforce these habits across your team.
4. Encourage a Culture of Energy Awareness
Technology can help, but long-term savings come from people. Build an energy-conscious workplace by:
- Running awareness campaigns about saving energy.
- Setting targets and celebrating progress.
- Appointing an energy champion to lead by example.
Simple behavioural changes, when practiced across an organisation, can lead to significant cost reductions.
5. Review Your Energy Tariffs Regularly
Even if you’ve reduced consumption, you might still be overpaying for energy. Many businesses are tied to old or uncompetitive contracts, or simply never review their rates.
Electricity and gas tariffs can vary significantly between suppliers and even between different contract terms. Reviewing your tariff annually helps ensure you’re getting the best value. Consider:
- Comparing rates from multiple commercial energy suppliers.
- Checking for hidden fees or standing charges in your current contract.
- Timing your renewal before winter peaks, when rates can increase.
Switching suppliers or renegotiating your contract could save your business thousands of euro per year.
How SK Advisory Can Help Your Business Save
While implementing these changes can make a difference, the biggest savings often come from securing the right energy contract.
At SK Advisory, we help Irish businesses:
- Audit their existing electricity and gas costs to identify overpayments.
- Ensure you’re on the best available commercial energy rates.
- Negotiate renewals with suppliers at more favourable terms, or
- Handle the entire switch to a new provider on your behalf.
Our independent approach means we focus solely on getting the best value for your business, not the supplier.
Whether you’re a small enterprise or a large organisation, an energy cost audit can highlight savings you might not even know you’re missing.
Start Reducing Your Energy Costs Today
Don’t let high winter energy bills eat into your profits. Let SK Advisory review your electricity and gas spend and help you secure better rates — so you can focus on running your business efficiently.
Get in touch with SK Advisory today or click here to arrange your business energy cost audit and discover how much you could save this Winter.
