When it comes to energy bills, we all want to save money and feel we’re doing the right thing for the environment, but there are certain energy-saving myths which fool the best of us. The industry Pump specialists over at Anchor Pumps, have outlined 10 energy saving myths that could be costing your business.
1. You Should Leave Your Heating on Low
Leaving the heating on low all the time does ‘not’ help. You’ll lose heat from your building regardless, so it’s best to turn it on only when you need it.
2. Heating Circulator Accessories can be expensive but efficient
Investing in heater circulator systems and accessories to boost their effectiveness can save you money in the long term. Per unit, it’s always cheaper to use central heating than electric heaters, so investing in a quality central heating pump and upgrading your system could save you a tidy sum in the long term.
3. Halogen Bulbs Are the Best Choice of Light-Bulb
We replaced standard bulbs with halogens in the belief that they used less energy and were therefore cheaper – in fact, LED lights are the cheapest and can now be easily fitted to downlights.
4. Turning It Off and On Again Uses Extra Energy
This was a myth started years ago by appliance manufacturers. The idea was that leaving your gadgets on standby was better for them than turning them on and off – in fact, modern appliances are designed to be turned on and off regularly, so turning it off, even for the shortest time, is always a better option.
5. Painting Radiators Black Makes Them More Efficient
It’s hard to know where this particular piece of wisdom came from, but there’s no truth in it whatsoever! Save on paint and don’t bother.
6. Screensavers on Your Computer Save Energy
Screensavers still use power. Encourage your employees to turn the monitor or computer off altogether rather than use a screensaver.
7. Electrical Appliances Don’t Use Electricity When Plugged in But Not in Use
Ever heard of ‘vampire power’? It’s as scary as it sounds. Just because you’re not using a device which is plugged in, it doesn’t mean it’s not draining electricity, and the same goes for chargers plugged in but not connected to a device. Always switch things off at the wall.
8. You Lose the Most Heat Through Your Windows
On average, windows are responsible for only 10% of a building’s heat loss. Double glazing is great, but cavity wall insulation might be a quicker and cheaper way to save money on energy bills in the long term.
9. Solar Panels Only Work in the Summer
Wrong! They can catch light all year round and are a great way to generate green power. The only advantage in the summer months is that the days are longer, so there are more hours of light for them to take advantage of.
10. Switching Energy Supplier Is Difficult and Time-Consuming
The idea that it’s difficult and time-consuming for a business to change supplier is a myth well worth busting – as a domestic customer you would probably shop around for the best deals, so you should do the same with your business. However big your business, getting your premises energy-efficient is the key to cutting energy costs.
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