If you are a retailer, it is likely that you are paying very high energy bills. In fact, the retail sector is amongst those that were hit the hardest by the 2007/2008 economic crash. While running a retail business of course requires a lot of energy to power all the necessary equipment, there are some areas of the retail sector where energy is wasted. By implementing simple changes such as controlling lighting and heating, or frequently servicing your boilers you will be able to cut your energy bills by as much as 20%.

Carbon Trust explains that ‘Low and no-cost actions can usually reduce energy costs by at least 10% and produce quick returns. For many businesses, a 20% cut in energy costs represents the same bottom-line benefit as a 5% increase in sales.’

At Energy Solutions, we are committed to helping our customers be more energy-efficient and to lower their impact on the environment. As an energy broker with many years of experience in the energy industry, we can offer expert advice not only on how to get the best energy deal but also on how to cut your energy bills.

This guide for retailers explains what the main energy-saving opportunities in their sector are. Before you have a look at the areas where you can save energy and money, you have to ask yourself the following questions.

Does your retail business use too much energy?

Do you leave the lights on during the day and at night?
Is your equipment always on, even when the store is closed?
Is the temperature in your store too high?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you can simply save money by changing your energy-consumption habits.

Have a look at some facts about saving energy in your retail store:

Lighting accounts for 20-60% of retailers’ total energy costs.
Heating and air-conditioning accounts for 40-60% of retailers’ energy use.
If you reduce room temperature by as little as 1°C, you can lower fuel consumption by 8%.
By installing chilled or frozen food cabinets, your business can save around £100 each year on energy bills.

Energy efficiency tips

Energy Solutions compiled some tips to help you cut the energy bills in your retail store. They can be divided into several categories related to various aspects of running your business.

Aspect of running a retail store	Energy-efficiency tips
Heating and air conditioning	Avoid overheating the restaurant by regularly checking thermostats and controls. Service boilers regularly. Turn the heating or air conditioning off one hour before you close the store and all the employees leave. Do not run the heating outside trading hours. Install time switches so that the heating is not on when the building is empty. Do not overheat the store in winter. Keep the temperature at around 19°C so that the customers have a good experience but you don’t pay too much for energy bills. Do not overcool the store in the summer. Never set the air-conditioning below 24°C.
Lighting	Install energy-efficient bulbs such as LED bulbs that use 80% less energy than traditional bulbs. Install movement sensors, time switches, and daylight controls to ensure the lights only on when there are people in the store. Make sure the employees turn the lights off when they leave the room. Upgrade all the lights to energy-efficient ones, not only the ones in the main room.
Refrigeration	Do not set the temperatures too low. Regularly check the seals in fridges and freezers. Do not overfill the shelves in fridges and freezers. Only put in the things that you really need.