Energy costs could sap small business
Posted 15 January 2008 at 10:43AM by Ian Betteridge in Hints and tips
Energy prices are on the rise, as can be seen from the recent hike in the cost of oil to $100 per barrel, and nPower's decision to raise its charges to customers.
While for a one-man company this might be an inconvenience, for larger firms it could be the difference between survival and disaster in what's set to be a difficult year. And, according to industry watchdog Energywatch, the situation is compounded by the fact that business customers are forced into contracts which last two or three years, preventing them from switching to cheaper alternatives.
But companies aren't totally helpless: for many, there are plenty of sensible steps which can be taken to reduce energy usage, from fitting low-energy lighting through to encouraging employees to turn off the lights. Turning the heating down slightly can help a lot - even a single degree will cut your heating bills substantially.
It's good for the environment, and good for business too.
Want to discuss this further? Join the Business blog community.
Tags: bt, bt broadbandoffice, business, energy, environment
New feature: Rate this post!
Average rating: 2.2/5
Comments
2. At January 15, 2008 3:31 PM, Isaac Yankem wrote:
I'm going to get a windmill built on the roof of my dental surgery, just like David Cameron. I'll be the first dentist with a wind power drill!
I already keep the heating pretty low anyway. Being cold distracts my patients from the pain!
3. At January 15, 2008 4:39 PM, simon wrote:
cant do much about heating dont have it but trying to get staff to switch off lights no way.
wonder how they feel if i forgot there wage packet on friday
4. At January 15, 2008 5:35 PM, James Phillips wrote:
Simon, maybe you could attach their wage packets to the light switches with a reminder inside the packet? Treat it as a joke with a more serious message.
5. At January 15, 2008 6:57 PM, Dark Djinn wrote:
Don't know which argument is worse....global warming or rising energy prices. Maybe one caused the other or maybe one cancels the other out. If winters disappear from the UK, you no longer need to use heaters so what's the fuss here (24/7 32 degree heat for me.....yessireeee). If they keep increasing prices, which by the way is not because we are running out of sources of cheaper energy (dentists with windmills on their roofs take note) but because people called speculators are making money out of it. Who are the speculators? Good question...a group of old people hang about look up at the sky, say...it looks like rain, there's going to be scarcity of oil supply from Tanzania, to the bunkers everyone, raise the prices.....
6. At January 18, 2008 3:30 PM, anjanesh wrote:
yes; completely agree with Djinn. There is no rational link to gas/electricity prices - the main excuse being that since oil is on the high and gas should go up simply because it is pegged against the oil prices (but why ?).
in my opinion ; UK obtains it oil from one source and gas from another and electricity from another so why the link ?Strange coincidence that energy costs seem to go up just after or during winter. Last spring when wholesale gas prices were negative (yes companies were paying resellers to pickup gas ) the end user price drop was relatively less.
Goiing nuclear would be a great option - clean and cheap .
France is one of most carbon friendly countries in Europe and 80% of its energy comes from the atom.
Post a comment
As 14 days have passed, comments are now closed for this entry.
1. At January 15, 2008 12:23 PM, James Phillips wrote: