8 quick-win tips for energy-efficient heating at your workplace
Efficient heating and well managed controls are crucial to reduce energy consumption, lower costs, and minimise your environmental impact, whether your workplace is an office, warehouse, manufacturing plant, or community building.
To help assess the efficiency of your business’s heating systems and practices, consider the following list of actions you can take:
1. Heating system
- Assess the type of heating system you have (e.g., boiler, heat pump, radiators).
- Find out if there is information about the age and condition of your heating equipment. If it is gas, ask your gas service engineer to tell you the efficiency of your boiler when they service it.
- If boilers are more than 15-17 years old, consider upgrading to a non-fossil fuel alternative.
2. Insulation and weatherproofing
- Inspect the insulation levels in suspended ceilings, roof voids and floors, if you can gain access. Insulation in walls can be checked with a thermal imaging camera.
- Check windows and doors for air leakage and install draught strips or rubber gap seals.
- Identify areas where weatherproofing improvements can be made and address any moisture issues.
3. Temperature control
- Check your heating controls and thermostats settings. You can usually find manuals online if you no longer have a printed copy to hand.
- Ensure someone in your organisation is designated to check and manage settings.
- For advice on whether this makes sense for your workplace, book a Workplace Energy Efficiency Assessment with the ESOx team!
4. Heating schedule and zoning
- Analyse the heating schedule and aim to turn heating on an hour before the building will be in use, and turn off half an hour before it is vacated, if possible.
- Turn radiator valves down in unoccupied spaces. Make use of heating zones to match different areas’ heating needs.
5. Maintenance and servicing
- Regularly maintain and service heating equipment as per manufacturer recommendations.
- Monitor and address any leaks, blockages, or malfunctions promptly.
- Keep a maintenance log and track energy consumption to identify improvements.
6. Employee awareness and training
- Educate employees on energy-saving practices and efficient heating use.
- Encourage staff to report any heating-related issues promptly.
- Promote a culture of energy efficiency within the organisation.
7. Energy monitoring and data analysis
- Analyse energy data to identify patterns, trends, and potential areas for improvement.
- Set energy-saving targets and regularly share progress towards those targets with staff.
8. Financial incentives and grants
- Research available grants or incentives for energy-efficient heating upgrades. If you want help, ESOx can provide sign-posting to local and nationally available funding and finance providers.
- Evaluate the financial feasibility of implementing energy-saving measures.
The time to act is now
Many of these measures listed above are quick wins that will help make your business more resilient, reduce your energy costs, cut carbon emissions, and demonstrate to customers, partners, and the public your commitment to the fight against climate change.
For more advice, and to find out how to get started, download our free Workplace Energy Efficiency Checklist for your business in Oxfordshire, or get in touch with our team of experts!