Whether you’re planning to start a new company or you’ve been in your trade for years, sustainability should be at the core of every practice. Not only could it be crucial for driving new trade opportunities, but there’s a huge consumer appeal to going green too.
According to recent environmental statistics, least 44% of consumers are more likely to buy from a sustainable brand. While sustainable trading practices and sourcing natural materials will help, considerable progress can be made through internal updates and green technology.
In this article, we’ve outlined the top five sustainability-boosting technologies and features that any business owner should know about.
Why should you focus on sustainability?
Being environmentally conscious is a modern necessity. Both morally and logically, adopting sustainable practices will be likely to bolster the reputation of your business, increase revenue, and reach a more diverse client base.
Furthermore, being openly eco-friendly will help your company gain a competitive advantage. You’ll catch the attention of future investors and keep your brand open to further recognition for environmental commitment too.
Sustainable Business Upgrades: Our Top 5 Picks
Solar panels
Widely used across the UK for domestic and commercial purposes, solar panels are one of the best eco-friendly investments a business can make.
Depending on the size and scale of your physical premises, you could install solar panels to rely entirely on renewable energy.
Solar panels can be accessed through grants, schemes, or directly through suppliers. They work by converting energy from the sun into energy you can use to power your systems and appliances.
The main thing to bear in mind is that you’ll need to store or use the energy immediately, so you shouldn’t have any more solar panels than you need.
Insulation
According to the Energy Savings Trust, around a third of all heat lost in an uninsulated home gets out through the walls. It’s vital that the buildings belonging to your business are insulated effectively, no matter what they’re used for.
Purpose and efficiency should always be considered when choosing the type of insulation that you’ll use.
Synthetic and natural options are available, along with specialist insulation types for different areas in the building. Absolute necessities include floor insulation, loft insulation, and cavity wall insulation.
Smart meters
Smart meters widely replaced traditional numerical meters for gas and electricity. Rather than just one unit figure, smart meters provide detailed insights into energy use and prices.
In turn, smart meters help companies and households to accurately track, manage, and adjust their gas and electricity consumption.
The visual aspect is integral to smart meter functionality. With energy use being so easy to track by time, it’s possible to tell which appliances might be drawing the most power – or which times of day, for example, cost the most.
Air source heat pumps
Air source heat pumps work in the opposite way to air conditioning units. They draw air from the outdoors, store it at pressure and heat it up, and then distribute it as water through a building’s heating system.
Air source heat pumps are an eco-friendly alternative to using heating systems fired by fossil fuels. If you own your corporate buildings, you could be eligible for a grant through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Air source heat pumps work especially well for houses with underfloor heating systems and those in a mild climate. The water heated by an air source heat pump might not be as hot as water heated by a combi boiler, so it’s better distributed across a large and wide surface area.
Energy-efficient appliances
As technology has developed, more efficient appliances and systems have become widely available. If your business is still relying on outdated devices, you could be using much more energy than you need to.
Efficient appliances enable you to conserve energy while producing the same – if not improved – results and level of performance.
If you still need to upgrade some of your systems, lighting and heating make the most sensible place to start. But don’t forget to insulate your buildings to make the most of your savings!
