Effective energy management is crucial for food production factories, both for cost control and operational efficiency. Here are some best practices for managing energy bills and contracts.
Understand your energy consumption
Before you start comparing different contracts or even look at an energy procurement strategy you need to understand your energy consumption. Making sure your consumption is being measured correctly is step one. To do this you can:
- Audit your usage - Conduct regular energy audits to identify how and where energy is being consumed. This helps in pinpointing areas for improvement and efficiency.
- Track consumption patterns - Use energy management software to monitor usage patterns and identify peak consumption times.
Optimise energy efficiency
Optimising your business and its equipment to be more efficient with energy is really going to help you bring those prices down. To do this you should:
- Upgrade equipment - Invest in energy efficient machinery and lighting. Modern, energy efficient equipment such as, voltage optimisers and smart thermostats can significantly reduce energy consumption.
- Implement best practices - Adopt best practices for energy use, such as maintaining optimal temperatures in refrigeration units and minimising idle times for equipment.
- Regular maintenance - Ensure regular maintenance and servicing of machinery and HVAC systems to keep them running efficiently.
Negotiate favourable contracts
Working with an energy broker can help when it comes to negotiating with energy suppliers. Negotiating and comparing suppliers can help you get the best price possible for your business energy contract. Before negotiating you should always:
- Understand contract terms - Be clear about the terms of your energy contract, including pricing, duration, and any penalties or fees.
- Compare suppliers - Shop around and compare energy suppliers to find the best rates and contract terms. Consider both fixed and variable rate options to see which suits your business needs.
- Leverage volume - If your factory consumes a large amount of energy, use your volume to negotiate better rates or terms.
Implement energy-saving measures
Energy saving measures can significantly bring down the cost of your energy bills. To ensure that this is implemented in your business properly you should focus on:
- Energy management systems - Implement an EMS to manage and reduce energy consumption through data analysis and control systems.
- Employee training - Train staff on energy-saving practices and the importance of energy efficiency. Encourage a culture of energy awareness.
- Energy-saving technologies - Install smart meters, programmable thermostats, and energy-efficient lighting to optimise energy use.
Monitor and review
The only way to know whether your factory is actually using less energy is to monitor your energy spends and consumption. The best ways to do this are:
- Regular reviews - Regularly review your energy bills and consumption patterns to identify any anomalies or areas for improvement.
- Benchmarking - Compare your energy performance against industry standards and similar facilities to gauge efficiency.
Plan for future needs
When you start saving on your factories energy bills, you have more money to reinvest back into the business. With this increased budget you might consider:
- Scalability - Consider your future energy needs when negotiating contracts and investing in equipment. Choose solutions that can scale with your business growth.
- Renewable energy - Explore options for renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, which can reduce long-term costs and improve sustainability.
Leverage incentives and rebates
The government often release support schemes to help businesses, especially energy intensive businesses such as food production factories. To ensure your business is benefiting from and rebates or incentives you should:
- Research incentives - Look for government or utility incentives and rebates for energy-efficient upgrades and renewable energy projects.
- Apply for programs - Take advantage of programs designed to reduce energy costs or support energy-saving initiatives.
Communicate with suppliers
It is important to maintain contact with a supplier. However, running a large business can be busy so by working with us we could do all the hard work with the supplier for you. We will:
- Build relationships - Maintain open communication with your energy suppliers. Building a good relationship can be beneficial for negotiating terms and resolving issues.
- Stay informed - Keep abreast of changes in energy regulations, market conditions, and technology advancements that might impact your energy strategy.
Implement energy-saving projects
To ensure you continue to save energy after you implement your initial energy saving tactics, you should:
- Invest in innovations - Look into energy-saving projects such as waste heat recovery systems or energy-efficient building upgrades.
- Pilot programs - Test new energy-saving technologies on a small scale before full implementation to assess their effectiveness and potential savings.
Document and report
Finally, it is really important to keep note and documentation of your energy reduction, do this by:
- Record keeping - Maintain detailed records of energy consumption, costs, and savings from efficiency measures.
- Reporting - Regularly report on energy performance to stakeholders and use the data to drive continuous improvement.
By following these best practices, food production factories can manage their energy costs more effectively, reduce their environmental footprint, and enhance overall operational efficiency.
If you're looking to save money on your energy bills then why not get in touch today? The relationships Resolve Energy has developed with over 24 of the UK’s biggest business energy suppliers allows our energy experts to source the best business energy rates available for your company right when you need them. Request a free quote today and start saving money on your energy.
