Half of SMEs losing out on cheaper energy
Small businesses are ignoring the rising cost of energy and missing out on major savings, research shows.
Over half of the UK's 4.8 million SMEs have no methods in place to manage energy efficiency, and 18 per cent don't know whether they've increased or reduced their energy consumption in the past year.
Research from the Carbon Trust shows that, on average, SMEs could save up to 20 per cent on their energy costs. This compares to just eight per cent of potential savings for large businesses.
There is a direct correlation between measuring energy efficiency and lower costs – in a survey by nPower, half of the SMEs who started to measure their energy efficiency reported cost savings of up to ten per cent.
"More businesses need to realise that they can lower their bills through implementing low- or no-cost measures," says Patrick Harvey, head of customer loyalty at nPower. "This is a saving that SMEs cannot afford to overlook."