This article provided by U Switch for Business.

Using less energy isn’t just something for householders to try and achieve. For the same reasons – saving money and being environmentally friendly is also beneficial for a company’s business energy focus. There can also be the added benefit that today’s savvy consumers will support businesses they see taking positive steps to make a difference.

Just how much business electricity can be saved may depend on the size and the type of the company. But just like in the domestic market it’s also worth checking to make sure that you are getting the best prices for your business energy consumption. Shop online and search for the most competitive and suitable deals.

With businesses looking to cut costs and make savings in the current economic climate, saving on business energy use is an ideal way to help reduce overheads and there are some simple actions to take.

Carry out an employee awareness campaign about ways staff can reduce business electricity use. Encourage staff to turn off lights in unused office rooms. You can also install movement sensors to control the lighting in toilets and other areas not in constant use. Take advantage of natural daylight, especially during the bright summer days and don’t use artificial lighting unless necessary.

Where it’s safe and appropriate to do so, switch off machines and equipment at the end of the day. The Carbon Trust estimates that just one computer and monitor which is left on for 24 hours a day, costs £50 every year. If it’s switched off out of hours the cost drops to £15, giving huge potential savings if multiplied across dozens or perhaps hundreds of computers.

Monitor and regulate the temperature in the workplace. A temperature of 19C generally should be fine. Clicking the thermostat up by just one degree will nudge heating costs up 8%. It’s also worth not routinely heating areas of a building that aren’t used regularly but do keep levels at safe temperatures over the winter to avoid burst pipes. Make sure air-conditioning is also turned off when not being used, particularly over longer periods such as weekends or if the building is closed for a holiday to prevent unnecessary business electricity costs.

Just like at home look at ways you can insulate your building – windows, doors, pipes and roofs can all be insulated to prevent heat loss and make savings. To prevent legionnaire’s disease your company hot water supply should be set at 60C. Any hotter is simply wasteful and unnecessary.

Some business energy saving tips will apply to specific types of workplaces. For example a manufacturing business might want to ensure that compressed air systems are run at minimum pressure, or change staff work schedules to maximise the full capacity of equipment that’s expensive to run like ovens or heating tanks. A retail company could consider installing automatic doors to prevent heat loss while a food business could use less energy simply by making sure their refrigeration system is well maintained.

Whatever energy saving methods you implement it’s still vitally important to get the best price for what you do use, so shop around online and search for the the best deals for your company. There are many great deals online and so with this in mind that you may not be aware of.
By cutting consumption and getting the right supplier, you could be on your way to significant business energy savings and benefits.

The following is a guest post on behalf of MoneySupermarket.com.

If you’re struggling to meet the rising costs of living, you might have considered moving to a smaller, cheaper property. This might have been a viable option in the past, but with the changing value of property and the like, is it going to end up costing so much that it negates the savings?

Think about this: if you live in a three bedroom property and you could viably move into a two bedroom property, how has the value of the latter changed while you’ve been living in your current home? Chances are; it’s gone up.  Downsizing could free up some of the equity in your home, but if house prices have gone up a  lot in your area, then you might find yourself unable to downsize while staying in that same area. If you have to move outside of the area, then you’ll have to factor in the costs of commuting to work and travelling to see friends and family.

Then consider this, how much does it cost you to move from your current home to the new, cheaper one?  You have to factor in legal, administrative and moving fees which could run into the thousands. Then of course there’s the fact that you’d have to actually live in the smaller property. Would this actually be practical? If you’ve more than one vehicle, how would the parking situation be at the new smaller place? Are you going to have to pay extra for parking?

Over in the UK, the neighborhood you live in can also have a big impact on the amount you pay in auto insurance premiums, as some areas are considered to carry a greater risk that your vehicle might be stolen, resulting in higher premiums.

Of course there are always other options and alternatives to downsizing, if it does to prove to be too costly or impractical. Some people refinance their mortgages to get a better, more affordable deal to allow them to remain in their current homes. If you’re going to do this, it takes some research on your part and you’ll have to study the market to see what’s out there and do your math. You can use an online mortgage calculator to work out your borrowings and repayments on different interest rates.

Then of course you can always look at other income streams to see if you can earn a little extra money to put yourself in a more comfortable position. Start with the old clichés – if you can play a musical instrument like guitar or piano, start charging for lessons. If your house is cluttered, get on eBay or do a garage sale. If your household has more than one vehicle, consider whether or not you could get by with just the one and sell the others. Similarly, see if you could save money on gas by car-pooling.

Property downsizing might still be an option for some, even if it means making a few compromises, but for others the associated costs might be too prohibitive these days. If that’s the case then you need to look at other ways to spend less and save more. You’re already at Budgeting in the Fun Stuff, so you’re making a great start!