Efficiently managing your heating system should be a top priority, especially now that the heating season is well underway.
There are plenty of easy wins here that are often overlooked, often with no associated upfront cost.
1. Set thermostats depending on room usage
Guidelines generally recommend setting the temperature at 19°C in working areas. However, temperatures can be set lower than this in corridors, storerooms or areas of higher physical activity. A 1°C reduction in temperature shaves 8% off your heating bill!
- Tip: Allocate a specific member of staff to be responsible for heating controls to make sure they aren’t tampered with.
- Myth buster: Turning the temperature up on the thermostat will not warm the room up quicker!
2. Ensure timers and thermostats are set to the right date and time
You must take into account your scheduled operating hours, daylight savings time, weekends and Bank Holidays.
- Tip: Relocate any thermostats that are too close to radiators or draughts.
3. Ensure radiators and heaters are clean and unobstructed
Workstations can be brought closer to heat sources as long as they do not cause any obstructions.
- Tip: Do not use portable electric heaters unless absolutely necessary. They are extremely expensive to run compared to standard central heating.
4. Identify any draughts coming in from outside.
Up to 30% of heating costs can be saved by stopping cold air from entering your building. Check seals on windows and doors, use cheap draught excluders if needed, and consider fitting spring-loaded door closures or PVC strip curtains if doors are left open.
- Tip: If you have roller shutter doors, it’s possible to interlock the controls for these doors with your heat controls, so the heating automatically turns off when the door is opened.
5. Insulate heated pipework/hot water cylinders
Insulating pipework with cheap foam lagging can reduce energy loss by 70%. You can fit it yourself and it will pay back in a matter of weeks. The image below shows how much heat can be lost through uninsulated pipes.
