Do you feel your business is being held to ransom by the oil companies whether down the road or ultimately from Russia or further afield? Whilst many suppliers have special offers at this time of year, very soon, as we all know, they will be having a very different kind of special offer ? usually when its in the minus degrees outside!
In last month?s edition Tim Clark of Lighthouse Property Services talked about some of the ways in which green incentives can help property landlords reduce costs and increase income. Well, this really applies to all businesses and before we start moving into Autumn and Winter, now is the time to consider changing to renewable energy sources, particularly if you are an oil or LPG user.
Whilst the investment in renewable energy can be significant, no one can pretend it isn?t, the returns can really help businesses reduce ongoing costs and provide a realistic investment return. As an example, we recently advised a pub/restaurant on changing from oil to a biomass (wood pellet) heating system. Whilst the cost of the biomass boiler was around £30,000 (it was a large property!), they would benefit from nearly £6,000 per year (index linked and guaranteed for 20 years) in incentives and their fuel bill would be reduced by over £1,000 a year as well.
Although biomass boilers are costly, other sources of renewable heat such as air source heat pumps are less expensive and are more suited to smaller properties.
For those that cannot afford to invest to get off of oil completely, there is the opportunity to use renewable energy sources to create hot water. These methods may also attract some financial incentive from the Renewable Heat Incentive.
This article would not be complete without mentioning Solar PV and wind turbines. Solar PV in recent weeks has become even more attractive and beneficial to businesses and householders with supply price reductions on top of the increase in the Feed in Tariff that came on the 1st April. Whilst this will not directly reduce dependence on fossil fuels from far away places ? as that?s how most of our electricity is produced ? it will help improve your bottom line!
Richard Jones specialises in renewable energy and provides consultancy and installations for businesses, communities and householders across the East Midlands. Contact www.energymyway.co.uk ; 01522 370268; rj@energymyway.co.uk .
