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With renewable energy being an important topic, there’s much to learn for businesses and energy customers looking to improve their carbon footprint. As we become more aware of just how important it is to consider renewable energy options and make the switch from traditional fossil fuels for the sake of the planet, this guide to renewable energy terms will give you the foundations to understand everything you need to know about renewable energy and the industry. Below are some of the most important terms and phrases that are used when discussing renewable energy and what they mean. Perfect for if you want to make the switch to renewable energy for your business.    Renewable energy sources A good place to start. Renewable energy sources are the type of energy sources that are naturally restored. This includes wind, water, light from the sun and geothermal energy.    Carbon Neutral  Carbon neutral is a term used to describe achieving the balance between emitting carbon and absorbing carbon. One way in which to achieve carbon neutrality is to remove the use of fossil fuels and switch to renewable energy sources.    Carbon Offsetting Carbon offsetting is a process in which typically companies and organisations will help to reduce or remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere in order to compensate for their own emissions caused by their business operations and practices. This will often be done by buying carbon credits within carbon offsetting programs. When carbon offsetting is done correctly and ethically, these programs will work on sustainable development projects around the world in order to reduce emissions.   Fuel Mix  An energy supplier’s fuel mix details the ratio of energy sources used to generate electricity supplied to customers. This will show information about renewables, coal, gas, and nuclear, as well as any other source,  All energy suppliers have an obligation to provide details of their fuel mix. At D-ENERGi, you can view our fuel mix here.   Biomass  Biomass is a material used to generate bioenergy. It is sourced from recently living organisms, for example, energy crops, agriculture residues, wood chips, domestic and industrial waste.    Wind Energy  Wind energy is the type of renewable energy generated from wind power. Collected with wind turbines. Using a combination of the wind turbine propellers, a generator and the rotor, as the wind blows the turbine spins, which is then transferred to electricity using the generator.    Hydroelectricity Hydroelectricity is generated by hydropower – the movement of water. This type of renewable energy source makes up one of ⅙ of the world’s electricity.   Solar power Another type of renewable energy source is solar power. Solar power utilises the power of the sun to generate electricity. Solar panels are a popular way for both businesses and domestic homeowners to power their homes and buildings with solar power.    Net Zero Emissions Net zero emissions simply means achieving as close to zero carbon emissions as possible. The UK government has set goals and plans in place in order for the UK to achieve net zero emissions and carbon neutrality by 2050. This requires a lot of steps by individuals and businesses in order to change the way we currently use energy and source energy in order to cut our emissions.    Greenhouse Gases  Greenhouse gases which are also referred to as GHGs are naturally occurring gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, this includes carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, and nitrous oxide.  These gases absorb and emit radiant energy, which results in the ‘greenhouse effect’ which many of us will be familiar with. The greenhouse effect explains how some of the sun’s heat is trapped on earth by these greenhouse gases.    Offshore Wind Plant  An offshore wind plant is a power plant that is located away from the land. The UK is establishing more of these offshore wind farms as a way to increase our generation of wind energy for the production of electricity. Offshore wind farms are most often mounted onto structures built for this exact purpose or fixed directly to the seabed.

As summer rolls around, temperatures heat up and offices become warmer than ever. Ensuring you create a comfortable and pleasant environment for your staff is incredibly important, not just for their wellbeing but also for productivity and desire to be in the office. Since air conditioning is now a standard in most offices, they can quickly become dependable for supplying a cold blast of air when outdoor temperatures soar. However, despite the want for this, running an air conditioning system consistently for months can be costly.  So, with warmer weather on the way, we thought it was a good idea to delve into the energy consumption of air conditioning units and how best to use these in summer to save your business money. Helping you avoid high business energy costs.   How expensive are air conditioners to run?  Since there are a range of sizes and styles of air conditioners, the costs of running air conditioning will vary. However, some insights into this have indicated that this could be upwards of 43p an hour. Plus, with the current cost of energy, this could be even more.  Running this continuously throughout the working day could add almost £100 to your energy bill each month.   The optimal temperature for offices  While it may be incredibly warm outside and tempting to blast the office with cold air for several hours each day, the cost of this may be enough for businesses to reconsider.  But, how can you keep your office environment comfortable during such extreme summer heat?  Many of us will be all too familiar with the constant air conditioning debate at work. Turn it on or turn it off? Turn it up or turn it down? The truth is, it’s incredibly difficult to keep everyone happy. In fact different types of people prefer to be warm at work while others, cold. Plus, studies have shown that the temperature in working places does in fact impact productivity.  While there is currently no legal maximum temperature for working environments, however long over-due this may be, workplaces should ensure that the environment is ‘responsible’. Where temperatures do become unbearable, employers have a responsibility to offer staff regular breaks and a sufficient supply of free water. Some have suggested that keeping a constant and regulated temperature is the best solution, with many assuming the optimal working temperature to be somewhere between 22-24°C.   Avoiding big bills when using air conditioning Keeping your air conditioning on in summer whilst trying to manage your energy bills may seem like a task. Especially as teams fight over the temperature. With these tips, however, you can aim to keep your energy bills as low as possible, whilst still providing air conditioning to your employees.  Do not run the air conditioning system on an extremely low temperature  Turn off the air conditioning when it is not necessary  Make sure your AC unit is correctly installed Have the unit maintained and serviced regularly, especially before summer starts Ensure the room you are cooling isn’t subject to a large amount of direct sunlight as this will produce more work for the AC unit.   To keep a closer eye on your energy consumption and to monitor how different appliances may be affecting your energy bills, consider a business smart meter. For more information about this and the roll out scheme, do not hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team.

Technology and electronic devices now make up a huge part of many businesses’ assets. Helping to automate business processes and speed up what previously may have been repetitive and time-consuming tasks.  As the mainstream use of computers first hit the office floors in the 1980s, we’ve actually spent over three decades using technology in businesses and workplaces. Despite the advances we have made over these decades and the incredible benefits modern technology offers, many businesses still continue to utilise technology from way back when. Not only is this a hindrance to the business but can also be costly for both the business and the environment.   How outdated technology could be costing your business in energy  High energy bills may be a sign that the technology, devices, and appliances used in your business premises may require an upgrade.  Older technology such as outdated computers are more likely to produce excess heat, requiring more energy from the CPU (central processing unit) to keep the hardware cool and running efficiently. Not only this but the overheating of such devices can lead to slower performances, resulting in more time required to finish and complete a work task. This not only means the computer needs to be operating for longer (using more energy), but your staff and teams must spend more working time completing one task, hindering the efficiency of your business. Newer computers and devices have been designed to be far more energy efficient. Helping to keep your business energy costs down and your business running much more efficiently.   The impact old gadgets have on the environment  Digitalisation around the globe has resulted in an increase of greenhouse gas emissions over the past few decades. As we know, these harmful greenhouse gases are responsible for global warming and contribute to climate change. Energy consumption from devices not only adds to the cost of business energy bills, but will therefore increase your company’s impact on the environment.  In studies conducted by several research groups, including those from Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, findings indicate that switching to newer technologies and modern devices will help to reduce energy consumption by almost half. Providing a productive and effective solution for not only cutting business costs, helping the environment, but also modernising your workplace and providing employees with technology that works in their favour.  To assess just how much energy your technology may be consuming, it could be a good time to upgrade to a business smart meter. With a consumer access device you will be able to see exactly how much your technology impacts your energy consumption and the costs of this in real-time.

As an energy customer you will find you will be asked for meter readings at several different points. Firstly, when you join a new energy supplier or move into a new premises, your energy supplier will ask for initial meter readings which will provide them with a starting point of which to estimate your bills. Over the course of a contract your energy supplier will ask again for several meter readings to ensure your bills are still accurate and up to date according to your usage. Over the past year, you may have heard more and more industry experts suggesting to submit meter readings on a regular basis. This has been suggested as a good way to keep your bills as accurate as possible and to ensure you are not paying for me than you use.  In this blog we will explain how meter readings work and the importance of them, specifically for business energy customers.    What do meter readings mean?  Meter readings are simply a way for your electricity and gas supplier to establish your energy usage. Meter readings are therefore an important element that makes up your energy bills, alongside current energy rates.  The figures supplied by your meters will change as you access electricity or gas within your building. So, when you use your lights, turn on your computers, switch on the heating or use appliances, your meter will advance as electricity or gas flows through. Electricity meters will show your usage in kilowatt-hours and will use a form of numerical display to show your current usage amount.  Each dial has ten numbers (0 – 9) and a pointer like a clock hand. The pointers advance when electricity flows through the meter, so the dials indicate the total number of kilowatt-hours (KWH) you have used. To determine your correct meter reading, simply read the dials in order from right to left.   How meter readings will affect your energy bills  Since your meter can determine when energy is being used, your meter readings will indicate how much has been used over a period of time. As you submit meter readings to your energy supplier, your bills will be adjusted accordingly. The more regular readings you take and supply your supplier, the easier it will be for them to charge you the most accurate amount for your business energy usage.   How to submit a meter reading for your business  At D-ENERGi we make it easy for you to submit your business meter readings online. Our meter reading form can be accessed via our website and allows you to input the details of your latest reading without delay. All we need is a few details including your business energy account number, the date of your reading, and account holder’s name.   Business smart meters  To make taking your meter readings as simple as possible, business energy customers and domestic energy customers are switching to smart meters. As part of the smart meter roll out suppliers are now encouraging energy customers to make the switch from a traditional energy meter to a smart meter.  Smart meters are capable of supplying meter readings automatically to suppliers, so you don’t have to. Plus, with the option for a Consumer Access Device, you will be able to see your energy consumption in real time. Displaying just how much energy various devices and appliances around your business use when in operation.  For more about the business smart meter roll out, click here or get in touch with our friendly team.

If you are currently receiving business energy (gas or electricity) from an agreed business energy supplier, this blog is for you.  With the cost of living at such a high, and many businesses, particularly small and micro businesses navigating their way through increasing costs and expenses, as well as battling the change in consumer behaviour and spending as a result of the pandemic, saving money where you can is so important right now.  At D-ENERGi, we have spent time understanding just how difficult the last few years have been for our business energy customers and know how important it is for businesses to understand their outgoings and be sure they are paying for what they need and are not being overcharged. Which is why we have written this blog, to help businesses navigate the tricky world of energy costs.   Pay close attention to your energy bills  Firstly, you should be reading all your business energy bills and paying close attention to what they say. Although no one likes receiving a bill, it is an incredibly important part of ensuring you are not overpaying or paying for usage you do not require.  For example, you could be paying for an estimated amount of energy used if you fail to submit a meter reading and end up being overcharged. Alternatively, your supplier may have quoted you an incorrect price per kilowatt hour (kWh). In addition to this, you should also be checking for any additional fees or charges that may not have been previously agreed which could add up to a considerable amount each month. The easiest way to check this is by comparing your bills from one month to the next and being sure that all figures line up with what has been agreed in your contract.   What to do if you think you are overpaying The best thing you can do if you have spotted an overpayment or consecutive bills where you have been overcharged is to speak with your energy supplier directly. Get through to their customer service team and discuss your bills. You should also make sure to take a look at your current energy contract and check all the terms and conditions. Your supplier may have added in additional fees or charges that you were not aware of, so it is worth double checking. Finally, if after speaking with your supplier you still feel like you are overpaying, don’t be afraid to shop around and compare what similar energy suppliers are offering. Often, you can find a better deal that will save your business significant amounts of money each year.  At D-ENERGi we have become a trusted alternative to the big five energy suppliers in the UK for our business energy customers, and provide free quotes for any business looking to switch suppliers. Our friendly team will be happy to discuss the details of your business requirements and find you a solution to your problem. Afterall, it is better to spend some time getting the right business energy deal, than to be spending too much on your bills. Get in touch today for your free quote.

Business smart meters are a brilliant tool for businesses looking to keep on top of their energy consumption and have greater control over their bills. Much like a domestic smart meter, the process of obtaining a business smart meter is relatively simple. However, we often get many questions about the process of installing a smart meter and how to use one, once installed. So, we have created this short guide to not only explain the use of a business smart meter but also what you can expect from the installation process and tips for how best to read and utilise your smart meter to get the most out of it for your business.    How business smart meters are installed  Business smart meters are really no different to a domestic smart meter. So, the process for installation will be just the same. Here is what you can expect to happen:   Before the installation process you will need to arrange an installation time and date with your energy supplier. If you would like to do this for your business you can get in touch with D-ENERGi and we will arrange installation with an installation partner.  Once an installation date is confirmed, you can expect an engineer to visit your business premises to fit the meter.  The fitting process will usually take around an hour, however you can expect to lose access to your electricity/gas supply during this time.   Before your installation, please make sure you have cleared access to your traditional meters and turned off any electrical items like computers, so they are not affected by the electricity outage. To be sure this installation causes minimal disruption to your business we advise you to select a time and date that works best for your business. When booking an installation we will aim to ensure we offer suitable times for you.    What happens once your smart meter is installed? Once the initial installation is complete you can expect your power to return to normal and access to electrical devices can resume.  If you have opted to link your smart meter to an IHD (In Home Display) or CAD (Consumer Access Device), the installer will set this up for you. This device can be placed anywhere on the premises and will provide a digital display of your energy usage in real time.  Benefits of this, of course, include being able to review your own energy consumption and seeing this in a concise and clear way. This will not only make it easier for you to understand your business’ energy consumption but also give you a better understanding of your energy bills. Plus, being armed with this relevant information provides you with the ability to lower your energy usage and bills, if necessary. All while ensuring your business moves in the right direction towards improving sustainability and reducing your carbon footprint.