Every single energy supplier in the UK is talking about smart meters.
They go on about the smart-network, and the massive sustainability benefits.
But they always fail to mention quite how much benefit they can bring to your business.
Keep reading to find out more!
Businesses Set to Benefit
There has been an incredible sustainability revolution in the last decade, with governments, businesses, and individuals finally taking climate change and the biodiversity crisis seriously. Of course, individual figures like David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg have been leading figures of this movement and their impact cannot be understated.
But businesses have come together to make a difference, too. Many have pledged commitments to becoming carbon neutral. They can achieve this by reducing single-use plastics in their operations, altering diets in staff canteens, supporting sustainable travel, or investing in low-carbon methods of commuting.
But what else? Is it enough?
Is there more that businesses can be doing?
Well, yes. Install a smart meter.
Sustainable Smart Grid
The new smart grid will be built on the backs of smart meters, an advanced technology that records energy consumption more accurately and communicates directly with energy suppliers frequently. For customers, this results in extremely accurate bills and minimal hassle.
The grid relies on frequent and reliable data, and will be considerably easier to manage than the existing network. As meters communicate energy consumption more accurately, this will make it easier for supplier to forecast energy demand, lowering costs.
Improved accuracy benefits all, and will allow for more renewable energy on the network. This is obviously good news for the planet, as high levels of renewable energy generation can bring prices down yet further. Suppliers will be able to incentivise their customers to use electricity during these times, passing on savings and resulting in cheaper bills
Smart meters can also enable customers to better track and analyse their own consumption in real time. If this is combined with behavioural changes, customers can start to pile up serious energy and money savings in a climate conscious way.
What Now?
As smart technology is getting smarter all of the time, the benefits of the smart grid will continue to improve. It is not too much of a stretch to imagine a message from your smart meter telling your systems to turn on or off depending on the price of electricity. EVs could be told when to charge, relying solely on solar or wind energy.
Modern technologies like EVs can be used as a form of storing excess energy generated during these times of high renewable generation, and the stored electricity could be used instead of taking from the grid. This could help consumers to save costs as well as reducing the amount of energy being generated at source.
The pace of change isn’t set to slow down any time soon, so the grid must change too. Everyone has their part to play, from individuals to businesses, in helping the UK meet their net-zero carbon emission goals. Smart meters and the smart grid can help us all get there.
Sustainability Helps to Fight Climate Change and Improves Team Engagement
As climate change requires us all to play our part, businesses are seen as crucial in making real change. The subject matter of sustainability has long surpassed purely environmental reasons (although these are still crucial; but it can shape both internal and external perceptions.
Or at least, that’s what current research suggests.
A Deloitte study showed that almost two thirds of respondents say that a company’s sustainability efforts play a major factor in the decision to work for them or not. Separate studies have found that quarter of UK office workers would turn down a job rather than work for a business that has a poor environmental record.
Employees and Sustainability
So, it can be seen that there is a genuine drive among the UK workforce to make a difference in the fight against climate change. More than three quarters of UK adults want to play a part in helping the UK with climate change, and more than half want to work for a business that helps get us there.
The recruitment and retention of talent is becoming a significant hurdle for many businesses, as the fallout of the pandemic brought about resignations in droves. Candidates are clear on the environmental profiles of businesses they would prefer to work for.
So, surely making efforts to continue to become more sustainable will only help to increase the quality of candidates applying to your business?
Sustainability Helps To Cut Costs
One positive side-effect of investing in sustainability is the reduction in employee turnover, too.
A clear business vision including sustainability can help to attract a larger proportion of tomorrows’ leaders in thought and business. These efforts can really help to drive attracting new hies, and investment in these employees means you can train and retain at higher levels than you could previously.
This results in a more engaged work force, higher productivity, lower employee instability, and lower recruitment costs.
Get a Competitive Edge
There are years of data available that shows how a commitment to sustainability can lead to improved business performance.
In fact, according to Jeffrey Hollender, Professor of Sustainability at New York University –
“You will do better financially by doing things like having a great sustainability programme.”
By creating a defined roadmap that caters for actions and measures to drive results for your programme, you take a massive step forwards. It may not be something created in year one and reviewed years in the future, it should be treated as an ever-evolving part of the needs of your business. Flexibility will only help you to shape it to any changes within your company.
Niccolo Gas and Power
Unlike some suppliers, we actually want to talk to you.
If you are interested in our wide range of tailor-made product offerings then simply get in contact with us today. Or if you would like to find out more about anything discussed in this article, contact us directly or browse our website for ready-made solutions.
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You can even email us directly at info@niccolo.co.uk
We look forward to hearing from you!