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Business energy consumption
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Business gas and electricity consumption
Understanding and managing business energy consumption is crucial for controlling costs and operating a sustainable, successful business.
We provide essential insights into business energy consumption tailored for British businesses. Here’s what we cover:
Average business energy consumption
The energy consumption of each business varies, depending on factors such as business size, the nature of its activities, and the efficiency of its facilities and equipment (see the full list below for more details). (see our full list below).
The figures below show the average business energy consumption for different company sizes, based on the categorisation used in UK government statistics.
| Size of business | Annual electricity consumption (kWh) | Annual gas consumption (kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Very Small | 0 - 20,000 | 0 - 278,000 |
| Small | 20,000 - 500,000 | 278,000 - 1,000,000 |
| Small/Medium | 500,000 - 2,000,000 | 1,000,000 - 4,000,000 |
| Medium | 2,000,000 to 20,000,000 | 4,000,000 - 28,000,000 |
| Large | 20,000,000 + | 28,000,000 + |
| Average UK home | 2,900 | 12,000 |
Source: Gov.uk – Gas and electricity prices in the non-domestic sector.
💡 As a useful comparison, we’ve included the energy consumption of an average UK household.
Factors impacting business energy consumption
A business’s energy consumption ultimately comes down to the devices and equipment that use electricity and gas.
Our experts present five general factors that determine business energy consumption:
- Industry: Different industries have varying energy needs; manufacturing and data centres use more energy than retail or office spaces.
- Business Size: Larger facilities or higher staff numbers require more electricity and gas.
- Equipment and Machinery: High-energy equipment, such as industrial machinery, air-conditioning systems, or large servers in data centres, significantly impacts energy usage.
- Building Design and Insulation: Poor insulation, older windows, or inefficient building design can increase heating and cooling needs.
- Operating Hours: Businesses that operate 24/7 or have extended hours consume more energy than those with standard hours.
How to calculate your business energy consumption
In Britain, commercial properties are fitted with energy meters at each business electricity connection and business gas connection.
These meters measure the amount of electricity and gas passing through them and are the best way to calculate your business energy consumption. Here’s a step-by-step guide.
- Take a meter reading, recording the date and time of the reading.
- Wait for a representative period over which you want to record consumption.
- Take another meter reading, noting the time between the two readings.
- Enter your details into our business energy consumption calculator below.
💡 Review our visual guide to recording a meter reading for more information.
How to measure business energy consumption
In business utilities, gas and electricity consumption is measured in kWh, a unit of energy.
One kWh of electricity is enough to run a laptop for approximately 20 hours, and a single kWh of gas can heat a small room for about an hour on a winter’s day.
The following devices measure business energy consumption at British commercial properties.
Smart energy meters
Smart meters for businesses automatically record and transmit readings of business energy consumption. Most business energy suppliers offer business energy monitoring software for free, providing analysis of business energy consumption using smart meter data.
Half-hourly meters
Commercial properties with a high demand for electricity are fitted with half-hourly electricity meters that automatically record electricity consumption every 30 minutes. Large business energy suppliers provide analysis of this consumption data through online portals.
Manual meter readings
All types of business electricity meters or business gas meters can measure business energy consumption using manual meter readings. Refer to our section on calculating business energy consumption above.
Typical energy consumption of business equipment
The energy consumption of your business is the sum of the energy used by all devices connected to your mains.
Our business energy experts have compiled a list of devices typically found in the workplace that consume electricity and gas, using their product specifications to calculate their daily energy consumption.
Lighting
Daily electricity consumption of lighting used in a ten-person office.
- LED – 1.3 kWh
- Halogen – 16 kWh
- Incandescent – 21 kWh
Heating
Energy consumption to heat a ten-person office on a cold winter day.
- Combi Boiler – 51 kWh (gas)
- Electric radiators – 48 kWh (elec)
- Heat pump – 16 kWh (elec)
Cooling
Electricity used to keep a ten-person office cool during a hot day.
- Central AC unit – 2.7 kWh
- Portable AC unit – 6.4 kWh
- Ceiling fans – 0.7 kWh
IT equipment
Daily electricity usage of personal IT equipment used by office staff.
- Laptop – 0.4 kWh
- Desktop – 1.6 kWh
- Monitor – 0.1 kWh
Caffeine
Daily electrical consumption needed to make tea and coffee.
- Electric kettle – 6 kWh
- Boiling water tap – 4 kWh
- Coffee machine – 7 kWh
Kitchen
Daily electricity consumption in the kitchen of a small office.
- Fridge – 1.4 kWh
- Dishwasher – 3 kWh
- Microwave – 0.4 kWh