At a time when energy costs weigh more and more heavily on the budgets of small businesses MET France, the energy supplier for SMEs, offers expert advice on how to consume responsibly – helping to cut energy bills and reduce environmental impact.
Advice for all businesses
Optimize thermostat settings – In winter, lowering the thermostat by a few degrees when the premises are empty and investing in a programmable thermostat to automate these settings will help to reduce heating costs.
Use energy-saving appliances – Using Energy Star certified heating systems and water heaters, as well as LED lighting, helps to reduce overall energy consumption.
Take advantage of the Sun’s energy – During the day, open curtains and blinds to let the sunshine in and naturally light and warm rooms, reducing the need for artificial lighting and heating. Remember to close them at night to conserve the heat.
Maintain the heating system on a regular basis – A well-maintained system saves energy and extends service life. That is why it’s important to replace air filters, check for leaks and maintain them in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations.
Install zoned heating – Divide the office space into zones and heat only those that are being used.
Modernise office equipment – Replace old, heavy-consumption equipment with newer, energy-efficient models, particularly computers, monitors and printers. Newer equipment is designed to save money in the long term.
Insulate premises – A properly insulated building (roof, windows, doors) improves energy efficiency by preventing heat loss and cold air infiltration.
Encourage employee involvement – Raise awareness of energy-saving measures, such as switching off lights, computers and other equipment when not in use, and implement an office policy that encourages energy savings – rewarding employees who regularly apply these measures.
Additional tips for specific sectors
Retail
Annual reference consumption: between 200 and 300 kWh/m²/year, depending on size and location of the retail premises.
- Optimise lighting by installing motion detectors, a timer for outdoor lighting and LED bulbs.
- Regulate air conditioning and heating to match opening hours.
- Program automatic closing of entrance doors to prevent heat loss to the outside world.
Offices and services
Annual reference consumption: between 150 and 250 kWh/m²/year, depending on the size of the building and the type of equipment.
- Put equipment on standby, unplug equipment not in use and use low-energy office equipment.
- Optimise lighting by installing motion detectors.
Hotels and restaurants
Annual reference consumption: between 250 and 400 kWh/m²/year, depending on the size of the establishment and the equipment used.
- Use energy-efficient kitchen and refrigeration equipment.
- Adapt air conditioning and heating settings according to occupancy levels and weather conditions.
- Optimise lighting in common areas (motion detectors, exterior lighting).
- Consume at the best time, in an eco-responsible way, by monitoring carbon emission forecasts. MET France gives customers access to these estimates, for a better management of their consumption.
Co-ownership
Annual reference consumption: between 150 and 300 kWh/m²/year depending on the type of condominium (residential or mixed).
- Improve building insulation.
- Regulate collective heating according to the season and insulate distribution networks.
- Optimise lighting with motion detectors and LED bulbs.