Energy Saving in Commercial Premises

How to Reduce Your Business Energy Costs

In today’s business environment, reducing overheads is more important than ever, and one major area often overlooked is electrical and lighting-related energy waste. Many commercial buildings are silently losing tens of thousands of pounds each year in unnecessary energy costs. 

At CTE Electrical Contractors, we specialise in conducting comprehensive Energy Audits that uncover exactly where that waste is happening, then help you implement targeted improvements. Here are the top 5 hidden causes of energy waste we frequently uncover, and how you can start tackling them. 

Lighting Left On (or Over-Illuminating) 

One of the simplest inefficiencies: lights in unoccupied spaces, or lighting levels higher than needed. 

What we see 

• Break rooms, storage areas, corridors, and meeting rooms where lighting remains on despite being empty. 
• Older fluorescent or HID fixtures are still in use instead of modern LED options. 
• No automated control systems (timers, occupancy sensors, daylight dimming), so lights simply stay on. 
• Over-lighting: fixtures delivering full output even when daylight is available or the task doesn’t require full brightness.

Why it matters 

• Lighting can represent a significant portion of a building’s electricity usage. For example, one study found that adding occupancy sensors in commercial spaces could save anywhere between 10% and 90% of lighting energy depending on space usage. 
• The government in the UK found that lighting controls were underutilised, even in large buildings, indicating a major untapped opportunity. 
• Upgrading lighting and controls not only saves energy but reduces heat load (which in turn reduces HVAC demands). 

What you can do (and how an audit helps) 

• During the audit, we’ll map lighting usage zones (which areas are on when they shouldn’t be) and measure actual brightness levels vs task requirements. 
• We’ll identify where occupancy sensors, daylight sensors or timers would be effective. 
• Develop a plan for LED retrofit or fixture upgrade with payback calculations. 
• You’ll receive a clear recommendation: e.g., “Room A has lights on an average of 14 hours/day when used only 4 hours — potential savings: £X per year.” 

Outdated or Poorly Maintained Equipment & Controls 

Even when systems are in place, if they’re old or poorly maintained, they create waste. 

What we see 

• HVAC and lighting controls that don’t respond correctly (wrong thermostat settings, sensors not commissioned). 
• Motors, drives, pumps or fans are operating continuously when they shouldn’t. 
• Equipment is serviced infrequently, causing inefficiencies, higher running hours, and increased power draw. 
• “Plug loads” (computers, printers, chargers, incubators, etc) left on standby all night. 

Why it matters 

• Many buildings operate equipment longer than needed or at full power when partial power would suffice. 
• A well-commissioned control system can reduce usage significantly; a poorly configured system can waste as much energy as a non-controlled one. 
• Audit results consistently show that ‘business as usual behaviour costs more than the cost of the upgrade. 

Audit-led benefits 

• We’ll conduct equipment usage profiling: hours of operation, load vs idle, and abnormal behaviour. 
• Provide a maintenance & optimisation schedule for the major systems. 
• Show where upgrading to modern drives, variable speed motors, or smart controls makes sense. 
• Provide ROI and payback time so you can decide confidently. 

Lack of Smart Controls & Automation 

In many commercial premises, the wiring is there, but the smart control layer is missing or underutilised. 

What we see 

• Spaces where lighting or HVAC is on full power even though occupancy is low or after hours. 
• No daylight harvesting — lights don’t adjust when lots of daylight is available. 
• Separate systems (lighting, HVAC) are not integrated, so one system works harder than it needs to. 
• Manual override culture - people leave lights or equipment on “just in case”. 

Why it matters 

• Smart control systems (occupancy, daylight, scheduling) allow systems to work only when needed. This directly reduces energy consumption. 
• For example: dimming lights when daylight is present, or automatically turning off lighting in unused zones. 
• Integration with building management systems gives insight into behavioural patterns and helps drive further savings. 

Audit approach 

• We examine the control architecture: what sensors, what scheduling, what feedback exists. 
• Identify where automation is missing or misconfigured. 
• Provide a roadmap: “Install occupancy sensors in 12 corridors, install daylight sensors in warehouse roof lights” etc. 
• Estimate savings and payback time. 

Operational Habits & Unchecked Running Hours 

Often, the highest waste comes not from equipment failure, but from human behaviour and hours of use. 

What we see 

• Cleaning crews are leaving lights and equipment on overnight. 
• Office equipment (computers, monitors, printers) is left on standby. 
• Exterior lighting or signage running longer than needed. 
• Tenants or staff are unaware of energy-saving possibilities or lack simple guidelines. 

Why it matters 

• Even efficient equipment will consume unnecessary energy if left running when not needed. 
• Behavioural change is often the “low-hanging fruit” in an audit, with huge savings at minimal cost. 

Audit focus 

• We gather data on hours of operation across zones (lighting, HVAC, equipment). 
• Identify “phantom loads” (equipment still drawing power when idle). 
• Provide training/checklist recommendations for staff and building users. 
• Combine behaviour change plus technology upgrade for maximum effect. 

Missed Opportunities for Renewable / Storage Integration & Future-Proofing 

Beyond immediate waste reduction, many buildings aren’t prepared for the next steps: solar, battery storage, EV charging all of which tie into an energy audit plan. 

What we see 

• Roof or façade space suitable for solar panels has not been assessed. 
• Battery storage or load-shifting is not considered, even though running costs are high. 
• EV charging infrastructure is either absent or poorly matched to building loads. 
• No planning for demand-tariff changes or grid-responsive behaviour. 

Why it matters 

• With energy prices rising and sustainability targets increasing, integrating renewables and storage becomes a key part of cost control. 
• An audit should not just look backwards at waste but forwards at opportunity. 
• It positions your business as future-ready, compliant and green, which increasingly matters to stakeholders, regulators and customers. 

Audit deliverables 

• Identify structural suitability for solar or storage. 
• Evaluate load profile and tariff structure to determine demand-charge savings. 
• Provide phased upgrade roadmap: immediate waste reduction → medium-term control upgrades → longer-term renewables/storage. 
• Estimate pay-back, business case, ROI. 

Why an Energy Audit from CTE Electrical Contractors Makes Sense 

• Specialist Experience: We have extensive experience in commercial and showroom environments, lighting, automation, EV charging, and renewables. 
• Holistic Approach: Our audit covers lighting, controls, equipment behaviour, renewable integration, and full cost-benefit review. 
• Clear Reporting & ROI: You’ll receive a report showing current consumption, potential savings, upgrade costs, and payback period. - 6 - 
• Turn-Key Delivery: We don’t just give you a report; we can implement lighting retrofits, controls upgrades, renewables, and EV infrastructure. 
• Sustainability & Compliance: Beyond cost savings, you benefit from improved sustainability credentials and compliance with modern building regulations.