Great ideas for cutting your business’s electricity bills by going green and clean
In 2026, we produced a whitepaper to look at how businesses in our home county of Leicestershire and beyond can cut their bills by ‘going green and clean’ with their electricity use. It set the scene for a series of simple, easy guides by Glenfield Electricity that go into a little more detail about what you can do.
In this, our first guide, we look broadly at some of the good ideas that most businesses can put in place to reduce electricity bills, improve energy efficiency and improve their green credentials.
It’s a guide to companies of every industry and size some inspiration, so we hope you find it useful.
Grab a coffee and take five for useful bill-busting tips on:
- LED lighting
- Upgrading old equipment
- Sensors and controls
- Voltage optimisation
- Solar PV
- Battery Storage
- EV Charging
- How to pay for energy efficiency measures
Why we’re talking about this
With fuel crises caused by wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, energy costs are spiking and, at time of writing this, British businesses are already paying the highest electricity costs in the world. For example, four in 10 manufacturing firms are reducing investment, according to Confederation of British Industry (CBI) data.
The rising costs are crippling energy intensive businesses in sectors like manufacturing, hospitality and leisure.
Our whitepaper A Sustainable Future for Leicestershire Business investigated where local businesses ‘were at’ with electricity bills, consumption, efficiency measures and the barriers they were facing to cut costs. Among lots of interesting insights, we found that a lack of clear information was one of the main barriers for firms wanting to reduce their electricity bill.
That’s why at Glenfield Electrical we’re producing a series of guides for businesses, across different sectors and of different sizes. The aim, to provide tailored advice on reducing your bills – and help you do your bit for the environment, in the process.
This first, general guide serves to look at ‘easy win’ measures that businesses can implement.
2. LED lighting: Proven savings in practice
Lighting is one of the simplest and most effective ways for businesses to reduce electricity consumption. Our whitepaper found that 52.5% of Leicestershire businesses have already upgraded to LED lighting, making it the most widely adopted energy-saving measure locally. However, many sites are still operating outdated systems or haven’t maximised savings through controls and optimisation.
Independent research supports the scale of impact. The Carbon Trust states that upgrading to LED lighting can reduce lighting electricity consumption by 50–80%, with further savings available when combined with controls such as occupancy and daylight sensors.
A practical example of this can be seen in our work with Rushey Mead Academy:
At Rushey Mead Academy, we replaced 128 external lights across the site with energy-efficient LED fittings.
The results:
- Significant reduction in electricity consumption
- Improved light quality and site visibility
- Lower maintenance requirements due to longer lamp life
Based on 2021 energy prices, the project delivered:
- £474 monthly saving
- £5,688 annual saving
- £28,440 five-year saving
With electricity prices remaining significantly higher than pre-2021 levels, the real-world savings today are even greater.
This example highlights a consistent pattern seen across commercial buildings: lighting upgrades not only deliver immediate cost savings, but also reduce maintenance and improve the working environment, making them one of the lowest-risk, highest-return energy efficiency measures available.
3. Upgrading outdated equipment: A hand dryer case study
Beyond lighting, upgrading everyday electrical equipment can deliver meaningful reductions in electricity consumption. Hand dryers are a good example, particularly in high-footfall environments such as schools, offices and public buildings where usage is frequent.
Older warm-air hand dryers typically run at 2,000W+ and require 30–40 seconds per use. In contrast, modern high-speed dryers use significantly less power and operate for a shorter duration, reducing energy use per cycle.
A case study from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Energy Technology List highlights the impact of upgrading this type of equipment:
At the University of Reading, older hand dryers were replaced with high-efficiency models across campus buildings.
The results included:
- Up to 80% reduction in energy consumption per use
- Significant reduction in overall electricity demand across washroom facilities
- Faster drying times, improving user experience
- Lower maintenance requirements due to reduced run times
This demonstrates how even relatively small electrical loads can contribute to meaningful energy savings when multiplied across high usage levels.
While hand dryers may seem minor compared to larger systems, they highlight an important principle: inefficient legacy equipment can consume disproportionately high levels of electricity.
Upgrading to modern, efficient alternatives can therefore deliver:
- immediate and measurable electricity savings
- reduced operating time and wear
- improved performance and user satisfaction
When applied across multiple pieces of equipment, these incremental improvements can contribute significantly to overall energy reduction within a building.
4. Lighting controls: Sensors and smart automation
Upgrading lighting is only part of the opportunity. Many buildings continue to waste electricity simply because lights are left on when they are not needed. Lighting controls such as occupancy sensors, daylight sensors and timers ensure lighting is only used when required, automatically reducing unnecessary consumption.
According to the Carbon Trust, lighting controls can deliver an additional 20–40% reduction in lighting energy consumption, depending on occupancy patterns and access to natural daylight.
Example study
A widely cited study by Guy R. Newsham, published in Energy and Buildings, analysed the impact of lighting control strategies across commercial buildings:
The study found:
- occupancy sensors reduced lighting energy use by 24%
- daylight-linked controls delivered 28% reduction
- combined strategies achieved up to 38% reduction in lighting energy
These savings were achieved without reducing lighting quality, simply by ensuring lighting was only used when required.
This research highlights a consistent issue across commercial buildings – a significant proportion of lighting energy is often used unnecessarily.
By introducing controls, businesses can:
- automatically eliminate wasted energy
- maximise the return on LED upgrades
- reduce reliance on manual switching
- deliver consistent, repeatable savings
In many cases, lighting controls represent a low-disruption way to unlock further reductions, particularly in buildings with variable occupancy or good access to natural daylight.
5. Voltage optimisation
Many commercial buildings receive electricity at a higher voltage than they actually need. In the UK, the nominal supply is 230V, but in practice it is often delivered at 240–250V. This excess voltage leads to unnecessary energy consumption, particularly in equipment such as lighting, motors and resistive loads.
Voltage optimisation works by regulating the incoming supply to a more appropriate and stable level, typically closer to 220–230V. By reducing excess voltage, equipment operates more efficiently, drawing only the energy it requires.
We supported the installation of a voltage optimisation system for restaurant chain Miller & Carter in partnership with energy controls manufacturer Savawatt. The system was installed at the distribution level, optimising voltage across the site without impacting day-to-day operations.
The key benefits include:
- reduced electricity consumption, typically in the region of 3–10% depending on load profile
- lower energy costs without changing how the building operates
- extended equipmen7. lifespan due to reduced electrical stress
- improved power quality and voltage stability
6. Solar PV: Generate your own electricity and reduce exposure to rising costs
Solar PV allows businesses to generate electricity on-site, reducing reliance on the grid and protecting against ongoing energy price rises. With electricity costs elevated and expected to remain volatile for some time, generating your own power helps lock in long-term savings and improve cost certainty.
A recent commercial installation we installed for European Power Sytems in Lincoln demonstrates what this looks like in practice.
A 9.975kW solar PV system generates around 8,300 kWh per year, offsetting a significant portion of a typical site’s electricity demand. This delivers immediate savings, with first-year electricity bill reductions of approximately £1,900.
Over the system’s lifetime, total electricity bill savings are projected to reach £74,795, with a payback period of just over eight years. These figures assume continued energy price increases of around 7% per year, reflecting the long-term upward pressure on electricity costs.
For most businesses, solar is a straightforward way to bring energy costs down and reduce exposure to future price increases. It also gives far more control over a cost that has been unpredictable for years.
7. Battery storage: Maximise solar use and reduce peak electricity costs
Battery storage allows businesses to store excess solar energy generated during the day and use it later when demand is higher or solar generation is low.
Without a battery, a significant portion of solar energy is exported back to the grid at relatively low rates. With storage, that energy can be used on-site instead, increasing self-consumption and reducing the amount of electricity that needs to be imported at higher grid prices.
In the same installation mentioned above, adding battery storage increases solar self-consumption from 4,864 kWh to 7,886 kWh per year, significantly improving the proportion of energy used on-site rather than exported. This reduces reliance on grid electricity during peak periods, when costs are typically highest.
Beyond maximising solar usage, battery storage can also help businesses manage demand more effectively by reducing peak loads and smoothing consumption. This can be particularly valuable for sites with variable usage or high daytime demand.
Battery systems therefore play a key role in getting the most out of a solar installation, improving overall savings and giving businesses greater flexibility over how and when they use their electricity.
8. EV Charging: Cut fuel costs and eliminate exhaust emissions
Installing EV charging infrastructure enables businesses to transition vehicles away from petrol and diesel, reducing both operating costs and direct emissions. For fleets and high-mileage users, this is often one of the most immediate ways to lower ongoing energy spend.
A case study from Leeds City Council, featured in the Cenex Low Emission Van Guide, shows what this looks like in practice. The council deployed over 80 electric vans, moving towards EVs as the default option where suitable.
In Cenex’s worked example of a small van covering 15,000 miles per year, switching to electric reduced fuel costs from £7,686 to £2,869 and maintenance costs from £2,730 to £1,913 over a five-year period. Overall, whole-life costs fell from £25,549 to £21,860, reducing the cost per mile from 34.1p to 29.1p.
In addition to cost savings, the switch delivered a 100% reduction in tailpipe CO₂ emissions, with a 64% reduction in overall emissions compared to diesel when accounting for electricity generation.
For businesses operating vehicles daily, EV charging is a practical way to cut fuel costs, reduce emissions, and improve long-term cost control.
So, some ‘win-win’ ideas to inspire your bills-busting, planet-friendly transition to green, clean energy. But how can you find the money to invest in them?
How to pay for energy efficient measures: Savvy ways to pay and save
Our survey found that 32.5% of businesses cited upfront cost as a key barrier, while 85% were unaware of available grants or support schemes. This highlights a clear gap between perceived cost and the funding options available.
In practice, there are several established ways to fund energy-saving measures:
- Capital purchase – pay upfront to achieve the highest long-term return and full bill savings from day one.
- Asset finance / leasing – spread the cost over manageable monthly payments, often offset by immediate energy savings.
- Hire purchase – pay over time, and take ownership of the system at the end of the term. Common for SMEs investing in solar, lighting and EV infrastructure.
- Green loans – dedicated funding from banks for sustainability projects, often with favourable terms.
- Power purchase agreements (PPAs) – a third party funds and installs the system, and the business purchases the electricity at a reduced rate, typically with no upfront cost.
- Annual investment allowance (AIA) – many technologies qualify for 100% tax relief in year one, reducing the effective cost of investment.
- Grants and local support – while availability varies, funding schemes do exist. The challenge is awareness, not necessarily availability.
Get in touch:The next steps to saving
Energy costs are no longer a short-term issue. Prices have risen sharply since 2021 and remain unpredictable, putting ongoing pressure on margins for businesses of all sizes. At the same time, many of the most effective solutions, from LED lighting and controls through to solar, battery storage and EV charging, are proven, accessible and capable of delivering both immediate and long-term savings.
The opportunity for businesses is clear: those who take action can reduce operating costs, improve resilience and gain far greater control over their energy use. Those who delay remain exposed to rising and volatile prices.
If you want to understand what this could look like for your site, we offer a free, no-obligation electricity consumption audit. We will assess your current usage, identify the most effective opportunities, and outline the potential savings.
Call 0116 2873226 or email solar@glenfieldelectrical.com to get started.