Energy bills continue to rise and rise, making up a significant proportion of costs for any business large or small. You might have tried some of the most straightforward steps to save money: going easy on heating and air conditioning, turning equipment and lights off when not in use and investing in insulation and similar technologies.
But as a start-up, working from a blank slate, you have the opportunity to make a big difference in energy costs. For a serious saving in your electricity bills and carbon emission, you might want to consider voltage optimisation. Critical Power Supplies have options you can consider.
–How voltage optimisation works
As you may know, the electricity supply in the UK and Europe is theoretically fixed at 230V. However, this voltage can fluctuate to as low as 216V or as high as 250V, with an average around 242V. Most modern equipment is designed to run at 230V, so using 240V power results in increased power consumption for little extra benefit.
A voltage optimiser is a piece of kit that’s installed after the electricity meter for your building’s mains power supply, ensuring that all electrical equipment in your business feels the benefit. It lowers the voltage in the mains electricity to a more optimal level for modern equipment.
–Who can use voltage optimisation?
Voltage optimisers can dramatically cut the energy usage of what are called ‘inductive loads’. In practice, that means electrical motors or transformers, such as the compressor motor used in fridges or a pump motor in industrial equipment. Consequently, they’re a solid choice for retail premises, offices and medical facilities, as well as the catering trade like hotels, restaurants and pubs.
–Benefits of voltage optimisation
You could potentially see financial savings of up to 20% on your electrical bills, as well as a similar reduction in carbon emissions. Despite the upfront cost of installing a voltage optimiser, the returns are substantial: the equipment will usually pay for itself within two or three years, and will continue to save you money after that. That’s why it’s a sensible investment for a start-up looking for a solid foundation in the future.
Additionally, equipment running at too high a voltage will suffer damage over time. Although it won’t be immediately obvious, overvoltage can significantly diminish the lifetime of your equipment, resulting in more frequent (and more costly) repair and replacement cycles.
If you have lights configured for 230V running on a more typical 240V UK power supply, you could see a massive 45% reduction in longevity. A voltage optimiser will ensure your equipment is running at the voltage it was designed for, saving you maintenance costs.
