ighting accounts for 20% of all the energy consumption in the UK, which means it also accounts for a significant chunk of energy bills.

Indeed, it can rise to up to 40% of a building’s electricity bill, meaning any way to make that lighting more efficient can dramatically cut costs.

On average, a British business will spend approximately 30% of their power bill on lighting annually. A large amount of this money is wasted due to the inefficiency of conventional lighting solutions.  Tube lighting, filament bulbs and similar solutions produce large quantities of heat and other waste products, instead of light.

You can expect an average ROI of just 3-12 months. In fact, we’ve got a great example with one of our clients, where they actually saved almost £12,000 on their lighting bills in 2018 alone.

Why is LED Lighting so Beneficial?

LED lighting is far more efficient than traditional lighting sources, producing more light with a greatly reduced power input.

As a guide:

• A traditional 600 lumens (Lm) bulb requires 60w to power it for an hour.
• An equivalent energy saving CFL bulb requires 15w to power it for an hour.
• A 600 Lm LED lamp only requires 10w to power it for an hour.

Furthermore, they offer great design flexibility and are ecologically-sound, too. They also last far, far longer than incandescent or halogen bulbs
 

Business Grants for LED Lighting

We can work with you and review if any grants are available. While some grants are nationally available, others are aimed at particular areas.

The Enhanced Capital allowance is a government scheme which encourages business to invest in energy saving initiatives. It’s aimed at business of all shapes and sizes, and is a perfect initiative for those wishing to invest when it otherwise might be too expensive to do so.

Businesses can offset 100% of their LED Lighting assets against their taxable profits in the first year.

Utility Trade Group can arrange for a free, no obligation, lighting survey to be undertaken for your business to help you decide on the best configuration of lights, in order to maximise efficiency and your annual savings.

We’ve got some great news here at Utility Trade Group, as we’re pleased to announce that we’ve been shortlisted for 3 categories in the Regional Energy Efficiency Awards. The awards will be held on 15th March, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, East Midlands Airport.

The categories we’ve been shortlisted for are:

Solar PV Installer & Contractor
Energy Consultant/Consultancy
Renewable Heat Installer/Contractor

We’re delighted that our hard work has been recognised by our industry peers. Details of the categories in which we’ve been nominated are as follows:

Solar PV Installer & Contractor

The 2019 Regional Solar PV Installer or Contractor of the Year Award rewards one exceptional company, in each of the 11 Regional areas around the UK, that installs, repairs or maintains solar photovoltaic systems.

This award recognises the efforts of fully qualified solar photovoltaic installers and contractors that provide excellent customer service, and demonstrate a high standard of quality workmanship or best practice within their local community.

Energy Consultant/Consultancy

The 2019 Regional Energy Consultant/Consultancy of the Year Award rewards one exceptional individual or company that advises businesses or homeowners about energy efficiency savings and measures through a Green Deal of EPC energy assessment.

This award recognises the efforts of a fully qualified energy assessor that provides excellent customer service, and demonstrates a high standard of assessment and best practice within their local community.

Renewable Heat Installer/Contractor

The 2019 Regional RHI Installer or Contractor of the Year Award rewards one business, in each of the 11 Regional areas around the UK, that is involved with the installation, implementation or maintenance of energy efficient heating systems that qualify for the government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

These systems include, biomass boilers, solar water heating, ground/Air/Water source heat pumps.

In each of these categories, the judges will be looking closely at:

The impact that our work has had within the local community.
What our customers and local community have to say about us.
What level of expertise we have.
We’re delighted that our hard work and expertise have been recognised with these three nominations, in such a prestigious industry event.

If you’d like to know how Utility Trade Group can help your business, then get in touch today.

Did you know we do more than procure you the best prices available to reduce your bills? At Utility Trade Group, our account managers remember at all times that we are working for you and not the utility suppliers.

Our buying power in the market along with our specialised managed service provides you with clearer visibility of your consumption, unlocking greater control of your energy costs.

We remove uncertainty of the market by giving you advice on energy efficiency products that reduce your consumption and give you more control for forecasting against budgets.

We have built an outstanding reputation in the industry with 96% of customers saying they are fully satisfied with our service.

We’re committed to providing solutions to help the environment too and work with local authorities to deliver targets to reduce carbon emissions.

Get in touch today to find out how we can help you.

The energy industry saw two significant price rises in 2018 alone, so we’ve compiled five must-see ways to reduce your energy costs.

Free Energy Audit

Utility Trade Group are offering a free energy audit, which is the best way to help you become aware of ways to save energy at work.

We can visit your business and complete a full inspection of your building and recommend solutions such as efficient lighting, far infrared heating, building management apps and much more.

The audit is completely free and non-obligatory, so get in touch today to book.

Power Down Computer & Other Office Equipment

If computers are not being used when your staff aren’t working, have your team get into the habit of shutting them down before they leave?

Turning off and unplugging as many devices as possible at the end of the day is a simple way to cut back costs. This includes similar appliances such as coffee/tea makers, water coolers and so forth – just by turning these off when you leave the office could save you hundreds of pounds per year.

Turn Off Lights When Not in Use

It might seem obvious, but typically lights stay on in areas such as bathrooms, conference rooms or break rooms, as well as spaces that aren’t being used.

Something as simple as a sign above a light switch, advising people to “please switch off light after use’ can ensure that wasted energy is reduced, and bills are lowered as a result.

Reduce Peak Demand

In the UK, typical normal office hours are 9am to 5pm. You could reduce your demand of energy during this time by staggering work hours and start times.

Using energy for heavy machinery or factory equipment in the evenings and early hours means you conserve energy throughout the day. Conserved energy means reduced energy costs.

Programme Your Thermostats

Even if your team’s hours of work vary, using programmable or smart thermostats to manage temperature during non-office hours can make a big difference.

Don’t forget, you don’t need to heat or cool a workplace after everyone has gone home – something as simple as a reduced temperature out of hours can save money on your energy bills each month. 

For the first 100 people who get in touch, we’re offering a FREE energy saving pack with your FREE energy audit. So, get in touch today and see how we can help.

You may have noticed a slight change in the name that you’re used to. You’ve known us as Utility Trade for the last 9 years or so – but we’ve grown and we’re now Utility Trade Group.

Don’t worry – we’re still the same people. We’ve been investing in our organisation, and would like to introduce you to the other side of the business – UT Power.

It isn’t new – UT Power has been running for 4 years. We’re a tier 1 supplier of products and solutions, with plenty of awards and accreditations.

We’ve decided to restructure the group as a result of substantial growth, and we’re proud to enhance our offering to our clients across the UK.

Managing Director, Edward Allen, says, “These are very exciting times for Utility Trade Group and our clients. We’ve seen a significant increase in companies wanting to take control of their energy demand and cost. In an uncertain market, including concern around post Brexit, energy prices are volatile. Our experts work with companies to help deliver solutions to control usage, cost and reduction of carbon footprint”

To find out how Utility Trade Group can help you lower your energy costs, then please get in touch today.

After the UK voted to leave the EU in June 2016, much uncertainty remains as to the type of deal (or no-deal) that the UK government will secure when Britain finally leaves the EU on 29th March 2019. And this uncertainty is certainly inclusive of the energy market as, according to power firms, Brexit could drive up the cost of your energy bills.

2018 saw two significant price rises alone, which were both caused by the rising costs of wholesale gas and electricity. Any further increases as a result of a no-deal Brexit is likely to have a significant impact on British homes and businesses.

Should the UK leave with no-deal, they’d be obliged to conform to WTO trading legislation. This could have significant permutations on energy bills, as trade barriers threaten to increase the cost of gas and electricity across the border. The benefit of free movements of goods and services could be diminished, adding hundreds of pounds to energy bills across the UK.

According to The Guardian, “in a letter to Jean-Claude Juncker, the European commission president, and UK prime minister Theresa May, they said imposing costs on the use of interconnectors – electricity cables and gas pipelines between the UK and its European neighbours – would hit consumers and set back the battle against global warming.

The free flow of energy across interconnectors was necessary to keep “a level playing field that keeps costs down and ensures decarbonisation and security of supply,” the groups said. Interconnectors currently account for 6% of British power supplies, but that share is soon expected to rise to a fifth.”

If you’re looking to hear of ways to counteract these potential price hikes, then get in touch now for energy efficiency solutions, which give you control of your energy costs and reduce your carbon footprint.

Utility Trade Group offer an array of energy efficiency solutions, and  combined with our procurement expertise, ensure that we offer a full turnkey approach to energy efficiency.

Getting the Right Contract

It is important you are only paying for you what you need and what you use.

Our expertise in the market and our supplier partnerships, enable us to offer you energy contracts that are more suitable and bespoke to you.

Change Your Lighting

Lighting accounts for 20 per cent of all the energy consumption in the UK, which means it also accounts for a significant chunk of energy bills.

LED lighting can be more attractive, energy efficient, cost-effective and durable than existing methods.

Consuming less than 80 per cent of the electricity of traditional incandescent bulbs, LED lights can shave pounds off electricity bills. 

Many of us already have them in the home, but the potential use for businesses is much greater – along with the savings.

Long-Term Electricity Efficient Solutions

Depending on whether you own the building you run your business from or rent it, it may be worth considering investing in solar panels. 

Although you will need to make an initial capital investment, it will save you a lot of money over time. The use of solar panels will significantly reduce your electricity bills, and they have very low maintenance costs.

Using solar panels also helps the environment as it is a truly renewable source of energy, decreasing the need for new power plants which cause and create pollution. 

Infrared Heating

Infrared heating technology really is amazing. Unlike traditional radiators, it works through radiant heat rather than convection, and therefore doesn’t waste energy heating air.

When investing in infrared, you could overhaul your heating system, wiring panels into the electricity circuit and controlling them via a smart heating system.

This allows for optimal savings, as you have total control and can also monitor your energy usage. Alternatively, you can just plug panels in to the mains wherever you want them for a boost of heat.

Solar with Battery Storage

Energy storage plays an important role in balancing power supply and demand, and is key to tackling the intermittency issues of renewable energy.

Pairing a storage system with a renewable energy source ensures a smooth and steady power supply, even when weather conditions are not optimal for energy generation. 

Batteries are the most common storage devices used in renewable energy system.

It is projected that storage will represent a core component of all new energy technologies moving into the future, as both utility-scale and domestic energy storage solutions become more price competitive, eroding the advantages of traditional energy sources.

If we can help you with any aspects of your energy efficiency or procurement, then please contact Utility Trade Group today.

As a leading energy efficiency consultant, here at Utility Trade Group, we strive to do all we can in the battle against the climate emergency. The supply and implementation of renewable energy resources, accompanied with a strong will and desire to face the issue at hand are our core fundamentals in this battle – but Government regulation is also at the forefront of change too.

The Government describes the regulation as “simple, risk based, and proportionate.” In the last decade alone, the Environment Agency alone have seen less waste going to landfill, a decline in the emissions from industry, and a 70% recycle rate from the sites that sit within their jurisdiction.

Offenders and non-compliers are being targeted more heavily, with longer custodial sentences and bigger fines being handed down – the Government are ramping up the fight against those who continue to commit so-called environmental crime. As Britain prepares to leave the EU at the end of January, the regulations won’t become laxer – in fact, they’re likely to become tougher than ever.

The theory of marginal gains is more relevant than ever – if everybody does their bit, the world will become a better place. That said, we don’t want to aim for a planet that is marginally better overall, more so one that is considerably better than it has ever been before.

Emission regulation and reducing carbon is at the heart of the over-riding objective, with the net-zero goal by 2030 at the forefront of the desire for change. Industries and businesses that are committed to green technology are being supported more than ever, and Utility Trade Group are expert s in this field – we’ve achieved a level of excellence. If we can help you with any aspects of making your business greener, including grant applications or the installation of renewable energy resources, then please get in touch today.

UT Power recently had their stage 2 audit with the British Assessment Bureau and have been successful in getting through the audit with zero non-conformance.  We are now waiting on the final sign off before we are issued our certificates. 

Since its inception in 2014, UT Power have been adding to their accreditation’s as they take on more and more ambitious projects with larger and larger clients.  Working directly with private business who own premises, landlords who need to improve the energy efficiency of their portfolio or with main contractors on energy performance contracts and new builds, UT Power have completed a number of installations from LED, Power Optimisation, Far Infrared heating to Solar PV projects.

We rarely get bad feedback but when something does go wrong we pride ourselves in being able to correct it as quickly as possible.  We use robust systems and both internal and client feedback to allow us to make continual improvements to how we work.  Helped by being a small family run business we are able to implement changes quickly and that allows us to adapt and continue to grow in a competitive market place.

Please get in touch for us to assess your individual requirements.

Feedback from a Health and Safety inspection on a Heritage Site in Leicestershire:

“From my inspection and observations I have every confidence in the Team and commend them on the site safety, absolutely spot on and a pleasure to visit.”