Over the past five months, companies have increased electricity bills due to rising gas and electricity prices. As a result, sports venues have had to adjust to the rising energy costs.
As energy prices continue to increase, many sports facilities are looking for ways to reduce their energy consumption. Thankfully, several strategies can be implemented to help facilities save energy and money. In addition, sports facilities can combat inflation while protecting the environment by implementing some or all of these strategies.
Reasons for Rising Energy Prices
A year earlier, when many countries worldwide began to recover from the pandemic, demand for oil and gas began to rise again, and the supply chain could not keep up. The issue was exacerbated by the fact that renewable energy sources like wind and solar generated less power than expected. In addition, because of the chilly winter weather, more consumers turned on their heaters than usual.
As a result of the hike in gas prices, some British utility companies went out of business. Over two million customers were impacted by the collapse of 28 energy firms by the end of December last year. Nothing needs to be done if the power company fails. Regular service for your natural gas and electrical needs will continue unabated. The energy regulator Ofgem will transfer your account to a new provider. Identifying which one this is will be communicated.
Recent events, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have added to the instability in the supply chain and increased the cost of goods. In 2021, Russia will provide 40% of the natural gas consumed in the European Union (EU), making it one of the world’s leading energy providers.
And finally, many governments worldwide have been increasing taxes and regulations on energy companies, leading to higher prices, thus making low-income families can barely afford inflation.
Tips To Reduce Energy Bills
Compare Business Energy Prices
The best cost of electricity for your sports center can be found by shopping about and comparing business rates. You can shop around and secure a more competitive rate for the future if your energy contract has 12 months or less remaining on it.
If you can reduce your rate by only a penny or two per unit, you’ll save your company a lot of money over time. You can read more here to know further.
Clean Energy Transition
Switch to solar power. Solar panel installation might result in significant cost reductions over time. The initial cost of installing solar panels for commercial use is often recouped within four years.
There are a number of excellent reasons why your sports facility should go solar. Here are some of the most important ones:
1. Solar energy is a renewable resource, so it won’t run out as fossil fuels will.
2. Solar energy is environmentally friendly and doesn’t produce any harmful emissions that can damage the environment.
3. Solar energy is a decentralized form of energy, so it doesn’t require any large infrastructure projects to get up and run.
4. Solar energy is cost-effective in the long run since you can generate your own power and reduce your utility bills.
Solar panels can be a terrific long-term investment that helps you and the environment because their price has dropped significantly in the past decade while technology has improved to the point where they can now last up to 30 years.
Proper Facility Insulation
Energy costs can be stabilized by implementing adequate building insulation. It’s a long-term plan, but it might help you save a lot of money on heating your stadium in the future. Heating a well-insulated structure in the winter will take a lot less effort. Energy costs skyrocket in the winter for inadequately insulated buildings because of the increased heating needs.
There are a few things you can do to help insulate your facilities and reduce your energy bills. One is to make sure the building is well sealed and that there are no leaks around windows or doors. You can also install insulation in the walls and roof and use storm windows and doors.
And make sure the heating and cooling systems are properly tuned and serviced regularly. If you follow these tips, you should see a reduction in your electricity prices year-round.
If you properly insulate your building, you can drastically reduce utility bills.
Switch from a Boiler to a Heat Pump
One alternative is to install a heat pump in place of your current boiler. Boilers in most homes use natural gas as fuel to warm the indoor air. Gas prices for commercial vehicles are at an all-time high when compared to historical averages. Another option is available.
Heat pumps create heat from outside air with minimal electrical input. Producing your own electricity with solar panels is ideal because it is renewable, cost-free, and doesn’t affect your carbon footprint.
Educate Staff on Energy Efficiency
There are a few key things that your staff can do to help conserve energy in the facility and save you money on your monthly utility bills. First, encourage them to turn off all electronics when they’re not in use. The standby mode still consumes a decent amount of energy, so turning everything off when it’s not being used is the best way to save power.
Second, ask them to adjust the thermostat when they leave for the day or go on break. If it’s not too hot or too cold outside, lowering or raising the temperature by a few degrees can make a big difference in your energy usage. And lastly, have them close unused windows and doors to keep warm or cool air from escaping.
Final Verdict
Sports facilities have an opportunity to lead by example and show how reducing energy consumption does not have to impact the quality of experience for athletes or fans. By implementing some of the strategies discussed in this post, you can start saving money on your energy bill immediately. So what will you do to reduce your facility’s energy consumption?