The festive season is upon us—a time of twinkling lights, joyful celebrations, and good cheer. But as we deck the halls and brighten our spaces, it’s also an opportune moment to reflect on how businesses can shine brighter by cutting energy consumption and reducing carbon emissions. After all, the steps we take today to reduce energy waste can benefit not just operational costs, but also the planet—whether during Christmas or year-round.
Here are four plug power lessons to help businesses become more energy-conscious and sustainable.
The simplest lesson is the one most often overlooked - turn off devices when they’re not in use. During December, many businesses keep their festive displays running 24/7. Nice for the eyes but not so nice for the energy bill. Switching off lights and equipment during peak energy demand not only eases the strain on the grid but also lowers costs.
Businesses can use timer systems or smart plug sockets to ensure that Christmas lights only operate during working hours or specific evening windows. This principle applies to all commercial devices: monitors, TVs, heaters, and more.
Energy-saving tips for businesses often begin with this simple step. By adopting a “switch off” culture, businesses can make significant savings. Even in peak holiday periods when offices are winding down at the end of the year, small behavioural changes can lead to big outcomes when scaled across an organisation. Let this festive habit of switching off extend into your daily operations long after the holiday season.
The difference between using outdated equipment and switching to modern, energy-efficient equipment upgrades is surprising. Let’s take Christmas lights as a case in point:
*Based on the energy cost of a typical coffee machine to make one cup = 30 Wh
Could you be looking at an >80% saving?
Switching from older Christmas lights to LED lights saves 84% on energy consumption and reduces costs by 85%. While these savings are relatively small on low powered festive lights which are only used for one month, think of how significant the impact would be if the same approach were applied to high powered devices and office electronics—equipment that operates all day, every day.
For instance, replacing old heating and cooling systems with energy-efficient models can reduce energy use by up to 30%, while switching to high-efficiency equipment can save up to 70%. These changes, though requiring upfront investment, can lead to long-term cost savings and drastically lower your carbon footprint, helping you reduce carbon emissions in offices.
The third plug power lesson is about understanding and optimising energy use with the help of AI automation. As the saying goes, "You can't manage what you don't measure." For businesses operating in commercial buildings, this means utilising smart, AI energy management for businesses to not just track energy consumption but actively manage and optimise it.
For example, AI-driven building management systems (BMS) can automate heating, cooling, and lighting adjustments based on real-time occupancy, weather conditions, and time of day—minimising waste and cutting costs. Advanced AI algorithms can also analyse energy patterns to predict peak usage times, detect inefficiencies, and suggest precise actions to reduce waste.
By using automation for energy efficiency, businesses can monitor to achieve measurable carbon reduction goals while enhancing operational efficiency. This approach demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability—a priority increasingly valued by clients, partners, and employees alike.
The final plug power lesson is about taking a step back to understand your business’s overall impact. Measuring your energy use and carbon footprint is key to identifying where improvements can have the most significant effect. This includes looking at emissions from your operations (Scope 1), electricity use (Scope 2), and your supply chain (Scope 3).
By tracking this data and analysing trends, businesses can go beyond energy savings to implement strategies that reduce their carbon emissions on a larger scale. There are game-changing tools on the market that now make this process straightforward by helping organisations calculate and track emissions across all three scopes, offering clear insights and actionable steps to reduce their impact. With the right data in hand, you can ensure that every step you take—whether it’s switching off devices or upgrading equipment—contributes meaningfully to your sustainability goals, long after the decorations are packed away.
The example of Christmas lights may seem small, but it’s a reminder that even the tiniest actions can add up. If switching a few bulbs can save £7.14 and reduce energy use by 84% in a month, think of the impact of implementing energy-saving measures across an entire commercial property, year-round. Those that adopt these practices are actively contributing to their business sustainability strategy, helping reduce operational costs and decrease their environmental impact.
As we celebrate this festive season, let’s carry forward these four lessons—switching off, upgrading equipment, embracing AI-powered automation, and measuring impact—not just for Christmas, but as part of a sustainable business strategy. By reducing energy waste, lowering carbon emissions, and improving efficiency, we’re building a brighter future for our businesses and the planet.
This article was a collaborative effort between Zevero and measurable.energy. If you’re interested in AI-powered energy management or emission tracking and reporting, let's talk.