Small Business, Big Sustainability: Navigating The Future Of Energy And Water Management

Published on: 09 June 2023 Last Updated on: 31 July 2024

Small businesses have always faced challenges when it comes to managing their energy and water consumption.

However, with the increasing pressure to reduce our carbon footprint and the rising costs of utilities, it has become more important than ever for small businesses to take control of their energy and water usage.

In this article, we will discuss the future of energy and water management for small businesses and what steps can be taken to reduce costs and become more sustainable.

Measure your usage

The first step in effective energy and water management for small businesses is to measure usage. This is done by installing smart meters, which provide real-time data on energy and water consumption.

A half hourly meter will automatically split your energy consumption, with no manual reading required. This data can be used to identify patterns and trends in usage, which can help small businesses make informed decisions about how to reduce their consumption.

Smart technology

The future of energy and water management for small businesses lies in the use of smart technology. Smart technology, such as IoT (Internet of Things) devices, can be used to automate and optimize energy and water usage.

For example, smart thermostats can adjust temperature settings based on occupancy patterns, and smart lighting can adjust brightness levels based on natural light levels. These devices can be controlled remotely, which means small business owners can monitor and adjust usage even when they are not on-site.

Related: Best Paying Jobs In Energy

Renewable energy

Renewable energy sources will also play a key role in the future of energy and water management for small businesses. Small businesses can install solar panels, wind turbines, or hydroelectric generators to generate their own energy.

These systems can be connected to the grid, which means any excess energy generated can be sold back to the utility company. Renewable energy sources are becoming more affordable and accessible, which means small businesses can now invest in them without breaking the bank.

Water management

Water management is another important aspect of energy and water management for small businesses. Small businesses can install low-flow fixtures and toilets, which can reduce water consumption by up to 30%. Water-efficient appliances, such as dishwashers as well as washing machines, can also be used to reduce water usage.

Small businesses can also install rainwater harvesting systems, which collect rainwater from rooftops and store it for later use. This water can be used for irrigation, flushing toilets, or even drinking if properly treated.

Water recycling systems

In addition to these measures, small businesses can also implement water recycling systems. Greywater, which is wastewater from sinks, washing machines, and showers, can be reused as well as treated for non-potable uses, including irrigation or flushing toilets. Blackwater, which is wastewater from toilets, can also be treated and reused, although this requires more advanced treatment systems.

Government incentives

Small businesses can also take advantage of government incentives and programs to reduce their energy and water usage. For example, there are tax credits available for businesses that install renewable energy systems or energy-efficient appliances. Some utility companies also offer rebates for businesses that implement energy and water-saving measures.

The future of energy and water management for small businesses lies in the use of smart technology, renewable energy sources, and water-saving measures. Small businesses can use smart technology to measure and optimize their energy and water usage, while renewable energy sources can be used to generate clean, affordable energy.

Water-saving measures can also be implemented to reduce water usage and promote sustainability. With government incentives and programs available, small businesses can take advantage of these opportunities to reduce costs, improve their bottom line and become more sustainable. By taking action today, small businesses can ensure a brighter, more sustainable future for themselves and for generations to come.

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Arnab

Arnab is a professional blogger, having an enormous interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, He carries out sharing sentient blogs.

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What You Should Know about Solar Energy for Schools Benefits

The use of solar energy has grown by leaps and bounds in recent times, and now, you don't just see it in residential or commercial buildings any longer – solar panel systems are now being utilised for more schools as well. The government encourages this growth and has even come up with its own form of support for schools and other educational institutions wanting to go solar. There are indeed a lot of benefits brought by having your own solar energy, but what else can you expect from it? How can you make sure that your solar investment is fully utilised? Here's everything you need to know about solar energy for schools: benefits, expectations, and more. How you can save on expenses – and earn: With solar energy, there are three ways through which you can save and earn on your expenses. One way is with your actual usage of energy from the grid. Since you produce your own energy, your energy usage from the grid will go down, thus resulting in lower electricity bills. The second way is through what you can earn based on the electricity your panels can produce. This the Feed In Tariff. The third way through which you can save and make money is when you get paid for whatever electricity isn’t used by your school. This is referred to as the Export Tariff. Will the sun be enough? This is one of the more common questions asked by many, and the answer is a simple yes. There is enough sun, even in the UK, for your solar panel system to work – and work well, at that. Although bright sunlight is always best in regard to solar energy, your solar panel system will continue to produce energy even when the days are cloudy. For every 1 kilowatt of solar panel installed, you can expect to produce an average of between 750 to 900-kilowatt hours of energy. If you are located in the south, your system will generate even more. Is it the best solution for my school? Granted, while a solar energy system is generally a good and worthwhile investment, you still have to be sure that it’s the right solution for your school, as experts in solar in Cheshire like Atlantic Renewables attest. Many of the schools in the UK are suitable, however. For instance, does your school have a roof that is flat or pitched and is the roof facing south-east, south-west, or south? If it is, that's already good news. Also, if you don't have any buildings or trees shadowing your roof, this is a good sign as well. You should also have a strong roof, although most roofs are already strong enough to hold solar panels. How to pay for it: There are different things you can do to help you pay for a solar panel system for your school, one of which is help from your local education authority. You can ask them to provide you with the capital you need at a very low or even zero rate of interest. Another way through which you can finance your solar panel system is to go to your local council. Community funding is also possible, and you may be surprised at how many communities have already worked together to bring a solar energy system to fruition for schools. Read Also: Ready Rooftops – How To Install Solar Panels Prepare Your Solar Panels For The Fall

Ready Rooftops – How to Install Solar Panels

Solar power has risen in popularity rapidly all over Australia since the sudden decrease in costs at the beginning of the turn of the century and the advances in solar technology which have made commercial solar power much more accessible and affordable for all. With the continuing rise in the use of solar power, more and more home and business owners are moving to this renewable energy source and enjoying the benefits of green power. If you are deciding whether or not to make the switch to solar power, there are some things you need to consider before you go solar. Understanding the installation process is important to ensure that you install your solar panels for optimum efficiency. Most homeowners and business owners can install panels right away but there are a few things to be aware of so that your panel installation is a success and you can enjoy the benefits of solar power for many years to come. Let’s take a closer look at a few things that individuals and businesses should keep in mind before and during the installation of a new solar panel system. Determine How Much Power Will Be Produced: Before you install solar panels on your property, it’s important to take some time to do the necessary calculations in relation to the property you want to install your solar panels on to find out how much your solar system will produce. It doesn’t take long to do the calculations and once you have the results, you can determine how much power you can expect from your solar installation. Most solar installation companies can do an evaluation of your property before you install your panels to ensure it’s a suitable match for solar energy. Evaluate Your Roof: Evaluating your roof to see that it is appropriate to generate solar power is critical before you install your panels. This is usually done by the company before any contract is signed to ensure that the user will be able to make the most of the solar energy collected. However, it is not a bad idea to consider assessing your roof and position beforehand yourself too. If a roof is very shaded or the property is hidden from direct sunlight by another building or foliage, it may be necessary to reconsider your decision to go solar or come up with a different approach. For example, it’s possible to build solar installations on lawns which can equally benefit your property. Decide How Many Panels You Will Need: Prior to your installation, you should find out how many solar panels you will need, in terms of the size and scale of the solar installation and the number of photovoltaic cells. In order to find out this information, you should analyse your property and the energy capacity it currently works off. By carrying out an energy audit, you should be able to say with certainty how much power you need to use to fuel your home or business and therefore be able to decide on the measurements for your installation without any problems. Structurally Sound: If you have decided that installing a solar panel system on your roof is the right move, you will have to make sure that your roof is structurally sound and can take the weight and physical attachment of the system. Solar panel installations can last up to 30 years without any need to remove them so it is best to know that your roof will not need to be refurbished a few years down the road. Install Your Solar Panels And Enjoy A Greener Future: Once you have evaluated your home to ensure that the property is a good candidate for a solar installation, you will need to call your installation company. They will give the property one final look-over before and give you the green light before you complete the necessary paperwork. After the contract has been signed, you will be able to go ahead and prepare the orders for photovoltaic or thermal cells and the right inverter for your electric wiring. As soon as everything is set in place, you can set a date for the installation of your solar panels. Your installation company will do the rest of the work for you, install the panels and connect you to the national electricity grid so that you can take advantage of any excess energy that is produced through your system. With your solar panels installed, you can enjoy all of the benefits of solar power and look forward to a greener future. Read Also: Prepare Your Solar Panels For The Fall How To Start Living Off The Grid Feature Image: modernize.com

What Are Solar Incentives?

In a bid to put an end to global warming, more and more technological inventions are tilting towards promoting the sustenance of the environment; which is practically the main reason why the solar panels are invented as a means of producing electricity in the first place. To get more people on board to subscribe to this new means of producing power, measures were put in place; in which one of them is to allow the owners of the solar panels to enjoy certain privileges, which are loosely called Solar Incentives. So you ask, What Are Solar Incentives? This is a measure put in place to ensure that owners of the solar panels enjoy certain benefits, just by installing and using the product. These solar incentives have led more people to subscribe to the idea of installing and using the panels for their homes and business; because not only is it profitable to the environments, it is also profitable to their finances in the long run. The following are some of the Solar Incentives there is: 1. Solar Investment Tax Credits: Of all solar incentives available, this is the one that is commonly known. In this case, Solar owners benefit by having the privilege, as made possible by the federal government, to take out a portion of the cost of the solar panels from their taxes. What that means is that the cost of the system is being subsidized by a certain percent, from your taxes. The common investment tax credit percent is 30% of the cost of the solar panel system. Enticing isn’t it? So, if the solar panel system costs $10,000, you are only paying 70% of that amount, with the remaining 30% already footed for from your taxes. The only twist to this is that to be able to claim the investment tax credit, your taxable income should be higher or equivalent to the investment tax credit. 2. State Tax Credit: This is basically similar to the federal investment tax credit, only that this time, a small portion of the cost of the solar panel system can be deducted from your state tax bill, relieving you of some costs that would have been invested in purchasing of the solar panel system. The only twist to this is, unlike the federal tax credit, this is not applicable to all states; only residents of some states are privileged to enjoy this package. For those that could enjoy this package, they could end of saving about 50% of the cost of the solar panel, making it easier for them to purchase the solar panel system and enjoy its benefits. 3. Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SREC): The New Jersey’s Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SREC) program have made it possible for residents in new jersey that have acquired and installed the solar panel system to enjoy a special kind of solar incentives called certificates – though this is not exclusive to new jersey alone. You may be asking, what are Solar Renewable Energy Certificates? These are a type of solar incentive that allows owners of a solar system to sell the certificates to their utility. By standard, if you can generate 1000 kilowatts hours (kWhs) from your solar system, you are eligible to get one SREC; and an SREC is worth at least $300. Now imagine how much that figure can rise up to if you can make 6000 kilowatts hours. Let me just leave you to do the mathematics yourself. If you were once unsure about purchasing a solar panel, this should make you change your mind. 4. Net Metering: It is common knowledge that some owners of the solar panel system produce more than they can consume, in which they decide to store the overflow in an On-site battery. What if I tell you that instead of storing that in an on-site battery, you can sell to your local utility company and get returns which can be used to foot other bills. Amazing deal, isn’t it? I can bet you think it is. That’s basically what Net Metering is all about. So in days, you create more electricity beyond what you can consume with your solar panel system, instead of hoarding it in your battery, you are given another opportunity to get returns for it. Think about the future energy bills and other bills you can foot by selling excess power produced by your system. 5. Cash rebates: These are basically cash backs for the owners of the solar panel systems. It could come from different parastatals – like the government, utility company etc. – that are concerned about promoting the use of solar energy. This could also help subsidize the cost of the solar system. With the aforementioned solar incentives available, the idea of investing in the purchase and installation of a solar panel system is becoming more appealing. What are Solar Incentives? I hope this article has done justice to answering that question. Read Also: Prepare Your Solar Panels For The Fall Everything You Need To Know About Portable Solar Power What You Should Know About Solar Energy For Schools: Benefits, Expectations, And More

Small Business, Big Sustainability: Navigating The Future Of Energy And Water Management

Measure your usage

Smart technology

Renewable energy

Water management

Water recycling systems

Government incentives

Five Factors That Impact Solar Panel Installation And Maintenance Costs

HVO Fuel Uncovered: The Secret Fuel That Could Change Everything

Arnab

Arnab is a professional blogger, having an enormous interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, He carries out sharing sentient blogs.

Leave a Reply

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What You Should Know about Solar Energy for Schools Benefits

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Small Business, Big Sustainability: Navigating The Future Of Energy And Water Management

Measure your usage

Smart technology

Renewable energy

Water management

Water recycling systems

Government incentives

Share this Article

Five Factors That Impact Solar Panel Installation And Maintenance Costs

HVO Fuel Uncovered: The Secret Fuel That Could Change Everything

Arnab is a professional blogger, having an enormous interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, He carries out sharing sentient blogs.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related