Small businesses are “complacent” about energy

Small businesses are more “complacent” than others when it comes to energy, according to new expert analysis. This is despite a huge majority of businesses (97%) claiming they already have […]

Small businesses are more “complacent” than others when it comes to energy, according to new expert analysis.

This is despite a huge majority of businesses (97%) claiming they already have or will strengthen their energy saving policies or plan to change to efficient lightbulbs.

Nearly nine out of ten firms say they are on the verge of installing a smart meter, found a new quarterly poll from the website Business Juice.

One of the site’s experts to analyse the ‘Energy Forecaster’ poll suggested there was a worrying lack of action – and “apathy” from smaller businesses of 10 to 49 employees.

Peter Franklin, a business development consultant who specialises in utilities said: “This group is most likely to see it as a business cost and ignore it.

“When it comes to smart meters in small businesses, only 11% have them in – that means 89% haven’t. For micro and medium businesses, there’s double that penetration of smart meters. The small business is the one that’s complacent.

“They haven’t woken up to the fact that you can make a big improvement in profits by cutting your energy use.”

He added small businesses were missing out in other areas: “If we look at energy management, only 4% have put it in. That means 96% haven’t realised the potential.”

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