Five top tips for choosing new office space

/0 Comments/in /by

Choosing a new office space for your business is exciting but also stressful. There’s a lot of pressure to choose the right space and the move itself can be taxing. Britishgas.co.uk has some great advice on how to choose the best office space for your business:

The first is LOCATION – where will make your business a success? A few questions you could ask yourself include:

  • Is it the right location for my key employees?
  • Is the location convenient for clients?
  • What is the parking situation?
  • Are there amenities nearby?
  • Are there good transport links?

Next on the list is TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES & SUPPORT. Most businesses, whether small or large, cannot function without technology; speedy computers, reliable internet and all the support needed to make business happen. Choose an office that is conducive to the IT needs of your company.

Also consider where your COMPETITORS work – if, for example, you might share a building with your enemies, and whether this could pose a problem.

WORKSPACE is also essential. Is there enough space to accommodate the potential growth of your business? Does the layout work and how much freedom do you have to decorate the office as you would like? Your new office needs to fit the personality of your business and the needs of your employees.

Lastly, the COST. Probably the most annoying aspect of the search for a new office but it’s important to be realistic; what can your business afford? There’s no point putting your business in jeopardy before you’ve even moved!

Think realistically but also remember to accommodate the dreams you have for your business, in your new office space!

Source: Britishgas.co.uk – “Choosing the right office space for your business”

Why business owners are worried about “switching off”

/0 Comments/in /by

New research by outsourced communications provider Moneypenny has revealed that millennials are more likely to want time offline than other generational groups.

The amount of time spent with phone and email access is a particular problem for 25-34 year olds, 73 per cent of whom would like time switched off from their devices, compared with 53 per cent of 45-54 year olds, and 40 per cent for over 55s. The survey also revealed that millennials are more proactive than their older work colleagues in trying to spend time disconnected from work: 38 per cent of 25-34s compared with 21 per cent of 45-54s.

And yet in spite of the desire to disconnect there is a persisting worry over the consequences of switching off – a trend shown to be more prevalent in millennial business owners, of whom only 9 per cent were not worried about disconnecting. In the older age group (45-54), 40 per cent of business owners had no worries about time away from technology.

The reason business owners might choose to keep connected even when they’d prefer a break is because they’re concerned they’ll miss customers (22 per cent), that the admin will pile up (21 per cent) or that they’ll be held responsible for something going wrong when offline.

All valid concerns and yet business owners  frequently ignoring their mobiles, with 28 per cent ignoring calls from clients and 56 per cent ignoring calls from friends and family.

Joanna Swash, MD of Moneypenny, commented: “Fortunately there is a wealth of solutions available to ensure business keeps working during the holidays, from virtual PAs to automated answering systems, so there’s no reason to be taking calls from the sun lounger.”

If you have any energy queries relating to your home or business, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302 8149 or info@chsystems.cc.

Source: Phamnews.co.uk – “MILLENNIALS MOST LIKELY TO SWITCH OFF”

What if Wimbledon could power your computer?

/0 Comments/in /by

Federer did it again. Of course he did; the man’s a machine! With eight Wimbledon championships under his belt Roger Federer has broken the record for most championship wins.

It’d be interesting to know exactly how much energy the tennis star has had to produce over the years as he’s wacked his way into the annals of sporting fame. In fact, Britishgas.co.uk has investigated this very idea. OK, not relating to Federer per se; more about the amount of energy generated at Wimbledon from crowds cheering in the stands to tennis pros burning mega calories as they play.

Apparently, men’s finalists burn an average of 2100 calories per championship match; an energy output of over 2.50kWh! A woman’s final produces more than 150kWh. How does this translate practically (hypothetically)?

Well – on average, your laptop computer uses between 50W – 100W when in use, which means that the power of seven men’s finals would generate enough energy to power your laptop for a year! Five men’s finals could keep an LED lightbulb (typically lasting between 20,000 to 50,000 hours) shining for more than two years!

One woman’s final could keep your iPad charged for a year.

Impressed? Just wait. The London marathon – you know it, right? Before the race (which took place on April 23), a total of 253,930 people were expected to participate. With this statistic in mind; if a single participant competing in the marathon uses an equivalent 3.045 kWh of energy, then the total amount of energy consumed by the entire marathon is a mammoth 752.3 mWh.

Imagine your business could employ its own personal Roger Federer or better yet; a team of pro runners, to create enough energy to power the workstations on your premises? Sustainable and cost-effective, surely? Nice to dream. But who knows – we live in a world where anything and everything is possible!

If you have any energy queries relating to your home or business, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302 8149 or info@chsystems.cc.

Sources: Britishgas.co.uk – “Wimbledon: How much energy can tennis pros generate?” and “The power produced by runners competing in the London Marathon”

Plumbing advice for business owners moving property

/0 Comments/in /by

Is your business moving to a new property? If so, it’s important to check that the plumbing, pipes, taps and fittings on the new premises are in proper working order – to avoid time consuming inconvenience and the costs incurred there from.

WaterSafe, the UK national accreditation body for approved plumbers, has created an easy five-step guide to help property owners ensure that their plumbing is in top notch condition. The advice is based on the invaluable experience of the approved Watersafe plumbers who are often the first port of call when there is a problem, and aims to facilitate a smooth transition into a new property. Here’s what you need to do:

  • Find the internal stop tap (usually found where the water supply enters the premises) and make sure it’s working properly and you can turn it on and off easily, in case you need to in an emergency.
  • Check your boiler’s service history – how old it is and how regularly it’s been serviced. If there’s a cold water tank in the attic, make sure it’s clean and that it has a lid fitted.
  • Look out for leaky taps, toilets and radiators. Tell-tale signs to look out for are: loss of pressure, rust, water stains on the walls, floors or carpets, or mould on ceilings and walls.
  • Find out whether the property has lead water pipes – usually a dark matte grey pipe that turns shiny when scraped with a screwdriver. Drinking water that has passed through lead pipes can be harmful so you might want to replace them with copper or plastic ones.
  • Check if there’s a water metre, which could be in the ground outside the front of your house, or inside near the stop tap. If you have a water meter you’ll be charged for the amount of water you use rather than an estimated amount.

If you’d like further information or plumbing advice, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302 8149 or info@chsystems.cc.

Sources: Watersafe.org.uk – “Moving home? Our plumbers’ top tips” and “New home? Check your plumbing”.

Keep the air cool and cost-effective in your business this summer

/0 Comments/in /by

One might assume that because winter’s over and the heating is finally off, that energy costs will take a dip but this is not necessarily the case! There’s nothing more uncomfortable than working in a scorching hot office, which is why businesses tend to crank the air conditioning with little hesitation – and cold air costs! But there are ways to help your business save money this summer:

  • Service and repair (if necessary) your current air conditioning system, to keep it running smoothly and efficiently; preventing inconvenient costs from cropping up throughout the summer months.
  • Keep the cool air in by insulating your business premises, and if using air conditioning remember to keep windows and doors shut to keep the cool air from flowing out.
  • According to the Energy Department, you can save as much as 10 per cent a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 3°-4°C for 8 hours a day from its normal setting.
  • The days are longer, which presents the perfect opportunity for businesses to take advantage of natural lighting. Fluorescent bulbs use around 75 per cent less energy than the standard light bulbs but apart from that, why not figure out where the sun will be and when, and rearrange the layout of your business space accordingly? Move desks around so that they are not in direct line with the main window when the sun is beaming in throughout the afternoon. This way you can keep your blinds open and your lights off.
  • Using a fan can help increase the efficiency of an air conditioning system.
  • If you’re not using an air conditioner, open windows and doors to ventilate the office and relax business dress to keep staff cool and happy at work.
  • Turn off anything that creates heat when not in use, such as printers and monitors.

For more excellent tips on how to cut down on energy costs this summer, read “Summer energy tips: How to cut down on costs” on Britishgas.co.uk.

If you’d like further information, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302 8149 or info@chsystems.cc.

New Ereba air-to-water heat pump cuts costs for small businesses

/0 Comments/in /by

As the owner or manager of a small commercial property you’ll be interested in CIAT Ozonair’s new range of high efficiency Ereba monobloc air-to-water heat pumps, which provide heating and cooling at minimal cost.

The pump can be used as a stand-alone heating source in small commercial applications, or to augment/back-up conventional boiler-based heating systems in existing buildings. With a high water outlet temperature of up to 60ºC at 10ºC ambient, Ereba covers the full spectrum of heating and hot water requirements, and is compliant with all types of radiators and underfloor heating systems.

The packaged system comes complete with an integrated hydraulic module, Class A variable-speed pump, and a built-in expansion tank. An automatic air purge system ensures it continues to operate efficiently without the need for manual intervention or frequent maintenance.

The variable speed inverter-controlled fan enables gradual soft-start ramp up to protect power supplies, plus a night mode for super-quiet operation when end users and neighbours are sleeping.

The electronic controller manages all operating parameters and allows multiple settings, including Time Clock control, Mode, and Day and Night functions, via the “Touch ’n’ Go” setting.

The full Ereba range includes nine models, five single-phase and four three-phase models.

If you’re interested in the technical details of the monobloc air pump, read “NEW EREBA AIR-TO-WATER MONOBLOC HEAT PUMP” at hpmmag.com.

If you’d like further information, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302 8149 or info@chsystems.cc.

Business leaders share tips on how to minimise energy use

/0 Comments/in /by

New smart meter data has revealed that small businesses use 46 per cent of their total electricity between 6pm and 8am – when no one is at work (usually). The experts from Britishgas.co.uk reckon that a few simple changes could cut office energy bills by up to 20 per cent!

In an effort to help companies save costs on energy, business leaders taking part in The Business Show, the UK’s largest business exhibition, discussed the importance of saving energy as well as what they do to cut down on their energy use at work, and here’s what they came up with:

“We had a survey done of hoe energy efficient we are and, off the back of that, we changed a number of things; we changed the way our light switches work so if you leave the room they’ll turn off automatically.” – Steven Bartlett (social media agency Social Chain).

“I think energy efficiency is vital. Not only does it save you money but, in this world that we live in, we have to preserve energy.” – Touker Suleyman (Dragon’s Den).

“It’s never been an easier time, with the internet and mobile apps, that you can monitor [energy use] in real time.” – Jonathan Dowden (Sage One)

“I think that there are huge savings that you can make in smart metering. You can actually take really big steps to cut your bills.” – Bill Morrow (founder and CEO of Angels Den investment platform).

“Even if it’s just a start and you roll things out in a sequence…make sure everything is on standby or switched off.” – Annie Hunter (Consultant, How2)

“If you can be energy efficient and reduce your energy costs then, absolutely, every penny counts in a small business, in a growing business; therefore [energy saving] is vitally important.” – Brett Akker (Founder, Lovespace).

If you’d like further information on how your business can cut down on energy costs, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302 8149 or info@chsystems.cc.

Source: Britishgas.co.uk – “Business leaders discuss how they cut down on energy bills.”

Could your business benefit from an Energy Manager?

/0 Comments/in /by

What is an Energy Manager and might your business need one? Both fair questions – and definitely worth answering, as sweeping environmental, social and business trends force energy to climb the corporate agenda. Harvard Business Review describes the ‘megatrends’ that are changing the context in which businesses operate, as; climate change and global carbon regulation, increasing pressures on natural resources, rising expectations about corporate environmental performance, innovations in energy technologies and business models, and plummeting renewable energy prices.

Many forward-thinking companies have bought into the concept of an Energy Manager, who is expected to use any and all tools at his or her disposal – from auditing existing measures to incorporating the latest technologies – to identify inefficiencies, shape energy best practices within the organisation and optimise the relationship between energy use and the bottom line.

Panpwr.com describes the objective of an Energy Manager as follows:

An Energy Manager’s main role is to improve an organisation’s energy productivity by planning, monitoring and improving energy use across all operations, while ensuring that all efforts have a positive impact on the business’s bottom line.

The Energy Manager’s influence is felt in a number of areas of an organisation, including resource management, budgeting, operations, sustainability efforts, corporate responsibility, government or industry compliance, and energy efficiency.

Ultimately, an Energy Manager is there to save your business money within the parameters of a contemporary operational axis. To find out more about the job responsibilities and requirements of an Enery Manager, as well as other considerations, read “The Definitive Energy Manager Job Description” on Panpwr.com.

If you’d like further information, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302 8149 or info@chsystems.cc.

How innovative installation makes your business energy efficient

/0 Comments/in /by

One of the biggest energy-related challenges for owners of businesses that operate out of commercial buildings – schools, restaurants, supermarkets, offices, gyms etc. – is finding a heating and hot water system that can keep up with the demand, at a reasonable price. Saving energy, for ethical reasons as well as money-saving targets, is no mean feat. But there are ways…

Thinking outside of the box with innovative installations is one way to cut overheads. Heating manufacturer Vokèra is currently working with UK business owners to reduce usage and costs, as reported by Plumbingmag.com. Two recent projects include the replacement of a 43-year-old oil roof-top boiler with a floor standing modular unit, which enabled the building in question to be heated to temperature in a mere 20 minutes.

Another project saw oil boilers replaced with the energy-efficient CondexaPRO, alongside new insulation, high-efficient glazing and LED lighting; the building now saves almost 980,000 kWh per annum.

Cascade configuration is also a good way to ensure that the output of the heating system meets the demand of a large property. Boilers that have been designed for modular systems will work well in commercial applications. If the demand within the building is high, then all boilers in the system can be working together, but, if the heating requirement drops, each appliance can be individually controlled and turned off to match the lower demand.

Vokèra is just one brand committed to helping business save money with energy efficient installations, there are also others – Worcester/Bosch, Reznor, Vaillant, (to mention a few), which are all committed to making energy efficiency commercially viable for both smaller and larger businesses.

If you’d like further information on how to make energy efficiency commercially viable for your business, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302 8149 or info@chsystems.cc.

Source: Plumbingmag.co.uk – “Making energy efficiency commercially viable”

Plumbing and Heating engineers work over Christmas!

/0 Comments/in /by

Great news this festive season is that many plumbing and heating engineers are hard at work. If your business has an emergency, calling on a plumber or installer who you know could pay off big time! A recent survey by the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineers (CIPHE) has revealed that 69 per cent of engineers will respond to known customers and 31 per cent will provide service for all callers.

One in four engineers will be available for emergency call-outs on Christmas day, with 48 per cent on Christmas Eve, 33 per cent on Boxing Day, 42 per cent on New Year’s Eve, 29 per cent on New Year’s day and 47 per cent on January 2.

Kevin Wellman, CEO of the CIPHE, says: “Heating and plumbing engineers are the unsung heroes of the festive season and they richly deserve the spotlight this survey shines on them. Every planned or responsive job is important, but at this time of year, when emotions run high, the pressure is really on to deliver the goods, so there should be great pride that so many can say they’ve ‘saved a Christmas Day.’

So, what type of issues could your business experience while employees are enjoying mince pies and mulled wine with their families? Reasons for call-outs cited in the survey are: burst pipes, boiler breakdowns, heating system issues, plumbing problems and blocked pipes. Of those responding to emergency call-outs over Christmas, 47 per cent said that the job was not an emergency and 82 per cent said the job was due to botched work.

The moral of the story is: to have a reliable engineer on tap in case of a heating or plumbing emergency and make sure that it is indeed an emergency because your call could mean that someone misses out on an important personal event.

If you’d like further information, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302 8149 or info@chsystems.cc.

Source: Phamnews.co.uk – “‘TIS THE SEASON FOR DEDICATED HEATING & PLUMBING TRADES”