Power management 'important for business energy use'

With the UK economy still in recession, times may be hard for many businesses and companies may be looking at any ways in which they can save money.

And taking steps to reduce their business' energy consumption could prove useful as this could see firms benefiting from cheaper gas and electricity bills - which could mean that power management becomes an increasing priority in the workplace.

Indeed, as more organisations take steps to reduce their own carbon emissions and impact on the environment, power management may never have been so important.

Power management may reduce business energy use

Jim Docherty, in an article for Public Technology, writes that an IT department of a business is one of the biggest consumers of electricity.

And this consumption could increase further still if there are not policies in place to keep a cap on the department's use of it, he adds.

He goes on to note that making long-term improvements in the IT department is one of the key ways that businesses can make immediate savings on their electricity bills.

"The 'always-on' culture that is emerging has little regard for the consequences of accessing those services - both in terms of cost and carbon emissions. Powering desktop computers that are on all the time when you have hundreds, if not thousands, of machines has serious cost and carbon implications," Mr Docherty warns.

The future of business energy use

So are UK companies set to be affected by any business energy campaigns in the future?

The Department of Energy and Climate Change has detailed that it is estimated that reducing business energy use will save organisations a total of £1 billion each year by 2020.

From April 2010, major business energy users will be required to take part in the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme where participants will be required to monitor their energy use, report emissions and purchase carbon allowances to offset their usage.

Such news could see participating companies not only lower their carbon footprints but they could also soon be benefiting from lower gas and electricity bills.