As a functioning culture, society and in the modern information age, we don’t usually put much mind towards the electricity, water, gas and other utilities we use in the household. This is simply because we’re usually not using enough to notice the increase or decrease in their usage. We more often than not take this for granted as these services are readily available to use at the simple flick of a switch or twist of a nob.
However, businesses are using a huge amount of utility services every day and no matter if it is water, gas, electricity or telecommunication services, they’re always being monitored for price increases as well as quality to ensure that the business is getting the best deal possible for its money. That’s where Business Energy Comparison comes in and can really make a proper dent and potentially save businesses thousands of pounds per year.
In this article to make understanding the different types of businesses and their utility usage easier, we will in detail go over different statistics ranging from how much water and gas various businesses use to the importance of business energy comparison when it comes to saving money.
The History of Energy Introduction
Before we actually jump into the nitty gritty of how businesses use utilities, it’s important to understand how and why they were introduced. Water and gas were first used in UK homes way back in the 18th century when coal was introduced as a primary source of energy for homes.
Now coal as we know now is a very carbon intensive fuel source and very bad for the health of those who inhale it regularly. This is because it doesn’t burn cleanly and produces a huge amount of harmful gasses. As the early cities started to grow and more people were moving into them, health officials began to become increasingly concerned with the problem of indoor air pollution, which could be linked to respiratory illnesses such as chronic bronchitis in children and adults.
To tackle this issue, gas lamps were installed all around these growing cities to provide a clean fuel source for lighting. Later on, the idea of utilizing water pipes and water mains was developed in order to safely transport contaminated drinking water from nearby lakes and rivers into homes.
As we moved forward into the 19th century, both gas and water providers started to use electricity as a potential way to power the growing demand for utility services. However, the initial setup of introducing electricity into cities was ruled out as it proved to be too expensive for the general public.
However, modern technologies have taken both electricity and water usage to a whole new level. From large manufacturing plants to small family-owned stores and everything in between, businesses are constantly using a majority of the utilities we all depend on for survival every single day.
Water Usage by Businesses
According to research, businesses use up roughly 75% more water than homes do. More specifically, commercial and retail industries such as hotels and restaurants (excluding the food industry) use up approximately 41% of all water used by businesses. In terms of percentages, this means that businesses annually drink up nearly 23 million cubic meters of fresh drinking water in total.
In addition to this, businesses also consume a large amount of clean drinking water for agricultural purposes as well. Many industrial plants require a large reserve of fresh water to cool their facilities down and keep them operating properly. Some examples include oil refineries, chemical manufacturing plants, paper mills and power stations.
However, it’s been seen that many smaller business establishments are lacking proper monitoring systems in order to control their overall water usage levels daily. Obviously as businesses grow overtime, they will hopefully look into installing better utility controls which will allow them to continue saving money on their water, gas and electricity bills.
Gas Usage by Businesses
Just like water usage, businesses also use up a large amount of natural gas as well. In the United States alone, it’s been estimated that businesses are using over 30% more natural gas than homes do in total. In addition to this, roughly 75% of all industrial facilities use some kind of steam production for either heating purposes or even food processing.
In recent years, green initiatives have taken off across the globe and more companies are adopting more efficient technologies which greatly reduce their overall energy usage levels. For example, many manufacturing plants today have begun installing electric boilers instead of traditional steam boilers which can be seen as a much more affordable and less expensive option.
As businesses continue to grow, the demand for clean water and natural gas will also keep increasing at rapid rates. By improving monitoring systems, implementing new technologies and through cooperation with local utility vendors, businesses can effectively control their overall usage levels while saving money along the way.
FAQs
- What is the primary difference between water and gas usage by businesses versus homes?
The main difference between water and gas usage by businesses versus homes is that most businesses use significantly more water and gas than homes do overall.
- Why do many industrial facilities require a large reserve of clean drinking water?
Many industrial facilities require a large reserve of clean drinking water to cool their facilities down and power various applications, such as food processing and heating. This is often necessary in order to keep these facilities running smoothly and efficiently.
- How can businesses improve their utility controls in order to save money and reduce their overall usage levels?
There are several strategies that businesses can employ in order to improve their utility controls and reduce their overall usage levels. These include investing in new technologies, implementing new monitoring systems, and seeking the assistance of local utility vendors. By doing so, businesses can effectively reduce their overall water and gas usage levels while also saving money in the process.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it’s clear that businesses use up a large amount of both water and gas on a daily basis. However, thanks to modern technology and green initiatives, there are many ways in which we can help reduce our usage levels significantly over time. So, if you’re a business owner or manager, we strongly recommend investing in new energy controls so that you can save money while helping protect our planet as well.
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