October 29, 2024

Save Energy with Ease While You Brighten Your Biz

In the Philippines, the holiday season is a bustling time for businesses, with the festive spirit driving higher demand and extended operations. From Halloween through New Year’s, companies often need to ramp up production to meet customer needs, which means more machinery running, increased cooling demands, and longer hours of lighting. The challenge of managing increased energy consumption—and the resulting costs—looms large during this period.

The graph below illustrates the general increase in energy consumption based on data from a sample of our 120+ facilities, primarily in the manufacturing and commercial sectors. Notably, during October and November, we see a significant uptick in energy usage as businesses prepare for the holiday rush. Similarly, April sees increased consumption as companies gear up for summer demand and conduct necessary plant maintenance, which requires additional cooling for machinery.

Common Challenges During the Holiday Season

1. Fulfilling Higher Seasonal Demand

Manufacturing clients often need to balance increased energy costs and rush fulfillment of production quotas, which need more machines running, extended lighting, and increased cooling to meet seasonal demand. One packaging manufacturer we partnered with embraced our Energy Efficiency and Compliance (EEC) –our energy audit and energy management solution– to tighten their operations and have cost control.

Here’s how they did it:

Optimal Equipment Conditions: the audit identified factors that negatively affect machine production, enabling the facility management to address these and increase production output and quality
Smart Monitoring: By tracking shifts and production output, they optimized energy usage and trimmed waste—giving their energy bills a much-needed diet!
Power Quality Tracking: They ensured smooth sailing for their sensitive machines, avoiding production hiccups and defective products that can’t be sold.
Strategic Equipment Use: They made informed decisions about which machines to run and when, maximizing efficiency and keeping energy consumption in check.

With these savvy strategies, the client tackled increased seasonal demand while keeping energy costs manageable—because who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too?

2. Managing Extended Operations

For our commercial and real estate clients, more holiday activities means energy needs surge as more events and parties utilize the common areas over longer periods . Facility managers must anticipate this increased energy consumption, as no one enjoys unexpected surprises on their energy bills. Often, higher unexpected costs stem from equipment running longer than necessary, which is where Smart Energy Monitoring (SEM) comes in.

By subscribing to SEM, businesses can track their energy usage in real-time, allowing them to spot outlier usage patterns and make adjustments as needed. This could involve shutting down non-essential equipment or staggering lunch breaks to reduce peak usage, enabling tighter control over costs.

3. Minimizing Electricity Rates

Understanding energy consumption is vital for operations managers who focus solely on kWh consumption, but is there a way to actually reduce the cost per kWh? Business managers, who are looking at the next fiscal year based on this year’s performance, need expert advice on how to get the best electricity rate for their business as a mid-term strategy to maintain their competitive advantage.

To approach these challenges, businesses can leverage SolX’s Energy Portfolio Management (EPM)—your secret weapon for optimizing your energy position! Here’s how it can help you regain control:

Digital Energy Procurement: Access the entire electricity market, reducing procurement time from six months to just two weeks and secure rates lower than the Distribution Utility.
Technical Expertise: Get nuanced guidance based on in-depth analysis of your facility’s energy data, ensuring optimal contract selection.
Seamless Switching & Management: Coordination among your team, electricity supplier, and distribution utility to streamline the switching process and minimize disruptions.

Further Recommendations to Save Energy:

1. Investing in Solar This Holiday Season

Investing in solar power not only cuts costs but also supports sustainability goals. The Philippine government aims for 35% of the country's electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030, with solar playing a key role. SolX offers tailored solar energy solutions through our EPM service, designed specifically for commercial and industrial facilities. Our solar setup can yield projected savings of Php 2.8 per kWh, offsetting energy consumption with on-premise generation assets. Plus, SolX simplifies your transition to solar energy with our EPC Sourcing (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) assistance, helping you embrace a greener lifestyle effortlessly.

2. Get Your Team Involved

Energy conservation shouldn’t rest on a single person's shoulders—it’s a team effort. Consider fostering a spirit of competition among departments to see who can save the most energy. Use insights from energy audits to incentivize employees with fun rewards, like a pizza party for the winning team or a heartfelt thank-you for all participants. Encourage small actions, such as unplugging chargers or utilizing natural light, which can collectively lead to significant savings. With real-time data from SEM, you can showcase results and motivate everyone to contribute, reducing energy costs while building camaraderie.

As the holiday season approaches, it’s the perfect time for businesses to prepare for the festivities and all the associated challenges. By partnering with SolX, you can not only save on energy costs but also ensure a smoother and more successful holiday season and a greener business outlook. We’d love to journey with you as we work together to bring you extra savings on your energy expenses.