Reducing Company Costs, using Multi Fuel Stoves.
Multi Fuel Stoves or Wood Burners are building a growing and loyal fan base in the SME heating market. There are varied and interesting reasons for this, I will be touching on a few of them in this article. Firstly though I'd like to look at the areas were multifuel burners can have a significant immediate and beneficial effect on a companies bottom line.
The first and most obvious, Heating bills, horrendous rise of and the holy grail of their reduction. Using Multi Fuel Stoves, Stoves with Boilers and Cookers, to reduce utility bills, is open to companies in smoke control zones or those who have premises in a none controlled zone. Companies that can burn there own fuel, which gives them a zero heat source with a carbon neutral foot print. As well as companies that could use any of coke, pellets, peat, smokeless fuel, biomass etc. Due to space I'll limit my list, but there are many organizations giving free impartial advice on the correct fuel for your needs and geographical area. The Solid Fuel Advisory Board or your local renewable fuel supplier are good example as is Business link. Just by comparing their heating bills with the estimated fuel costs for Multifuel Stoves. Companies are opting for the Mulitfuel option.
Unlike many other environmental heating sources which, because of the large capital outlay involved in their installation and lead time to break even point. This heat source is available at very low purchase and installation costs, meaning its available to have an immediate impact on utility bills, for the sole trader in a workshop up to large concerns with premises to match. With the smallest units costing around £300 plus flue pipes, its not hard to see the economic logic of Multifuel stoves.
There's no doubt that a major factor in the rise of Multi Fuel has been the explosion in the Grants and Interest Free loans available to SME's looking at reducing their carbon footprint or minimising energy usage. These can be for a few hundred pounds up to thousands, so linked with the lower purchase, installation and fuel costs means there can be minimal capital outlay from the company.Yet the owners gain a financial benefit from the heating bill reduction as soon as the system is in use.
This rising interest in multi-fuel is based on some hard facts that have a virtuous circle appeal about them.These heating systems are quickly and easily installed by HETAS & CORGI (for the central heating version see below) engineers, meaning minimum disruption to the all important business day. They are amazingly cost effective in set up capital. There are loans and grants available to many companies.The fuel is low cost meaning they have an immediate impact on the companies utility bills.
Looking at the environment side and its benefits.We could point to the gas liquefied in the Middle East and shipped to the UK, all at huge cost to the planet before we burn it to keep warm. Instead multi-fuel stoves fuel is easily sourced in every corner of the UK. It's very cost effective plus low impact or, if your lucky enough to be able to burn wood, carbon neutral. On the subject of wood some of the biggest savings made on energy bills have been companies with their own heat source as a by product of their business. The interesting thing here is the double saving. Companies that had been paying to remove say, off-cuts of wood are now using them as fuel which is not only carbon neutral but cost neutral. Using any version of multifuel heating also has the added interest and kudos it attracts from clientele who visit the work spaces that have already installed it. With more individuals and organizations actively reducing their own energy use, its only natural (pun intended) for them to be more receptive to a closer business relationship.
Companies that have installed Stoves or Cooker in staff rooms, have noticed that the ability to cook fresh food and boil drinks is having an effect on staff moral. I'm sure we can agree that, some one who's eating freshly prepared food has a better diet than one the lives for the ping of the microwave. Staff also appreciate" their " company doing its bit for the environment. Leading by example like this is showing savings across entire companies. Employees are inspired to be aware of waste and its cost implications. Studies show that employee's who are engaged with a company and their shared aspirations will be more involved in working for the companies good health.
All of the above things have an effect on the bottom line. Now we'll take a look at the various options open to companies that are considering installing multi-Fuel Burners on their premises.
The most obvious one would be a free standing stove. These burners are ideal for workshops, small offices and retail units. There are a wide variety of sizes and shapes so there is generally one for any enclosed space. Because of their adaptability, free standing stoves look just as much at home in an office or a lock up. The available of models with hot plates, built in ovens, cookers or the tradition multi-fuel stove, gives an idea of the flexibility in the designs currently on the market. Companies that bought multiple stoves report great success in heating large open plan area's.
All companies using this option have greatly reduced there fixed costs for very small outlays. The ways of using grants and interest free loans was discussed above.
The option having the greatest impact in the market today, the Multifuel central heating systems, offer the greater savings, but have a larger capital outlay. The beauty of this type is this, when the fire is lit not only is it performing any or all of the variants listed above, but due to its built in water jacket, its heating the entire building.Users of multiple roomed premises, that have installed this system, are enjoying the benefits of heating their entire premises from one heat source. True, for the cost of one fire its possible to heat an entire building!
The cost savings are huge, with this difference in price staying in the company. Straight to the Bottom Line.
Another option for the even larger concerns is slim high powered Multifuel Boilers, these can be set up with pellet hoppers which are auto regulated. Its just a matter of removing the ash. A time friendly cost effect heating system.
As we have seen Multi-Fuel stoves can have a massive effect on any sized business's fixed costs and the all important bottom line. With opportunities for grants or loans and the relative low cost of the purchase, installation and fuel, any business owner should be looking at this heating option. Also remember its also helping our shared planet. Very much a virtuous circle, low capital outlay, reducing costs, aiding staff moral, reducing the companies carbon foot print and adding to the bottom line. Worth a look, it won't cost the Earth, but, it might help save it.
HEATING COMFORT WITH A GREEN CONSCIENCE.