Once you’ve decided to go ahead with some energy improvements to your building, you’ll want to find an installer you can trust to do the job. Your installer should be able to advise you on the most appropriate technology, size and specification of system to suit your organisation and your energy needs.

Here’s our advice on what to look for...

Find a fully qualified and reputable installer, ideally certified by a relevant industry accreditation body. 

See here for a list of accreditation schemes providing certified installers in your area. 

Get at least three quotes from three different installers before signing a contract. 

Beware of heavy-handed sales techniques, such as pressure to sign on the day, high prices with large discounts for signing on the spot, or bogus monitoring scheme discounts. Don’t compare installers on cost alone – the cheapest may not be the most appropriate. See below for more information on how to review installers’ quotes and what to ask the installers when reviewing their quotes. 

Check out the installer’s previous work either by asking them directly or on their website.

Also check any available customer reviews and testimonials on Google reviews, on Trustpilot etc. 

Check the maintenance requirements of your system and any post-installation support the installer is offering. 

Check what guarantees the installer will provide you for the quality of their work and the products they will install. 

We recommend checking your quotes over...

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Note - 5. Is this a final and fixed price?
It’s essential the installer visits your property and carries out an inspection to understand your needs. Some installers may give an indicative quote before a site visit and then an amended and fixed price quote afterwards. Often an installer will quote based on certain assumptions, even after a site visit, and then charge extra for unforeseen complexities. The installer should be able to provide a list of circumstances where an additional charge may be added.

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You can search for a certified installer in your local area using the online tools provided on their websites. Click the buttons on each listing and use their directories to find an accredited contractor near you.

You can also speak to other organisations in your area that have successfully installed the measures you are exploring to seek more recommendations for installers in your area that may not be listed on either of the directories above. 

On this page, you'll find comprehensive guides to each of the seven energy saving measures included in this framework. 

Each section will cover key information to help you understand which would be most suitable for your building, including: 

• What it is
• How it works
• How much it's likely to cost 
• What the disruption of installation is likely to be
• Whether it's something you can do yourself or not 
• Examples of where it's been installed before for energy efficiency   

You can also download each guide in PDF format for sharing with colleagues (although for obvious reasons we don't recommend printing these documents!) 

1. Understand your energy usage

You can start by reviewing your energy bills and meter readings to understand your building’s overall energy performance and identify any spikes in energy use. This can be compared with previous years to build a picture of seasonal energy use and annual energy costs.

You can also...

2. Review your energy contract 

Before signing an energy contract, contact your energy supplier to understand what tariffs they provide and compare what they offer with other providers. Consider using a specialist energy broker to negotiate a better long-term rate. 

It is important to note that energy suppliers must only work with third party intermediaries, such as energy brokers, who are registered with a qualifying alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme. According to the independent regulator, Ofgem, there are currently two providers of an ADR scheme for microbusiness – the Ombudsman Services and the Utilities Intermediaries Association. 

While businesses pay the standard VAT rate (20%) on their energy there are exceptions. For instance, charities pay 5% VAT on fuel and power if they are for residential accommodation, charitable non-business activities, and small-scale use (up to 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a month or a delivery of 2,300 litres of gas oil). Additionally, if less than 60% of the fuel and power is for something that qualifies, 5% VAT applies to the qualifying part and the standard rate on the rest.

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3. Assess building performance

In England and Wales, privately rented non-domestic buildings must legally have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of ‘E’ when:

•    they are being sold;
•    they are being let to new tenants;
•    an existing tenancy is renewed;
•    the heating, cooling or ventilation systems are retrofitted. 

EPCs can help you understand the energy performance of your building, as well as identify areas for improvement. EPCs provide a rating from ‘A’ to ‘G’, with level A being the most efficient. Ratings are calculated based on construction materials, heating systems, insulation, and other factors. EPCs can only be done by certified commercial assessors and are valid for 10 years once issued. It costs around £150 to get an EPC for small buildings, with greater costs for larger and/ or complex buildings.

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4. Understand the practical limitations 

Building owner Vs renter. 

If you are a renter, it is likely that you are unable to carry out larger energy efficiency improvements and low-carbon technology installations, without the full support and engagement of your landlord. However, many energy upgrades will increase the value of a property, so don’t be afraid to ask you landlord if they’re interested.

Listed and historical buildings

Retrofitting or installing low carbon technologies on listed buildings or buildings in conservation areas can be challenging and costly due to the specific skills and materials required, as well as additional permissions required, and sometimes will not be permitted at all. It is important to ensure that listed buildings are treated appropriately with the right retrofit measures or technologies selected based on the construction and use of the building, to ensure that the most cost and energy efficient approaches are implemented. 

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Kilowatts (kW) are a unit of power. Power is the rate at which energy is generated or used.

Some technologies i.e. PV arrays are usually described in terms of their peak output in kilowatts or kWp. This is the amount of electricity they will produce continuously in optimum conditions. 

Kilowatt Hours (kWh) are a unit of energy. Energy is a measure of how much power is used by something over a period of time.

Energy consumption expressed in terms of kWh doesn't often mean much unless you also know the length of the period that the kWh were measured over.