Shape Shifters: 9 ways to shift your energy usage

First, let's recap how each version of Shape Shifters works:

Now, let's get to the tips:

#1 Let your smart meter make you a smarty pants

Let’s kick off with an obvious one - and probably the most important.

Monitoring your energy usage isn’t just fun 🤓 It’s also an amazing way to improve your habits. You see, your smart meter can do wonderful things. It delivers data right to the door of your online dashboard.

Here, you get handy breakdowns of your energy usage down to the hour, day, week and more.

It also means you can use the Octopus Home Mini (don't worry about the name, it works for businesses as well as homes). The Home Mini is a small, palm-sized device that beams live readings from your smart meter into your app. So, you can see insights on your usage down to the minute.

With all of this, you can spot any sneaky peak-time spikes in usage
And once you've spotted them, you can start to rein them in. If you see a lot of consumption at peak times, you know what to do! Shift that usage like the Shape Shifter you are.

Don't just take our word for it. Fiona from Saltburn Vintage Rooms told us all about how using this info helped her transform her energy usage.

#2 Think about what might make your savings shrink 💡

We know that smart meters can tell you when you're using energy. But, they can’t tell you exactly what is using energy.

That’s where you come in.

Take a moment to consider which equipment or jobs require a lot of energy and those that don’t. That way you can prioritise your higher usage tasks in times when your prices are lower.

#3 Run your machines when prices are lean

Lots of your equipment is thirsty for electricity. And these often run between 4 and 7pm on weekdays, when energy is most expensive.

It’s like taking them out to a fancy bar - only to realise the same drinks were half the price an hour ago.

For you, the culprits may be the office dishwasher during the end-of-day clean-up. Or the industrial printer producing piles of product labels. Or even the tumble dryer making your members’ sports kit fresh for the next day.

Consider turning these machines on in the morning, rather than in the evening before you leave. Better yet, if your appliances have a delayed start function, set them to run overnight.

That's what Box Bear did. Their team like to enjoy warm brews throughout the day, so their dishwasher is always full when its time to clock out. They could switch their dishwasher on at 5pm as they head out the door. But instead, they set a timer for their machine to come on after 7pm. That way, their costs stay low.

#4 Take care of the temperature earlier in the day

For help keeping the temperature right while your appliances are off, check out our energy efficiency tips.

#5 Beware of vampire devices 🧛

When you turn your PC’s monitor off, it’s not using any power - right?

Afraid not 😱

As spooky as it may seem, lots of appliances are clandestine consumers of electricity. Even when you’re not using them.

In fact, anything that’s left on standby will keep on using a bit of juice. Think printers, kitchen appliances, screens, anything that uses a remote control. That includes chargers too - even if they’re not charging at the time.

So, start by hunting around your workplace for these vampire devices. When you know what they are, you’ll be able to slay their inefficient ways.

Then, get into a routine of switching these things off at the mains during peak times. To make life even easier, consider getting hold of some smart plugs - they’re like garlic to these devices.

#6 Keep your usage sleek by re-charging off-peak

It seems like all the good stuff needs charging these days.

Phones, laptops, tablets, battery packs, electric vehicles - they’re often running for you all day. And like runners, they need time to re-energise.

#7 Include your staff in the Shape Shifting squad

This is a surefire way to meet your energy goals more easily. Get all your colleagues in on the energy-shifting action. It’ll help them make good choices - and they’ll think of ways to shift usage that you didn’t even dream of. Plus, everyone loves feeling part of a big team push.

If you need ways to motivate your people to get involved, give these a go:

• Shout about the difference that saving money on energy will make to the business
• Set specific goals for your workspace, and celebrate together when you meet them
• Explain you’re not just doing this for you, but for the planet too

#8 Don’t just shift your usage, shift your hours

If you’ve got a bit of flexibility around opening hours, this is a big opportunity.

Consider moving your active hours around the 4-7pm peak. You could finish earlier, open later or pause things in the early evening.

Whichever options you choose, it all tots up to lower costs for your energy.

#9 Remember: Shape Shifters isn’t just about saving money

It’s about making smart choices for your business. Tweaking your energy means you can make the most of lower prices, reduce energy waste and take control of your energy costs.

So, whether you use your smart meter to track your habits, shift high-usage tasks to off-peak times, or get your team on board - every small change adds up.