Energy prices are at an all-time high as the country feels the effect of the ongoing energy crisis. In 2018, UK businesses spent £24 billion annually on energy, of which £17.9 billion was on electricity.
More recently, the average business electricity price in the UK has increased by a shocking 45%, creating a significant impact across a range of industries and business sizes.
A recent review by The Office for National Statistics suggested: “Businesses that use energy more intensively, with large spending on energy relative to the size of their business, may find themselves under more pressure to pass on higher energy costs or may be more vulnerable to closure.”
Creating sustainable operations and lowering energy usage has become vital to ensure a company’s survival. Businesses are already paying attention to energy spending, and a recent survey of security professionals found 73% of respondents agreed that sustainability or energy efficiency has become more important in procurement decisions over the past 5–10 years.
With this in mind, what solutions are available to businesses to help drastically reduce energy output?
Energy saving with wireless locking
Getting security procurement right is the first step to cut energy wastage. For example, a business could save 90% on energy costs by switching to a wireless access control system.
Battery powered wireless locks use less energy than traditional wired locks, which normally work via magnets connected permanently to electricity. Wireless locks work differently, only “waking up” when presented with a credential.
This translates into a potentially large saving on an annual energy budget, which could equate to more than 70%, or thousands of pounds over a typical access control installation’s lifetime.
Other related energy and material costs are also lower for wireless locks. During operation, wireless locks require just a battery change, approximately once every two years. The installation phase is also more cost effective, with an estimated 82.5%3 saving on labour costs for a 100-door wireless installation versus wired installation.
Wireless locks also provide more flexibility - and can reduce costs - when you reconfigure or expand an office space. High-quality wireless locks can typically be reinstalled at another door without impacting their reliability, and typical cost savings on an office relocation or expansion are around 30% with wireless over wired locking.
Cost effective Aperio wireless locks
Aperio wireless locks can save a business money at every stage of their life-cycle. Battery-powered Aperio RFID-equipped cylinders, escutcheons, handles and locks can be fitted as a new access control system or extend an existing installation by linking new doors to the same system wirelessly.
There’s no need for staff to swap their key-cards, nor for anyone to carry more than one credential. They work seamlessly within almost every major access control system on the market, from over 100 different manufacturers. One control panel manages everything, both Aperio and legacy locks.
Installation is quick because there’s no cabling around the door, no invasive building work, and no need to change door hardware. Aperio devices fit almost any opening or security level, exterior and interior doors — wood, glass or aluminium — from fire and escape doors to meeting rooms, labs and offices.
SMARTair wireless locking
Similarly, SMARTair offers cost-effective energy-saving access control with multiple credential options. SMARTair’s intuitive access control software and wireless door entry system provide a detailed security overview of the building, allowing facility managers to control, identify and update who can open every door.
There are SMARTair locks and other devices to secure just about any opening, in all kinds of buildings. Escutcheons and cylinders fit interior and exterior doors, wall readers control access to lifts, high-traffic entrance doors, and car parks, and cabinet locks are available too, all fully monitored within the main access control platform.
SMARTair also gives users a choice of credentials, so they can open doors securely with a fob or mobile phone, as well as a standard electronic key-card. Lost or stolen keys no longer present a problem, because these secure electronic credentials can be cancelled or reissued instantly.
For further information on products and services available from Abloy UK, and how its solutions can help your business reduce energy consumption, visit https://bit.ly/3Ui9ir7 call 01902 364 500, or email info@abloy.co.uk.
