Get Switched On! Bright ideas
Saving energy is not just good for the environment, you can save yourself some money at the same time.
It isn't too often that environmental concerns are in harmony with the interests of business but when it comes to saving energy there is certainly a commercial case for publicans turning a little green.
Last week The Publican launched its Get Switched On campaign to help licensees cut down on their heating and lighting bills. And while there are obvious benefits for our environment in burning a little less fuel, to be honest it's soaring energy costs that are giving this initiative its sense of urgency.
Thousands of pubs in Britain are marginal businesses, surviving on minimal profits that are repeatedly squeezed by rents and rates, the price of beer, regulations and increasing overheads.
In all this utility prices are moving to the centre of the average licensee's concerns. Yet it's not obvious, at first, how cutbacks can be made without damaging the business. A pub attracts customers not just with its drinks and good company but with its welcome and warmth - generated by light and heat as well as the glowing personalities of your staff.
Even if the pub is empty you need to have your lights on, and if it's cold out, the heating switched on. Take a moment to count all the lights in your bar. All necessary to creating the right atmosphere, and all drinking in energy faster than your best beer drinkers can quaff a pint.
But are they energy-saving bulbs? You'll pay a little more for them but they use only a quarter of the power and last a lot longer. You'll soon save the extra cost and more - as any managed house operator will tell you. And when you've got a busy pub in the winter, are your customers sweltering in the heat? Turn the thermostat down a touch and everyone will be happier.
There are also ways of shopping around for better deals on your energy bills, as the feature on the following page explains. Beware, though, the soaring prices mean you'll be getting plenty of unsolicited sales calls about switching your supplier - don't jump at the first deal some oily sales rep throws at you.
There are many more ideas The Publican will be bringing you over the coming weeks and months. You can also look for help from Hospitable Climates, which is specially set up by the government to help small hospitality businesses like yours to reduce energy usage and costs. Go to www.hospitableclimates.co.uk or call 0800 585794 for free advice.
The Publican is also interested in hearing about the problems you've encountered and any ideas you've come up with for cutting your bills - email arjf@gurchoyvpna.pbz or call 020 7955 3710.
