Sponsored feature A real hot topic As bills rise, research agencies are looking closely at how they manage and monitor their energy use. The subject of whether companies should replace traditional means of measuring gas and electricity consumption with smart meters has risen up the corporate agenda as part of the broader sustainability conversation. Steve Hemsley reports A doing this by monitoring their energy bills more significant number of insights professionals intently and not simply looking for cheaper deals have already joined forces with the Market (33%), as these can be difficult to find in the current Research Societys (MRSs) Sustainability economic climate. Council to launch the Insight Climate Collective Like all small businesses, researchers face the same working group. A switch to smart meters would challenges and price hikes as consumers, says Fflur certainly make sense for the many agencies Lawton, head of policy and public affairs at Smart supporting the MRS Net Zero Pledge and the Energy GB. Its inevitable that, in some instances, organisations ambition to be net zero by 2026. increased running costs will be passed on, but more Many research agencies might not even be aware accurate bills help businesses to budget by controlling that a smart meter could be installed in some offices energy usage and tackling areas of waste. as well as homes, and deliver similar time-saving The Smart Energy GB data notes that small benefits. These paybacks include more accurate bills, businesses have seen a 13% hike in outgoings since and with suppliers who supply an in-home display the start of the year, with the price of fuel and energy (IHD), the ability to identify where energy is being among the hidden costs putting pressure on margins. wasted across the business. These costs are difficult to estimate, but 28% of At a time when margins are being squeezed and the respondents have no idea how much their next energy cost of living is biting, smart meters can also be an bill will be, and 77% fear further hikes in prices within important weapon for researchers hoping to avoid the next six months. having to pass on additional costs to clients. At a time of uncertainty, and when every penny Data from Smart Energy GB, the governmentcounts, using a smart meter can help backed campaigning group for the agencies to forecast their cash flow rollout of smart meters, reveals that more accurately. three-quarters of small business When every penny Smart meters send data directly to owners have had to pass on rising counts, using a the energy supplier, so businesses costs to customers, but 86% are trying smart meter can help only pay for what they actually use, to minimise their overheads to reduce forecast cash ow which helps with cash flow, says the level of further increases. Lawton. When you are focused on One-third of those surveyed are 48 Impact ISSUE 39 2022_pp48-49_Smart Energy.indd 48 26/09/2022 10:52