Business energy for offices
Business energy for offices
Offices use energy for heating, cooling, lighting and IT during working hours, plus whatever is left running overnight. Electricity made up 68 per cent of office energy use in the government's Building Energy Efficiency Survey, with IT the biggest single electrical load, so switch-off habits and server rooms matter. Choose a contract that fits your hours and, if you rent, check who holds the supply.
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How much energy do offices use?
| Benchmark | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Typical electricity use per m² (CIBSE TM46 general office benchmark) | 95 kWh/m²/year | GOV.UK |
| Typical heating fuel use per m², usually gas (CIBSE TM46 general office benchmark) | 120 kWh/m²/year | GOV.UK |
| Median heating fuel use per m², offices that use gas or other fuels (BEES 2014-15) | 90 kWh/m²/year | GOV.UK |
| Median electricity use per m², all-electric offices (BEES 2014-15) | 124 kWh/m²/year | GOV.UK |
Benchmarks describe typical buildings. Your own use depends on floor area, opening hours, equipment and how efficient your building is.
What do offices pay per kWh?
There are no official prices by business type, but the government publishes what businesses pay by size of energy use. In Q2 2026, the smallest UK business electricity users (up to 20,000 kWh a year) paid an average of 38.36p per kWh, and those using 20,000 to 499,999 kWh paid 28.59p. The smallest gas users paid 9.31p per kWh. These government averages include standing charges and the Climate Change Levy, but not VAT. Your bill shows a unit rate plus a daily standing charge, so it won't match these all-in figures directly. See business electricity prices and business gas prices for every size band.
Choosing an energy contract for offices
- If you rent part of a building, check whether your energy is on your own meter or recharged through the service charge. You can only switch a supply you are responsible for.
- Weekday office hours mean little overnight use, so a night rate adds little value unless you have overnight loads such as servers. Compare total annual cost on your real usage.
- Time contract renewals around office moves and lease breaks, so you are not tied to a supply at premises you are leaving.
- Small offices are often microbusinesses: under 100,000 kWh of electricity a year, or fewer than 10 employees and turnover or balance sheet of no more than £2 million. Ofgem rules stop a microbusiness being rolled onto a new contract for more than 12 months.
- If you have half-hourly or smart meter data, look at your overnight and weekend baseload before comparing prices. Cutting waste first means you buy less energy on any contract.
Compare prices for your business
How offices use energy
Offices are electricity-led: electricity was 68 per cent of office energy use in BEES, with gas mainly used for heating (CIBSE TM46: 95 kWh/m² of electricity and 120 kWh/m² of heating fuel a year).
Computers, screens, printers and especially server rooms, which the survey found were common in offices and run around the clock. GOV.UK
Gas boilers, electric heaters, heat pumps or reverse-cycle air conditioning. Poorly set timers can leave heating running before and after people are in. Carbon Trust
Printers, copiers, kitchen appliances and chargers. The Carbon Trust calls office equipment the fastest-growing energy user in business, and much of it is left on when not in use. Carbon Trust
The Building Energy Efficiency Survey found cooling was more significant in offices than in most other sectors. Heating and cooling fighting each other is a common source of waste. GOV.UK
Lights are on for the working day and often later if cleaners or late workers are in. Occupancy sensors help in meeting rooms, toilets and storerooms. Carbon Trust
Hours of occupancy and what is left on out of hours make the biggest difference. BEES found offices use less heating fuel per square metre than most sectors because of their shorter hours, so the waste is often in evenings and weekends: lights, IT and air conditioning running in an empty building.
Ways offices can cut energy use
The Carbon Trust says reducing heating temperatures by 1°C can cut fuel consumption by 8%. Carbon Trust
Leave a gap of about 5°C between the heating and cooling set points so the two systems don't run against each other. Carbon Trust
Enable standby settings and switch computers, screens and printers off at night and weekends. Equipment left on over bank holidays and weekends adds up to a significant cost over a year. Carbon Trust
The Carbon Trust says occupancy sensors can save up to 30% on lighting costs, especially where cleaners or staff work late. Carbon Trust
Let cooler night air flush the building so air conditioning can start later the next day, rather than running it overnight. Carbon Trust
The Carbon Trust warns energy consumption can rise by up to 60% if air conditioning isn't maintained. Review the whole system once a year. Carbon Trust
FAQs
How much energy does an office use per square metre?
The CIBSE TM46 benchmark for a general office is 95 kWh of electricity and 120 kWh of heating fuel per square metre a year. Offices with server rooms or full air conditioning usually use more electricity.
What uses the most electricity in an office?
Usually IT. The government's Building Energy Efficiency Survey found ICT equipment, including server rooms, was the largest use of electricity in offices at 37 per cent.
Should we leave the air conditioning on overnight?
The Carbon Trust calls this a myth: an office needs only a fraction of the overnight energy to reach a comfortable temperature by morning. Night cooling with outside air can often do the job instead.
We rent our office. Can we switch energy supplier?
Only if the supply is in your name. If your landlord holds the contract and recharges you through the service charge, check your lease and speak to the landlord or managing agent.
Is a small office a microbusiness?
Yes if it uses less than 100,000 kWh of electricity or 293,000 kWh of gas a year, or has fewer than 10 employees and turnover or balance sheet of no more than £2 million.
Sources
- BEIS (now DESNZ), Building Energy Efficiency Survey 2014-15: Overarching Report
- Carbon Trust, Office based companies (CTV007v3)
- CIBSE TM46:2008 Energy Benchmarks, Table 1 (reproduced by Vale of Glamorgan Council)
- Ofgem, Set up a business energy contract
- Gas and Electricity Regulated Providers (Redress Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2024 (microbusiness criteria)
Other business types
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