Inkifingus have been taking a number of steps to make our business more sustainable.
As we mentioned in our All Lit Up blog post in September, we have been in the process of transitioning to Solar Power to better manage energy consumption and are extremely happy to be providing this update.
Inkifingus Install Solar Panels at Notting Hill Printing Facilities
In November we finished the installation of solar panels at our Notting Hill premises which is a significant step for our business. We have been planning this for some time now when we started speaking to a range of suppliers and specialists who would be able to help us make this transition.
We decided to partner with Craig Jacobson and Hamish Gardner from Energy Innovations who showed a similar passion for renewable energy which was important to us. In June they did an energy evaluation for us which was the beginning of our energy plan with solar power being the first step for us.
What Benefits Are We Seeing From Using Solar Power?
There are a range of financial and environmental benefits we’re already seeing from using solar power, with the immediate financial benefit being that our energy bill has almost halved. Even if minimising the environmental impact your business has on the environment isn’t at the forefront of your mind – the economical benefits of using solar power are hard to ignore. Whilst there’s an initial capital outlay required to make the change to solar power, we found the reduction in ongoing operational costs over the life of the solar panels outweighed the initial investment.
Furthermore, as a part of the installation we have an app which helps us understand when our peak energy consumption times are against solar power availability. With the visibility this creates, we will now be able to shape our operations to make the most of the solar power.
Where To From Here?
Moving to solar power is a significant step for Inkifingus and one we’re already glad we made, with our focus now being on how we can maximise solar power availability. Now that the installation is complete, we’re scheduled to have our energy supplier connect us to the grid so any excess solar power is fed back into the grid. This creates a broader benefit for others on the grid, as well as qualifies us for rebates.
With the app and data we’re now collecting around the energy we’re using and generating, we will now be able to review, evaluate and optimise what we do to maximise our solar power utilisation.
As an example, we will be able to see which pieces of machinery require more power than others, and look for opportunities to use these when there is peak solar power availability, and minimise use, or turn them off when there isn’t. We will be able to assess any new equipment and the power required to use it in the same way, allowing us to be more conscious in our operations. We can then use our more demanding machinery when there are spikes in solar power availability, as opposed to doing things at a certain time of day because ‘that’s the way we’ve always done it’.
By being connected to the grid and making more informed decisions around our operations, we will be able to realise further cost savings on our energy bills, reduce our overall operating expenses and our impact on the environment.
What Could You Do With Solar Power?
There are a range of ways businesses can utilise these kinds of cost savings. For us, it will allow us to do things like balance out the increasing costs of our materials, so we can remain competitive and continue providing a quality, fit for purpose print service for our clients. It also allows us to explore and invest in other equipment that enables us to provide unique products that aren’t as readily available on the market.
If you’re looking for ways to reduce your operating cost, or impact on the environment – solar power may be a great way for you and your business to do this. There are a lot of providers out there and based on our experience – we’d strongly recommend you take the time to chat with few and make sure they’re the right fit for you.
Similar to the print industry – we found there were businesses who had cheaper options, but what we valued from Energy Innovations was the expertise they brought to the discussion, and that they took the time to understand why we wanted to go down this path and ensured what they suggested was fit for purpose.
If you’re not in a position to install solar power in your home or business, but want to partner with businesses who walk the talk when it comes to sustainability – the team at Inkifingus would love to hear from you and see if there’s a way we can work together so you can get the most out of your printing investment.
