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Dialling down workplace heating by just one degree could save business and the public sector over £35m/yr in unnecessary energy bills, according to new guidance published by the Carbon Trust.

The Carbon Trust has launched two new guides to help organisations save up to 30% on rising winter heating bills.

In the service sector, for example, heating accounts for over 75% of companies’ fuel bills, but simple measures such as resetting timers and replacing old controls could save 15% on annual heating costs. Lowering heating by just one degree can further save a company up to 8% of fuel consumption.

The Heating, ventilation and air conditioning and Heating control guides are part of the Carbon Trust's Expert in Energy series and can be downloaded from www.carbontrust.co.uk/expertinenergy. Here are some top tips from the guides:

• Get control - buildings with well-controlled heating systems typically have a 15-30% lower heating fuel usage
• Don’t overheat - heating costs rise by about 8% for each 1ºC of overheating. Buildings have different optimum temperatures depending on their use – use the checklist in the guide
• Maintain regularly - energy consumption of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can increase by up to 30% if regular maintenance is not undertaken
• Think big picture – energy is wasted when heating and air conditioning work against each other so remember to look at these in the round
• Train staff – employees should receive guidance on recommended operating temperatures and how to set heating or cooling units correctly – remember there’s a common misconception that turning thermostats up as high as they go heats a room more quickly