How SMEs can save costs & carbon with solar & heat pumps

For UK SMEs, the pressure of rising operational costs and the growing demand for sustainable business practices can often feel like two competing challenges. How can you invest in your environmental commitments when you’re trying to protect your bottom line?

The good news is that with the right technologies, these goals aren’t in conflict, they’re complementary. We spoke with Leah Robson, Director at Your Energy Your Way, about how renewable technologies like solar panels and heat pumps can cut costs, reduce emissions, and build long-term business resilience.

Solar panels: A clear route to financial savings

For any business looking to make an immediate and significant impact on its overheads, solar power is the undisputed starting point. Technology has become more affordable and more powerful than ever before.

“If your first concern is to save money, then solar is the way to go,” explains Leah. A decade ago, a single solar panel cost around £200; today, it’s closer to £80. At the same time, its energy output has nearly doubled.

This combination of lower costs and higher efficiency means faster payback times. For businesses with high energy usage, the initial investment can be recouped in as little as five years, after which the electricity generated is virtually free.

For commercial landlords, there’s an additional, compelling incentive. “You could put solar panels on the roof, finance them, and then sell the electricity back to your tenants at a cheaper rate than the grid,” Leah suggests. “That creates an income stream for you and delivers savings for them; a true win-win.”

Heat pumps: The carbon solution hiding in plain sight

While solar is the champion of cost-saving, heat pumps are the key to decarbonisation. “If your first concern is to save carbon, then a heat pump is the way to go,” says Leah.

Many business leaders don’t realise they may already be familiar with the technology. “We tend to talk about air con, but it’s the same technology as a heat pump,” she clarifies. “If your office is heated or cooled by central ceiling or wall units, you already have a heat pump.”

The real win is their incredible efficiency. A traditional gas boiler is less than 100% efficient, meaning you get less than one unit of heat out for every unit of gas you put in. A modern air source heat pump, by contrast, gives you three to five units of heat for every unit of electricity consumed. That’s an efficiency of 300–500%, powered by an increasingly clean UK electricity grid.

The ‘holy trinity’ of on-site renewables

For maximum impact, Leah highlights the most powerful setup: combining solar panels, a battery storage system, and a heat pump.

“That’s when you see substantial bill savings,” she says. “You can charge your battery overnight with cheap off-peak electricity, use free solar power during the day, and use it all to run your super-efficient heat pump. It’s a game-changer for your energy bills and your carbon footprint.”

A modern perk: supporting employee wellbeing

With remote and hybrid work now widespread, a business’s responsibility for employee well-being extends beyond the office walls. Leah points to an innovative new scheme from the Energy Saving Trust that employers can leverage.

“They’re offering a salary sacrifice scheme for staff to access solar panels or heat pumps for their own homes. It works just like the cycle-to-work scheme, but for clean energy. It’s a brilliant perk that can make a real difference, especially for home-based employees struggling with high energy bills.”

How to avoid common (and costly) mistakes

Venturing into renewables can be daunting. Leah warns businesses to avoid generic ‘package deals’ and to empower themselves by asking smart questions of any potential installer:

• Are you accredited by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)? This is a mark of quality and ensures you can access any available government incentives.
• How do you manage health and safety on-site?
• Where do your panels come from, and can you provide evidence of supply chain transparency?

“One of the most frustrating mistakes I see is a roof that’s only half-filled with panels,” Leah adds. “That’s a huge lost opportunity. If you’re going to the effort and expense of scaffolding and installation, maximise the space from day one.”

The journey to installation isn’t instant; reputable installers are often booked months in advance. However, within about six months, most businesses can have a system installed and financed, with savings beginning the moment it’s switched on.

As Leah puts it, “Solar is the money-saver. Heat pumps are the carbon-saver. Together, they’re the future-proofing that SMEs need.”

To hear the full conversation and get more practical insights from Leah, listen to the video episode here.

How Profit Impact can help

Making strategic investments in technologies like solar and heat pumps is a core part of building a resilient, future-fit business. But knowing which steps to take, and when, can be challenging. At Profit Impact, we help you analyse the opportunities, build the business case, and integrate these decisions into a coherent sustainability strategy that drives long-term commercial value.

If you’re ready to turn your sustainability goals into your competitive advantage, book a discovery call with our team today.

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