Why kWh/m² matters
Energy intensity (kWh per m² per year) lets you compare very different buildings on a like-for-like basis. UK government datasets now report median electricity and gas intensities by building use, so you can benchmark offices against factories, warehouses, shops and hospitality. GOV.UK
This article focuses on reliable sources of data, to help you understand the typical usage and costs related to business sectors and building spaces usage, from factories to retail.
Headline benchmarks
Recent official stats (ND-NEED 2024, covering 2022 metered use in England and Wales) and the government’s BEES survey (2014-15) give a clear picture of typical ranges:
- Hospitality: median electricity intensity 168 kWh/m²; median gas intensity 296 kWh/m². Among the highest per m² due to long hours and catering loads. GOV.UK
- Factories: median electricity intensity 28 kWh/m²; median gas intensity 72 kWh/m². Low per m² because sites are large, even though total consumption is high. GOV.UK
- Warehouses: median gas intensity 55 kWh/m²; among the lowest per m² overall. GOV.UK
- Offices: BEES shows median non-electrical intensity ~90 kWh/m² and office electrical intensity typically <100 kWh/m² in mixed-fuel offices; all-electric offices showed a median electrical intensity 124 kWh/m². GOV.UK
- Retail/shops: BEES median electrical intensity ~118 kWh/m² with non-electrical around 50 kWh/m². GOV.UK
Two structural effects to remember:
- Smaller buildings use more per m². In 2022 the smallest premises had median electricity intensity ~97 kWh/m²vs ~46 kWh/m² for the largest. GOV.UK
- Total demand is concentrated. A small share of sites drives most consumption; for example, 80% of electricity is used by the top 7% of buildings. GOV.UK
Converting kWh/m² into £/m² (illustrative)
To turn intensity into cost per m²:
£/m² = (electricity kWh/m² × electricity p/kWh) + (gas kWh/m² × gas p/kWh).
Using indicative 2024-25 non-domestic price ranges from DESNZ/ONS (electricity roughly 20–30 p/kWh, gas roughly 5–8 p/kWh; actual contracts vary), here are example annual costs: GOV.UKOffice for National Statistics
- Office, mixed-fuel (say 90 kWh/m² electricity, 90 kWh/m² gas):
£22.50–£27.00 for electricity + £4.50–£7.20 for gas ≈ £27–£34 per m². - Factory (28 kWh/m² electricity, 72 kWh/m² gas):
£5.60–£8.40 + £3.60–£5.76 ≈ £9–£14 per m². - Warehouse (illustrative BEES mix 53 kWh/m² electricity, 41 kWh/m² gas):
£10.60–£15.90 + £2.05–£3.28 ≈ £13–£19 per m². - Hospitality (168 kWh/m² electricity, 296 kWh/m² gas):
£33.60–£50.40 + £14.80–£23.68 ≈ £49–£74 per m².
These are benchmarks not quotes; procurement timing, load profile, standing charges and Climate Change Levy all move the final bill.
The collective bill for UK businesses
In 2022, non-domestic buildings used about 122 TWh of electricity and 156 TWh of gas in England and Wales. At the broad price ranges above, that implies an economy-wide annual energy spend on buildings on the order of £32–£49bn. (Electricity total inferred from ND-NEED’s cumulative table showing 122 TWh; gas total explicitly ~156 TWh.) GOV.UK+1
What this means for action
- Target the big hitters in each building: offices focus on HVAC, ICT and lighting; factories on process heat and compressed air; warehouses on heating and lighting; hospitality on kitchens, hot water and long hours. BEES end-use splits back this up. GOV.UK
- Expect quick wins from controls and scheduling. Government surveys consistently find strong savings potential from better controls, lighting upgrades and metering. GOV.UK
- Measure by meter, manage by m². Track kWh/m² by site and normalise for hours and occupancy so you can compare buildings fairly and prioritise the worst performers. ND-NEED shows intensity has been falling over time, so continuous benchmarking matters. GOV.UK
Sources
- ND-NEED 2024 report and data: median intensities by building use; consumption totals; size-intensity effects. GOV.UK+1
- BEES Overarching Report 2014-15: sector medians, office and retail intensities, end-use breakdowns and savings potential. GOV.UK+1
- DESNZ Quarterly Energy Prices/ONS analysis: non-domestic price context 2024-25. GOV.UK
Using indicative 2024-25 non-domestic price ranges from DESNZ/ONS (electricity roughly 20–30 p/kWh, gas roughly 5–8 p/kWh; actual contracts vary), here are example annual costs: GOV.UKOffice for National Statistics
• Office, mixed-fuel (say 90 kWh/m² electricity, 90 kWh/m² gas):
£22.50–£27.00 for electricity + £4.50–£7.20 for gas ≈ £27–£34 per m².
• Factory (28 kWh/m² electricity, 72 kWh/m² gas):
£5.60–£8.40 + £3.60–£5.76 ≈ £9–£14 per m².
• Warehouse (illustrative BEES mix 53 kWh/m² electricity, 41 kWh/m² gas):£10.60–£15.90 + £2.05–£3.28 ≈ £13–£19 per m².
• Hospitality (168 kWh/m² electricity, 296 kWh/m² gas):
£33.60–£50.40 + £14.80–£23.68 ≈ £49–£74 per m².
These are benchmarks not quotes; procurement timing, load profile, standing charges and Climate Change Levy all move the final bill.
The collective bill for UK businesses
In 2022, non-domestic buildings used about 122 TWh of electricity and 156 TWh of gas in England and Wales. At the broad price ranges above, that implies an economy-wide annual energy spend on buildings on the order of £32–£49bn. (Electricity total inferred from ND-NEED’s cumulative table showing 122 TWh; gas total explicitly ~156 TWh.) GOV.UK+1
What this means for action
• Target the big hitters in each building: offices focus on HVAC, ICT and lighting; factories on process heat and compressed air; warehouses on heating and lighting; hospitality on kitchens, hot water and long hours. BEES end-use splits back this up. GOV.UK
• Expect quick wins from controls and scheduling. Government surveys consistently find strong savings potential from better controls, lighting upgrades and metering. GOV.UK
• Measure by meter, manage by m². Track kWh/m² by site and normalise for hours and occupancy so you can compare buildings fairly and prioritise the worst performers. ND-NEED shows intensity has been falling over time, so continuous benchmarking matters. GOV.UK
Sources
• ND-NEED 2024 report and data: median intensities by building use; consumption totals; size-intensity effects. GOV.UK+1
• BEES Overarching Report 2014-15: sector medians, office and retail intensities, end-use breakdowns and savings potential. GOV.UK+1
• DESNZ Quarterly Energy Prices/ONS analysis: non-domestic price context 2024-25. GOV.UK