How can business save £6bn a year, cut carbon emissions and safeguard UK fuel-security?

21 February 2011

Answer: energy efficiency

On 1st March, Chris Huhne MP will introduce a report explaining how the private sector can save cash, carbon and safeguard the UK's future fuel security by adopting energy efficiency measures to reduce national energy demand.

Produced as part of an inquiry by Carbon Connect, the report "Energy Efficiency: The Untapped Business Opportunity", has cross-party support and backing across the private sector.

Lord Teverson, Liberal Democrat peer and co-chair of the inquiry said:

"With government leadership, businesses across the UK can increase their profit margins, while securing a low-carbon and fuel-secure future for the nation. Now, more than ever before, we must reduce the amount of carbon we emit as a country - reducing energy consumption across the private sector is in both the private and public interest."

As the UK faces legally binding targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 34% by 2020, and a potentially widening gap between future energy supply and demand, the nation's energy consumption needs to be addressed.

Meanwhile, poor energy efficiency is currently costing business £6 billion a year in unnecessary energy costs. Reducing the amount of energy used by business, by adopting energy efficiency measures and with backing from central government, would solve these problems.

Julius Brinkworth, industry expert and co-chair of the inquiry explained:

"UK business simply cannot afford to ignore the financial benefits of being energy efficient in such tight times. By being smarter about how and when we use energy, the private sector can start making sizeable savings within less than a year".

The case studies in the report demonstrate the rewards available to businesses willing to make the leap. For example, the Carbon Trust 0% loan scheme has been helping small businesses to invest in energy efficient changes. The Cavan Bakery in Hampton Hill, Middlesex used the loan to buy new and more efficient ovens, from which it has cut its gas consumption by 75%, enabling it to counter rising energy costs and ride out current financial strains.

While the Cavan's bakery's next focus is on finding an affordable, energy efficient alternative to its delivery vans, the report will describe how the rest of the private sector can make similar changes to benefit the whole of the UK. The report's recommendations will focus on greehnhouse gas reporting, project finance, skills, support to SMEs and the role of the commercial property sector.

Martin Baxter, Executive Director - Policy at the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA):

"Environmental practitioners working within business will welcome this report as further recognition that their role makes a real difference. Businesses that are managing energy as a resource are seeing real benefits from enhanced productivity and competitiveness."

---

Press releases, papers and documents published on this page are the intellectual property of an organisation unrelated to Central Lobby. We promote their parliamentary and political campaigning activities as they are subscribers to the Central Lobby service.

As such, Central Lobby does not edit, endorse, or attempt to balance the opinions expressed on this page. The content of press releases and other such types of content are the responsibility of the originating organisation.