Member Article

Businesses wasting 15% of energy

Wasted energy will cost UK businesses £570 million this summer, according to figures from Carbon Trust. Even in the summer months, businesses are wasting 15 per cent of total energy spend due to poor energy efficiency. Carbon emissions are the key cause of climate change, and business is responsible for up to 45 per cent of all carbon emissions in the UK. Wasted summer energy emits over 8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, the equivalent to Birmingham’s annual carbon emissions. Carbon Trust has examined the carbon emissions of 11 of the UK’s cities. Newcastle, the only North East city in the study, is likely to emit 202,000 tons of carbon dioxide this summer, of which 38,000 could be saved. The cost of wasted carbon in the city is £3million. Tom Delay, Chief Executive of the Carbon Trust, said: “British businesses are wasting millions on energy, hitting the environment and their bottom line. The sheer scale of the energy wasted is staggering and something businesses can no longer afford to ignore. What’s more, consumers and shareholders alike are becoming more aware of a company’s environmental record and this trend is only going to grow. Today’s campaign will empower companies to make business sense of climate change by taking cost effective action – to cut carbon and make significant savings on their bottom line. Energy saving today is a no brainer for business and the environment.” Businesses with energy bills of more than £50,000 a year can apply for free surveys from Carbon Trust consultants, who can identify energy-saving opportunities and growing businesses are offered interest-free loans of up to £100,000 to help them invest in energy efficient equipment. Last year the Carbon Trust identified carbon savings of 2.7 million tonnes of carbon through working with companies. To find out more, businesses can call the helpline on 0800 917 3030 or visit the Carbon Trust website: www.carboncosts.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .