Partner Article

Energy aid saves millions of pounds

North East companies have saved £3.7m over the past two years thanks to a regional team of green energy specialists.

At a time of recession and rising energy costs, MAS-NEPA Energy helped 240 companies save millions by offering advice on how to eliminate energy waste from manufacturing processes and guidance on energy costs and bills.

The team has also helped reduce the amount of potentially harmful CO2 emissions being released into the environment by almost 25,800 tonnes.

The aim of MAS-NEPA Energy - which began life as the Energy Resource Efficiency (ERE) programme started by One North East in 2007 - is to help businesses tackle the issue of rising energy costs.

The service is now being delivered by MAS-NEPA, based in Sunderland, and managed by private sector partners PA Consulting. Since the move in October 2008, MAS-NEPA Energy has saved 25 companies over £1.6m.

MAS-NEPA Energy’s Allen Jones said: “This programme originated as a direct response to rising global energy prices, which was having a significant impact on North East manufacturers, but it has become an important tool for businesses looking at ways to cut back on costs and wastage as the recession takes hold in the region.

“By working with businesses and spending time monitoring the way each individual firm operates, we can develop individual energy action plans, analyse current usage and highlight innovative means to cut bills all linked to increasing skills.”

Colin Herron, One North East Manufacturing and Productivity Manager, said: “This is real on the ground help for manufacturing businesses at a time when it’s most needed. Companies are fighting on two fronts against high fuel costs and the recession and we are doing all we can to help them through these challenging times.”

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