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Save the environment, save energy, save money

Energy saving and green technologies seem to be the theme of the moment, with such alarmist rhetoric as Amazon rainforest deforestation being a threat to the planet’s existence being used as justification for the push for sustainable practices.

Of course, any investment is not purely ethical; tangible benefits can be derived from spending on energy saving practices.

A 20% cut in energy costs represents the same bottom line benefit as a 5% increase in sales in many businesses.

A McKinsey survey in 2010 found that 63% of companies say that they are now taking action to reduce energy use in their operations.

Every business should focus on becoming more energy efficient. Not only will it help reduce the impact on the environment, it could save a business thousands of pounds in energy bills.

The Amazon rainforest, which is roughly the size of the 48 contiguous United States and covers two fifths of South America, is the lungs of the world. It is being deforested at a rate of over 6,000 km2 per year, that’s bigger than the area of Northumberland.

We have all heard about global warming and environmental pollution and I dare say seen the film The Day After Tomorrow, so we are all aware of the pronounced consequences of not conserving energy.

There is a plethora of avenues a business can traverse in order to save energy and, in turn, money and the environment.

Businesses can profit, quite literally, from the following:

• Loft insulation - 25% of energy used to heat a building can be lost through the roof.
• Solar thermal - A standard system is able to provide 60-70% of the hot water demand for a building.
• Solar PV - Generate your own electricity and sell the surplus back to the National Grid.
• Heating systems - A ground source heat pump, which extracts heat from the ground and is then used to heat an office, can lower fuel bills.
• Energy efficient lighting - Saving of over 80% on lighting energy bills.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change was established by Gordon Brown in 2008 and focuses on reforming the electricity market, rolling out smart meters and improving the energy efficiency of the UK building stock through the Green Deal.

The Green Deal permits loans for energy saving measures for residential properties and businesses in Great Britain.

Businesses need to assist themselves also. On average, 20% of the total energy bill in commercial offices is accounted for by office equipment - about half of this use stems from PC’s and monitors.

By switching computers off at nights and weekends, rather than leaving them running, energy consumption can be reduced by 75% per year.

It is the job of businesses to act responsibly when it comes to energy consumption. We can prevent the destruction of our rainforests, and save our business money in the process.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mark Group .