Member Article

UK is still "in the dark ages"

Business owners need to grasp energy conservation and look to the long-term benefits for the planet and their companies, according to a director of leading North East lighting specialist Big Energy.

David Cliff, director of the County Durham company, says the UK is still in the “dark ages” in terms of energy conservation and the dream of a greener planet is “only shared by a few”.

With offices in Newton Aycliffe and Houghton le Spring, Big Energy works with businesses to help them to improve the efficiency of their lighting, not only making them more environmentally friendly, but also reducing long-term costs.

David said: “What is missing from many company strategies is a proactive approach to energy saving. Typically this is left with facilities managers and the knowledge of the technologies available is not uniformly extensive, while expertise is rarely brought from the outside to identify the potential benefits of being proactive in terms of energy saving.”

Additionally, many company managers take a dismissive attitude towards energy efficiency upgrades, using excuses such as the cost of refitting their premises, not being responsible for the bills because they are part of their lease package, or having other priorities.

He said: “The reality is that we are still in the dark ages in terms of energy conservation. As a moral imperative around a greener planet, the dream is still only shared by a few.

“It is rare that my company can achieve a sale primarily on the ‘green’ agenda. Those companies which buy on this basis are indeed enlightened. More often, it is the simple reduction of cost that is the appeal. If this is the only motivation, then so be it, because such contributions still make a difference.

“No firm can avoid looking at the bottom line of its activity and at times when there are shaky recovery and limited growth, measures that actually reduce costs and increase efficiency are effectively ‘no brainers’ in offering a company immediate benefits to the bottom line.”

Changes to the Government’s Green agenda from “free” loans to low interest borrowing have not helped, says David, but the longer term cost benefits make improvements a common sense choice.

He said: “The return on investment on, for example, a lighting refit using ultra low energy LED lighting is typically about a year to 18 months so it is years of bottom line savings thereafter.

“The inevitable savings and benefits are so great from a proactive energy strategy that they can no longer be ignored by those companies who seek to survive and prosper in what have been, for the last few years, challenging times. With a proactive energy strategy, much can be done to achieve lower consumption with tariffs and support systems in place that enhance competitiveness.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Recognition PR Business Team .