Archive for the ‘Green energy’ Category

£16 million low-carbon fund for SMEs launch

29 August 2012

Small and medium-sized firms with innovative energy-saving ideas will have access to a £16 million fund from this week.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change has released the first phase of its £35 million Entrepreneurs Fund, which is designed to encourage SMEs to develop energy-saving ideas and switch to low-carbon technologies.

Part of the fund – some £10m – will be available for businesses to build on energy efficient technologies including control systems, lighting, and temperature systems. The rest of the fund will be used for power generation and energy storage technologies such as fuel cells, biomass boilers and heat pumps.

The second phase of the scheme will be launched early next year.

Releasing the first tranche of the fund this week, Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said innovative low-carbon technology was essential for a green economy.

“This investment will help entrepreneurs with novel ideas get designs off the drawing board and into our homes and businesses, helping cut carbon and spur on growth in this exciting market place,” he said.

Businesses bidding for a slice of the fund will be assessed on whether they meet the Government’s 2020 and 2050 carbon targets, as well as their project’s commercial potential and the extent to which it improves on current technologies. Successful bidders will receive the funds later in 2012.

Julian Morgan, managing director of the Energy Advice Line, welcomed the launch of the fund and said he hoped it would lead to more affordable green technologies being available to business electricity users.

“Green technology is something that businesses have to embrace, but with energy prices rising and tough economic conditions continuing, small firms often find green technology unaffordable,” Mr Morgan said.

“As this fund is targeted at SMEs, hopefully it will generate ideas and innovations particularly suitable for small and medium-sized firms.

“In the interim, the best advice for SMEs remains to shop around for the best available business electricity prices and lock into good deals before prices start to rise again.”

The Energy Advice Line is the UK’s leading energy business electricity price comparison and switching service, and enables firms to compare the market for the best possible business energy deals at the touch of a button.

The service has a team of business experts who can give advice about business energy contracts and how to avoid expensive contract rollovers. It also offers a free contract management service to help firms throughout the duration of their energy contracts. For further information visit www.energyadviceline.org.uk

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The Energy Advice Line backs calls by CBI on green energy projects

31 May 2012

The Energy Advice Line has backed calls by the UK’s leading business group for the government to make investment in green energy projects less financially risky.

The CBI has called for the credit rating on low-carbon infrastructure projects such as wind farms and nuclear power plants to be lifted to make it easier for institutions to make the £250 billion investment required in the UK’s “creaking” energy system.

“We welcome the CBI’s call for the credit rating of low-carbon energy projects to be lifted as this would make this kind of investment a real option for institutional investors, “ Mr Morgan said.

“Any initiative that opens up the UK’s energy sector to greater competition is welcome as this is the only way that business electricity users will see lower energy tariffs and a better deal from suppliers.

“At the moment competition is not working and business electricity users are struggling with rising electricity tariffs, poor treatment from many business electricity suppliers and uncertainty about the future reliability of supply.

“Improving the credit rating of low carbon infrastructure projects could well be one way of increasing competition and delivering businesses a better deal in the long run.”

The CBI has made its call in response to the release last week of the government’s draft energy bill, which aims to encourage investment in nuclear power plants, wind farms and the transmission system. The government claims the reforms will lead to lower business electricity tariffs and secure future business electricity supplies.

According to Jim Bligh, CBI head of Labour Market & Pensions Policy, attracting investment in low carbon projects should be viewed as a priority. Lifting the credit rating of risky projects, which are currently rated as BBB by the credit rating agencies, could do this.

“Government must do all it can to attract private sector investment in this vital area starting by boosting the credit ratings of particularly risky projects through credit enhancement mechanisms, and making the investments themselves less risky and more attractive to pension funds,” he said.

The government claims the reforms will reduce the impact of rising business electricity bills for consumers, but the Energy Advice Line has called for further details as it remained unclear whether the plans will improve competition in the energy sector.

The draft bill will introduce long-term contracts that pay a steady rate of return for energy over the lifetime of new low-carbon generators, to overcome the high capital cost of building nuclear power plants or offshore wind.

The government hopes the reforms will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, limit the exposure of consumers to volatile gas process and lower the risk of blackouts as ageing power stations go offline.

The Energy Advice Line is a consumer champion and the UK’s only independent business electricity price comparison and switching services exclusively for small and medium-sized businesses. The service enables firms to quickly and simply compare business energy and business gas prices, and to switch to the best available deal on the market.

For further information or a free quotation, visit www.energyadviceline.org.uk

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Countrywide unveils green energy division

10 August 2011

Rural supply business, Countrywide, has launched a new green energy division aimed at farmers wanting to establish renewable energy projects.

The Worcester-based firm, which specialises in products and services for the rural community, announced the new service nine months after buying the specialist energy firm 7Y Services, saying it aimed to become “a leading farm and renewable energy company in the UK within 18 months.”

Countrywide’s renewable energy director, Julian Morgan, said with more farmers and rural homeowners looking for ways to avoid spiralling electricity costs, renewable energy systems, including solar, were increasingly appealing.  Mr Morgan runs a woodchip boiler, a wind turbine and solar energy system on his own Herefordshire farm.

“Our background in 7Y demonstrates we’re in this for the long term and we can actually demonstrate these technologies to farmers where we’ve established them already,” he said.

“And if introducing these technologies can generate an income stream as well, it’s even more valuable.

“We could be in a situation in three to four years where demand for electricity exceeds supply at some peak times. And it’s possible that energy could become very expensive at those peaks.”

Countrywide offers an advice, design and installation service and systems on offer range from biomass pellet boilers for domestic or commercial use, wood fuel supply, 100% green electricity or self-generation equipment.

The launch of the service coincides with the commencement in September of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, which offers financial incentives to business energy users to install renewable heat technology including solid biomass, ground and water source heat pumps, solar thermal installations, biogas combustion and biomethane injection.

Proponents of RHI claim that it will help the UK reduce carbon emissions and achieve internationally binding renewable energy targets.

Energy regulator Ofgem has conducted a consultation process about how the RHI will operate in practice and, subject to parliamentary approval, the first RHI applications will be accepted at the end of September.

A spokesman for the Energy Advice Line, the UK’s first price comparison and switching service for businesses, said renewable energy technology, while worth considering, was unaffordable for many rural businesses that were struggling in a tough economic climate.

The spokesman said that one cost-free way for businesses to reduce their energy bills was to compare commercial gas and commercial electricity prices when their contracts came up for renewal, and to switch suppliers.

“Switching suppliers can be a completely cost-free way of substantially reducing business energy bills,” the Energy Advice Line spokesman said.

“Impartial services like the Energy Advice Line offer free independent advice, and enable businesses to compare the market and switch suppliers at the click of a button.”

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Dash for gas sparks green concerns

5 August 2011

Dozens of new fossil-fuelled power stations are being planned by energy companies, which environmental groups say could crowd out wind and other green energy projects.

The claims have prompted calls for companies to compare business energy prices, as the ‘dash for gas’ places further pressure on gas and electricity prices.

The Guardian newspaper has reported that ‘a deluge’ of applications are queueing up in the planning system for gas schemes, and environmental groups fear these lock Britain into a higher carbon future at a time when it is trying to promote renewable power to cut emissions.

Freinds of the Earth campaigner Simon Bullock told the Guardian that the gas projects were being fast-forwarded on the basis that the UK had an ‘urgent’ need for them to replace old nuclear and coal plants.

“Instead of there being an ‘urgent’ need for new gas, there is in fact no need for new gas – beyond the capacity already being built or with planning permission. The new capacity the government says is needed by 2025 is already either under construction or has planning permission,” Mr Bullock told the Guardian.

Gas is seen as attractive by developers because plants are relatively cheap and quick to construct. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) regards the fast-tracked planning process for gas schemes as an efficient means of replacing out-of-date infrastructure.

“The transition to low carbon energy can’t just happen overnight. Gas in particular will be needed to provide vital flexibility to support an increasing amount of low-carbon generation and to maintain security of supply,” a DECC spokesman  explained.

“In the long term there is likely to be a role for gas plant equipped with carbon capture and storage, which is why new gas plants are required to be built carbon capture ready and the carbon capture and storage demonstration competition is open to gas plant as well as coal plant.”

In a recent report, the Green Alliance think tank has also claimed that the ‘dash for gas’ would increase the cost of cutting the country’s carbon emissions, leading to higher prices for domestic and business energy users.

Julian Morgan, managing director of the Energy Advice Line, an impartial price comparison and switching service exclusively for businesses, said the turbulence in the energy supply market was further reason for firms to shop around for the best available business energy deals.

“It’s essential for companies to compare business energy prices in order to get the best deal – there’s not other way to do it when the energy supply market is this volatile,” Mr Morgan said.

“Businesses need to ensure they use an impartial service like the Energy Advice Line that thoroughly compares the market and gives independent advice.

“Business energy tariffs can be complex, as there are so many on the market, but our team is highly experienced in helping businesses find the best available deal, and helping them switch.”

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Businesses gives thumbs down to green energy

19 June 2011

LESS than 40 per cent of business chiefs believe that energy efficiency is a priority for their company, according to a new survey.

The poll of chief executives, board members and chief financial officers from 200 leading companies including easyJet, Coca Cola and B&Q, was conducted by IT provider
T-systems. The results fly in the face of the government’s carbon reduction efforts.

The survey found that 35 per cent of firms planned to spend no money at all on reducing carbon emissions this year, and only 37 per cent said green energy was a priority.

Just under 5 per cent of those surveyed said they were putting the “maximum effort possible” into responding to the government’s Carbon Reduction Commitment, introduced last year, which requires energy-intensive companies to register their commercial electricity usage and then buy ‘permits to pollute’.

The poll also found that 8 per cent of directors were pushing for green technology, while 40 per cent of respondents said the business case for green technology was unproven and it was unclear how long it would take to see a return on green investment.

Tim Lovejoy, head of energy and utilities for T-Systems said: “Businesses are not getting the speed of return or the size of return from energy-saving investment they expect, so it has slipped down the agenda.”

Julian Morgan, Managing Director for energy comparison service the Energy Advice Line, said that while some firms questioned the business case for green technology, there was no doubt that regularly assessing energy tariffs on the market made sound business sense.

Impartial comparison and switching services like the Energy Advice Line were used by money-savvy businesses to ensure they were getting the best available deals on their business electricity and gas supplies.

“Whatever’s happening with regard to investment in green technology, it’s always going to make good business sense to shop around and get good impartial advice on your business energy supply,” Mr Morgan said.

“Many businesses don’t realise how many different business energy tariffs there are, and the vast difference in prices that are on offer.

“We deal exclusively with businesses so we’re experts on finding the best deal and helping companies switch suppliers quickly and easily.”

The T-Systems poll, to be released in full this week, follows a report by the Carbon Trust which showed nearly half of Britain’s top companies did not have targets on greenhouse gas emissions.

This contrasts with the UK’s legislation on carbon dioxide under which the government has set some of the world’s most stringent targets on emissions reductions.

Responding to the T-Systems survey, the British Chambers of Commerce said it was difficult for companies to priorities green investment when many were still struggling in the economic downturn.

“All businesses would like to be green but we are in an economy that is still very fragile. The priority at the present time is making sure you create enough revenue to pay your staff,” said Gareth Elliott, senior policy advisor for the British Chamber of Commerce.

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Move to low carbon economy ‘will cost Europe €2.9 trillion’

2 February 2011
Banks will have to supply 2 per cent of Europe’s GDP, or €2.9 trillion, to meet consumer demand for projects and technologies that tackle climate change, according to a new report from Barclays and Accenture.
The report took what it calculated to be the likely level of demand for things such as wind farms, energy efficiency measures and electric vehicles and estimated how much capital would be needed to fund these.
In a way, this looks like good news: demand is likely to be so high that it could provide a real opportunity for the banks. Rupesh Madlani, head of European renewables and cleantech equity research, told Energy Source: “There is a lot for the banks to play for here.”
But there are two bits of bad news: 1) there is little evidence that the financing will be forthcoming and 2) even if it is, this amount is unlikely to be enough for the EU to meet its 2020 emissions targets.
To read the full story click here by Kiran Stacey
http://blogs.ft.com/energy-source/2011/02/02/move-to-low-carbon-economy-will-cost-europe-e2-9-trillion/
So the banks are going to be in even more demand for funds – but where will their loyalties lie – with the SME or should they speculate on the ‘green market’ and renewable energy? Well if you were a bank and if you felt there was any risk at all that you felt would need to be covered off by the government you would probably opt for the ‘green’ initiative after all that’s the government’s mantra of the moment!
So where does that leave the SME who needs funding or even a simple loan to keep their heads above water…probably just that, treading water in the hope that someone will throw them a lifebelt of funding! In the meantime the reality of the situation needs to be minimised and so businesses of all sizes should review their overheads and for many a key one is their business electricity and business gas expenditure.
Take action now and review those costs, find your contract and check its renewal date and make absolutely sure you do not get rolled over into an expensive continuance. Also make it a habit to read your own meters and supply the readings to your current supplier, do not just rely on estimated readings they could cost you a fortune!
If you are reviewing your contract then check out an independent business energy price comparison site like enrgyadviceline.org.uk and check out the savings you could make on your business electricity and business gas rates with a free quotation or call them on 0800 915 1800.
Whatever happens do not get caught out by the utility companies and who knows one day the banks might actually start behaving in the interest of their customers and not just speculating on future ‘green profits’!

Banks will have to supply 2 per cent of Europe’s GDP, or €2.9 trillion, to meet consumer demand for projects and technologies that tackle climate change, according to a new report from Barclays and Accenture.

The report took what it calculated to be the likely level of demand for things such as wind farms, energy efficiency measures and electric vehicles and estimated how much capital would be needed to fund these.

In a way, this looks like good news: demand is likely to be so high that it could provide a real opportunity for the banks. Rupesh Madlani, head of European renewables and cleantech equity research, told Energy Source: “There is a lot for the banks to play for here.”

But there are two bits of bad news:

1) there is little evidence that the financing will be forthcoming and

2) even if it is, this amount is unlikely to be enough for the EU to meet its 2020 emissions targets.

To read the full story click here by Kiran Stacey

So the banks are going to be in even more demand for funds – but where will their loyalties lie – with the SME or should they speculate on the ‘green market’ and renewable energy? Well if you were a bank and if you felt there was any risk at all that you felt would need to be covered off by the government you would probably opt for the ‘green’ initiative after all that’s the government’s mantra of the moment!

So where does that leave the SME who needs funding or even a simple loan to keep their heads above water…probably just that, treading water in the hope that someone will throw them a lifebelt of funding! In the meantime the reality of the situation needs to be minimised and so businesses of all sizes should review their overheads and for many a key one is their business electricity and business gas expenditure.

Take action now and review those costs, find your contract and check its renewal date and make absolutely sure you do not get rolled over into an expensive continuance. Also make it a habit to read your own meters and supply the readings to your current supplier, do not just rely on estimated readings they could cost you a fortune!

If you are reviewing your contract then check out an independent business energy price comparison site like energyadviceline.org.uk and check out the savings you could make on your business electricity and business gas rates with a free quotation or call them on 0800 915 1800.

Whatever happens do not get caught out by the utility companies and who knows one day the banks might actually start behaving in the interest of their customers and not just speculating on future ‘green profits’!

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A new renewable energy plant

13 January 2011
A new renewable energy plant, designed to provide green energy for home and business energy customers in Dorset and beyond, has been met with concern by residents of the village of Winfrith, where it is to be built.
A biomass convertor planned for the village by the Verwood based energy company New Earth Energy has had planning permission granted for the building of the low-carbon facility and the Dorset Green Technology Park in 2012.
It will supply green business electricity to the industrial park as well as to surrounding houses and supplying the National Grid.
But local residents are concerned about the impact the plant will have on their lives. They believe that village roads will be overrun by lorries, posing a hazard to pedestrians.
The plant will make use of waste that will otherwise be destined for landfill, thus having a positive impact on the wider environment. It is also hoped that it will help keep electricity bills down.
The county councillor for Egdon Heath, Alex Brenton, told the Bournemouth Echo:
“This appears to be a very sensible way to use waste which would otherwise go to landfill and the figures seem to point to it producing a pretty successful amount of electricity.
“On the negative side, there are concerns in Wool and Bere Regis about lorry loads of waste being transported to the site.
“If the waste could be transported by train that would be great and personally I think it’s an option we should explore.”
The process of converting the waste into gas, which will power electricity generating engines, thus creating low carbon electricity for business and home customers, is known as pyrolysis.
The company’s planning director, Robert Asquith, told the Echo: “We see pyrolysis as one of the technologies that will significantly boost the UK’s renewable energy offering.”
Any boost to the renewable energy supply is good news for business energy customers, especially if it helps to keep prices low.
This business energy story was brought to you by Energy Advice Line.
Contact Energy Advice Line today to compare business energy prices.
Read the full story in the Bournemouth Echo

A new renewable energy plant, designed to provide green energy for home and business energy customers in Dorset and beyond, has been met with concern by residents of the village of Winfrith, where it is to be built.

A biomass convertor planned for the village by the Verwood based energy company New Earth Energy has had planning permission granted for the building of the low-carbon facility and the Dorset Green Technology Park in 2012.

It will supply green business electricity to the industrial park as well as to surrounding houses and supplying the National Grid.

But local residents are concerned about the impact the plant will have on their lives. They believe that village roads will be overrun by lorries, posing a hazard to pedestrians.

The plant will make use of waste that will otherwise be destined for landfill, thus having a positive impact on the wider environment. It is also hoped that it will help keep electricity bills down.

The county councillor for Egdon Heath, Alex Brenton, told the Bournemouth Echo:

“This appears to be a very sensible way to use waste which would otherwise go to landfill and the figures seem to point to it producing a pretty successful amount of electricity.

“On the negative side, there are concerns in Wool and Bere Regis about lorry loads of waste being transported to the site.

“If the waste could be transported by train that would be great and personally I think it’s an option we should explore.”

The process of converting the waste into gas, which will power electricity generating engines, thus creating low carbon electricity for business and home customers, is known as pyrolysis.

The company’s planning director, Robert Asquith, told the Echo: “We see pyrolysis as one of the technologies that will significantly boost the UK’s renewable energy offering.”

Any boost to the renewable energy supply is good news for business energy customers, especially if it helps to keep prices low.

This business energy story was brought to you by Energy Advice Line.

Contact Energy Advice Line today to compare business energy prices.

Read the full story in the Bournemouth Echo

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Britain to speed up move to green energy

5 January 2011
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne has promised that Britain will speed up its conversion to green energy, increasing the amount of electricity and gas that it gets from renewable sources faster than any other country in the European Union. So says a report in The Guardian.
By 2020, 15 per cent of UK domestic and business electricity must come from renewable sources to meet stringent targets signed up to back in the days of Tony Blair.
But this will not be an easy task; in 2008 the UK ranked third worst, above only Luxembourg and Malta, for renewable energy, while countries such as Germany are already racing ahead supplying home and business electricity customers from green sources such as wind turbines.
Mr Huhne accused Labour of leaving a “pretty damn poor” legacy on renewables following their 13 years in power.
Increasingly business owners are being encouraged to consider the environmental implications of their gas and electricity, and think about such things as carbon footprint when comparing business electricity prices and suppliers.
While the UK has been relatively slow on the uptake of renewable energy, but increasingly investment is being seen in offshore windfarms and in photovoltaic (solar energy) panels.
The Guardian article also cites a report carried out by Bloomberg Energy Fiance which forecasts £73 billion will be invested in renewable energy in the UK by 2020, the fourth highest amount not just in Europe but across the entire world.
David Cameron remains committed to his pledge to make the coalition the “greenest government ever.”
Businesses are embracing the potential long-term money saving and marketability of being greener, but for many the concerns over utility prices remain, and the fear is that business electricity and gas bills will rise sharply to pay for new, green technology.
By consulting an independent energy broker such as Energy Advice Line, you can compare a vast range of business electricity and gas tariffs, including special green packages, to ensure you get the best business energy deals for your organisation.
Contact Energy Advice Line today to see how easy it is to compare business electricity and business gas prices, with no obligation.
Read the full story in The Guardian.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne has promised that Britain will speed up its conversion to green energy, increasing the amount of electricity and gas that it gets from renewable sources faster than any other country in the European Union. So says a report in The Guardian.

By 2020, 15 per cent of UK domestic and business electricity must come from renewable sources to meet stringent targets signed up to back in the days of Tony Blair.

But this will not be an easy task; in 2008 the UK ranked third worst, above only Luxembourg and Malta, for renewable energy, while countries such as Germany are already racing ahead supplying home and business electricity customers from green sources such as wind turbines.

Mr Huhne accused Labour of leaving a “pretty damn poor” legacy on renewables following their 13 years in power.

Increasingly business owners are being encouraged to consider the environmental implications of their gas and electricity, and think about such things as carbon footprint when comparing business electricity prices and suppliers.

While the UK has been relatively slow on the uptake of renewable energy, but increasingly investment is being seen in offshore windfarms and in photovoltaic (solar energy) panels.

The Guardian article also cites a report carried out by Bloomberg Energy Fiance which forecasts £73 billion will be invested in renewable energy in the UK by 2020, the fourth highest amount not just in Europe but across the entire world.

David Cameron remains committed to his pledge to make the coalition the “greenest government ever.”

Businesses are embracing the potential long-term money saving and marketability of being greener, but for many the concerns over utility prices remain, and the fear is that business electricity and gas bills will rise sharply to pay for new, green technology.

By consulting an independent energy broker such as Energy Advice Line, you can compare a vast range of business electricity and gas tariffs, including special green packages, to ensure you get the best business energy deals for your organisation.

Contact Energy Advice Line today to see how easy it is to compare business electricity and business gas prices, with no obligation.

Read the full story in The Guardian

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Business electricity customers could be paid to turn off during peak times

15 December 2010
Be warned, this story could prove a bit of a turn off…
Of course, I’m talking about business energy and a new scheme outlined by Energy Minister Charles Hendry for a scheme that will encourage big energy users – primarily business electricity customers – to switch off some of their capacity during periods of peak energy demand.
The theoretical saved units of business electricity have been charmingly nicknamed “negawatts” and large power consumers would be rewarded for each negawatt of capacity they turn off, as part of plans to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions in line with stringent targets. This reward could be a monetary payment in recognition of business electricity conservation and/or increased efficiency.
This is the latest step in plans to overhaul the electricity market, due to be drafted by Christmas.
“We’re looking at capacity payment to take demand out of the system,” Hendry said to delegates at an event hosted by the Major Energy Users Council. “What is the best way to manage demand? Either provide physical supply or shave demand.”
In order to meet climate change goals, UK gas and electricity companies need to spend £200billion upgrading ageing infrastructure and building new, greener power stations, according to the industry regulator Ofgem.
Business electricity customers are likely to see costs rise as around a third of the existing UK power plants are closed down and replaced by green electricity solutions such as wind farms and solar power plants.
“There has never been a better time for demand side participation to contribute to our energy policy goals,” said Graham Meeks, Director of the Combined Heat & Power Association, in Solar Power Portal. “With the enormous cost of new generating capacity, the value of energy savings and flexible action by energy consumers is considerable.
While small and medium sized businesses without such large energy consumption will be unlikely to profit hugely from this scheme, it is always worth examining where you can increase efficiency or make processes greener, thus reducing business electricity bills.
You can read the full story at Solar Power Portal.

Be warned, this story could prove a bit of a turn off…

Of course, I’m talking about business energy and a new scheme outlined by Energy Minister Charles Hendry for a scheme that will encourage big energy users – primarily business electricity customers – to switch off some of their capacity during periods of peak energy demand.

The theoretical saved units of business electricity have been charmingly nicknamed “negawatts” and large power consumers would be rewarded for each negawatt of capacity they turn off, as part of plans to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions in line with stringent targets. This reward could be a monetary payment in recognition of business electricity conservation and/or increased efficiency.

This is the latest step in plans to overhaul the electricity market, due to be drafted by Christmas.

“We’re looking at capacity payment to take demand out of the system,” Hendry said to delegates at an event hosted by the Major Energy Users Council. “What is the best way to manage demand? Either provide physical supply or shave demand.”

In order to meet climate change goals, UK gas and electricity companies need to spend £200billion upgrading ageing infrastructure and building new, greener power stations, according to the industry regulator Ofgem.

Business electricity customers are likely to see costs rise as around a third of the existing UK power plants are closed down and replaced by green electricity solutions such as wind farms and solar power plants.

“There has never been a better time for demand side participation to contribute to our energy policy goals,” said Graham Meeks, Director of the Combined Heat & Power Association, in Solar Power Portal. “With the enormous cost of new generating capacity, the value of energy savings and flexible action by energy consumers is considerable.

While small and medium sized businesses without such large energy consumption will be unlikely to profit hugely from this scheme, it is always worth examining where you can increase efficiency or make processes greener, thus reducing business electricity bills.

You can read the full story at Solar Power Portal

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Green is great

7 December 2010

Green is great: but efficiency can save the planet and money on your business energy bills Cleaner, greener sources of energy for business and domestic customers are very much part of the zeitgeist.

Plans are already underway for many more carbon friendly ways of generating gas and electricity, and that’s great news if it’s going to help keep bills down for business electricity and gas customers.

But amid all this greenery it’s important not to forget the massive role that energy efficiency has in helping the environment and reducing your business electricity and gas bills.

That’s the message Benj Sykes from The Carbon Trust told The Guardian newspaper recently as he pointed out the importance of investment from the business community into energy efficiency sector.

“The reasons for investing in efficiency are ever growing,” he told The Guardian. “An interesting early sign of this comes from the venture capital community which last year did more deals in energy efficiency than any other cleantech sector in the EU.”

Sykes then goes on to point out the importance of this to every business electricity and gas customer.

As business energy prices increase, the impact of cutting gas and electricity bills’ impact on a business’s bottom line will become ever more important.

“A drive for efficiency now will also help to hedge against likely energy price volatility in the future,” Sykes adds.

Then of course there are the customers to think of, particularly if your business sells direct to the public. Recent research by the Carbon Trust discovered that 86 per cent of customers want their favourite brands to green up, and 43 per cent are actively looking into how green those brands actually are.

That means even if you are operating in the business to business sector, re-evaluating business energy usage at your point in the supply chain could help your business win customers.

Look around your workplace and there will be lots of ways in which you can save business energy. From shutting the door to save on heating costs to using low energy lightbulbs to save business electricity, you will be surprised at what you can save.

Take a look at Energy Advice Line’s Top Tips for saving business energy for more ideas and contact Energy Advice Line today for advice on how to save money on business gas and business electricity costs, helping to keep your overheads down.

You can read Benj Sykes’s full comments in The Guardian

And find more about saving business energy at The Carbon Trust

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