Ensuring fridges are properly closed is one way catering businesses can save energy.
Almost half of the businesses participating in the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme don’t think the government has provided them with enough information, a recent survey by nPower’s Business Energy Index found.
Business energy customers are also unsure how to forecast their CO2 emissions and purchase carbon allowances, two keystones of the scheme. Failure to comply could potentially result in financial penalties.
The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme is designed for large businesses, those that use more than 6,000MWh of electricity. However, most small and medium sized businesses are also concerned about the potential hikes in cost of business electricity and gas as the government strives to meet strict targets for cutting carbon emissions.
The nPower study reveals that 79% of businesses believe the legally-binding target of cutting CO2 emissions by 80% by the year 2050 is unrealistic; only 25% think that reducing carbon emissions will benefit their business.
Perhaps not surprisingly, given today’s news that the UK economy was avoiding a double-dip recession but only just, 93% of businesses surveyed stated they were more concerned about reducing their costs than their carbon footprint. However, 69% still agreed that they were likely to increase their business energy efficiency in over the next 12 months – they were doing this mainly to cut costs, but cutting emissions would be a secondary benefit.
Speaking to Dealer Support, David Titterton from npower Energy Services commented: “The government needs to do more to communicate the benefits and opportunities of the CRC and give businesses the certainty they need to take action to improve energy efficiency.â€
For small and medium sized business energy customers, there are many steps you can take to reduce your costs and carbon emissions.
Energy Advice Line have a range of energy saving tips available.
Some of the easiest to implement include:
- Making sure everyone switches off their PCs, monitors etc at the end of the day and during long meetings
- Keeping heating outlets free from obstruction
- Removing every second lightbulb
- Keep equipment properly maintained so that it runs efficiently
- In catering establishments, ensure fridge doors, oven doors etc are properly closed
We want to hear your top tips too – leave a comment and let us know how you’re saving business energy. The best ones will be added to our guide.
For information on how to save costs on your business energy, contact Energy Advice Line.
Read the full CRC article in Dealer Support.
Picture credit – CCA: GE Profile Refrigerator by mahalie from Flickr
