Practical steps to cut carbon

Home in on what's best for your business budget

There’s loads of advice out there to help your business cut its carbon footprint and its costs.

You might not have a big budget for green measures, but you can do a lot for very little cost.

The government’s Energy Efficiency for Businesses website has some great case studies and offers advice under three headings:

quick and easy no-cost actions
low-cost energy-saving actions
long-term investments

Carbon-cutting measures to suit every Hart business

QUICK, EASY AND FREE

Hit the lights

It’s amazing how many businesses leave the lights on when there’s no one in a room or building – even overnight when everyone’s at home in bed!

Get into the habit of switching off lights when you don’t need them. It’s as easy as flipping a switch. Or get some lighting timers to do the job for you.

Pull the plug

Or at least, switch off electrical appliances at the wall when you don’t need them and it’s safe to do so. It’s amazing how much energy is eaten up by computer monitors, vending machines, kitchen equipment and other stuff that doesn’t need to be left on all the time.

Cool it

Staff and customers won’t thank you for overdoing this one. But turning down the thermostat by even one degree won’t affect comfort levels and will cut your costs.

Consider switching off office heating at weekends and bank holidays.

LOW-COST OPTIONS

Switch and save

Check your energy tariff. If you’re paying too much and aren’t locked in to a contract, consider switching to a different supplier.

The Ofgem website has expert advice on switching business energy tariffs.

Audit your energy

The first step to reducing energy consumption is finding out how much you use and where you use it. The government has issued advice for small businesses on how to measure and report their greenhouse gas emissions. This can help you find ways to save energy, save money and prove your green credentials.

Next section: Tell the world about your green credentials

Low-cost options continued:

Get smart

A smart meter is a great investment if you want to keep tabs on your energy usage. It’ll also send automatic readings to your supplier, so estimated readings will be a thing of the past.

Energy suppliers want people to use them so they’re usually installed for free. For more information visit Smart Energy GB’s Small Business Hub.

Keep the heat in

Insulation is a great way to stop heat escaping from your business and it needn’t cost a fortune. You’ll save heat and money just by blocking up draughty windows and door frames. Go online or pop down to your local hardware store to see what insulation’s available.

Plant some new bulbs

The electric type, not the garden ones! Modern LED bulbs use very little energy and are long-lasting. So you should start saving money two or three years after you replace your old lighting with LED.

Befriend your boiler

A lot of businesses only notice the boiler when it breaks down. But give yours a little love and attention, because a well-maintained boiler is one that runs most cost-effectively.

It’s also a good idea to study the manual to understand how the controls work. For example, you might save money by finding the flow-temperature control and turning it down a notch.

Then, when your boiler needs replacing, check out a more sustainable option, such as a heat pump or biomass boiler. The Energy Saving Trust has loads of good advice for businesses.

LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS

Get a heat pump

Although heat pumps run off electricity, they use it much more efficiently than conventional boilers. So you’re likely to cut your electricity costs while cutting out gas or oil altogether.

Another bit of good news is that the government is offering grants of up to £7,500 off the cost of a heat pump.

Check if you’re eligible for a heat pump grant on GOV.UK

Embrace green tech

There are loads of other green technologies out there that might help your business cut carbon and costs.

Check out the government’s Energy Technology List.

It catalogues more than 8,000 products ranges from heating, lighting and buildings insulation to energy-efficient machinery for specific sectors. There might be something on the list tailor-made for your business.