Why it makes sense for businesses to go green

Article date : 02/02/2010

Going green can see businesses improving their social corporate responsibility record and therefore attracting customers, but it could also see them reducing their bottom line by lowering their energy bills.

This could be motivation for UK companies to become more energy efficient but the announcement of a government scheme set to come into force next year may act as a further prompt.

According to the Environment Agency, between April and September this year, any firm using 6000MWh electricity per year, equivalent to about £500,000 worth, must register with the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.

From next year, these businesses will have to record the amount of energy they consume and pay for their carbon emissions by the tonne.

With this in mind, firms may wish to take steps to make their central heating systems greener.

This can be achieved with a condensing boiler - which is more energy efficient than an older gas boiler - and heating controls, while renewable energy technology such as solar panels may also be advisable.

Tony Grayling, head of climate change and sustainable development at the Environment Agency, said: "Carbon reduction needn't be complicated or expensive, in most cases better management of heating, air conditioning and lighting will deliver immediate energy and cost savings."

Written by Jasper Cullen

ADNFCR-1600-ID-19593029-ADNFCR