Improving the resource efficiency of your business will not only reduce your impact on climate change, but will also bring positive reputational and financial benefits. Customers have become increasingly concerned with the impacts of their purchases and they are now demanding that businesses demonstrate social and environmental responsibility throughout their operations.
Measures that you can put in place range from simple behaviour changes such as ensuring equipment is switched of at the end of the day to simple contractual arrangements such as ensuring that your waste is recycled to capital expenditure for new energy efficient equipment or technology.
There are a range of organisations available to assist you to identify where you could benefit from making changes. They may even be able to direct you to sources of funding or support.
Carbon Trust
If you are a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME’s) with up to 250 employees, who has been trading for at least 12 months the Carbon Trust may be able to provide you with an interest-free loan of between £5,000 and £50,000 to fund the cost of buying energy efficient equipment or technologies.
Tel: 0800 085 2005
Web: http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/energy/startsaving/
Business Link
Business Link provide a wealth of information on improving business efficiency including advice on improving environmental performance, managing environmental issues, assessing environmental compliance and identifying where savings can be made.
Business Link may also be able to direct you to grants, loans and financial help for energy efficiency improvements for your buildings.
Tel: 0845 6009006
Web: http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?topicId=1079068363
Envirowise
Envirowise offers free, independent support to businesses, helping them to become more resource efficient and make financial savings.
Tel: 0800 585 794
Web: www.envirowise.gov.uk
Date of last review: 12 January 2009