Poor efficiency costs £7m per day
August 1st 2008 Energy efficiency is now the number one cost-cutting priority for UK businesses looking to combat the impact of a potential economic slowdown, according to new research released today by the Carbon Trust. But with UK industry still wasting almost £7 million a day on poor energy efficiency, the Carbon Trust and business groups are urging businesses to seize the potential savings on offer.
Of business leaders surveyed by the Carbon Trust, twice as many say reducing carbon emissions has risen up their agenda in the last six months than those who say it has fallen down (20% vs. 9%). And they now rank energy efficiency ahead of recruitment freezes, redundancies, freezing salaries or giving below inflation pay rises as a potential cost-saving measure.
New statistical analysis by the Carbon Trust also highlights that UK businesses could collectively save nearly £2.5 billion during the next 12 months, simply by implementing cost effective energy efficiency measures.And the savings are not just the preserve of large energy-intensive companies: the potential savings for SMEs alone are around £1.3 billion. The £2.5 billion figure is equivalent to 13% of UK companies’ energy bills.
With almost seven in ten (69 per cent) company bosses surveyed either actively cutting costs or considering doing so, the Carbon Trust is urging them to get in touch to seek help in reducing their energy bills and their carbon emissions. More articles from WEE News Desk: | 
