Making the business case for energy efficiency

Carbon Trust releases two guides with advice for businesses on identifying opportunities for saving energy, and making a business case for carbon reduction

21 August 2012

The Carbon Trust has today launched two updated guides, designed to help businesses take control of their energy spend and reduce carbon emissions. Experience shows that even low and no-cost actions can usually reduce energy costs by at least 10% and produce quick returns. For many businesses a 20% cut in energy costs represents the same bottom line benefit as a 5% increase in sales.

Globally, over 60% of companies are now taking action to reduce energy use in their operations. Many organisations now employ staff with direct responsibility for achieving this. The two guides from the Carbon Trust provide expert advice on how to successfully take advantage of the opportunities in energy efficiency.

The Better Business Guide to Energy Saving provides advice on how to conduct an energy walk round, identifying where waste is occurring and savings can be made. This includes general advice for offices, warehouses and factories with heating, lighting, and equipment. It also includes details on how to use energy bills and meter readings to manage energy use. The guide is illustrated with case studies from businesses that have already done this.

Making the Business Case for a Carbon Reduction Project is a guide produced for people responsible for their organisation's energy use such as energy or environmental managers, facilities managers and works engineers. It provides detailed recommendations on how to win over decision makers or a board to implement projects. It includes advice on assessing costs, managing risk and arranging finance.

The guides can be found on the Carbon Trust's website along with other reports and resources at: www.carbontrust.com/resources. To find out more about how the Carbon Trust can help your organisation invest in energy efficiency and cut carbon email implementation@carbontrust.com or call +44 (0)20 7170 7000.

 

Notes to editor

For more information and to speak to a Carbon Trust spokesperson, please contact the Carbon Trust press office:

Tel no: 020 7170 7050

Email: press@carbontrust.com

 

About the Carbon Trust

The Carbon Trust is an independent company with a mission to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy. The Carbon Trust:

  • advises businesses, government and the public sector on opportunities in a sustainable, low carbon world.
  • measures and certifies the environmental footprint of organisations, products and services.
  • helps develop and deploy low carbon technologies and solutions, from energy efficiency to renewable power.