The business of energy efficiency

This paper examines how more businesses can unlock the full opportunity of energy efficiency using as examples the work of a number of leading companies.

Publication date: December 2010
Information in this report was correct at the time of publication

Finance directors at large businesses in the UK are undervaluing the financial returns from investments in energy efficiency by more than half, research by the Carbon Trust has revealed.

This undervaluation is one factor leading big businesses to waste at least £1.6bn every year on energy they could easily save through measures including upgrades to heating and lighting, energy-saving policies and staff training.

Our interviews with business leaders responsible for enacting energy efficiency provide useful examples of how leading companies are overcoming common barriers to progress on energy efficiency. The recurrent themes are: making the business case clear; creating momentum; resolving misaligned incentives; and enhancing the customer proposition.

This document is not intended to be a 'how-to' guide on energy efficiency - the Carbon Trust has already published several guides that do this job - but rather to function as a reminder of the value that businesses may be overlooking. We encourage readers to take a fresh look at the opportunities for energy efficiency in their businesses.

Contact us to find out how you can cut energy costs and gain a competitive edge in a challenging economic climate.

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