Energy efficiency is most popular action to reduce emissions

Energy efficiency measures are the most popular action among businesses trying to reduce emissions, according to a survey of 300 large and small businesses in the UK.

But npower’s Business Energy Index (nBEI), an annual report of business opinion on energy use and carbon emissions, also found that more than eight out of ten businesses think the UK Government’s target of an 80% reduction in carbon emission by 2050 is unrealistic.

In the current economic climate, 97% of respondents said they were more interested in reducing costs than emissions. But on the upside, this means that 80% of companies say they are likely to increase energy efficiency initiatives in a bid to save on energy costs.

What is encouraging is that this year’s survey has seen an increase in the proportion of businesses recognising the need to be more energy efficient, Julia Lynch-Williams, director of energy services at npower, told Energy Efficiency News.

“While it’s understandable that businesses are more focused on the bottom-line in the current economic crisis, we would encourage them to see energy management as an effective means of reducing emissions as well as costs,” she adds.

The kind of energy saving measures being undertaken varies slightly according to the size of organisation. But what all businesses have in common is making employees aware of the benefits of energy efficiency as a matter of high priority. And key to that message is switching off equipment, lighting and other systems when not in use.

“Our advice to businesses is to make energy efficiency a priority now and in the long term,” says Lynch-Williams.

Once businesses take the first step in saving energy and see actual cost benefits, she believes it would be “unimaginable for businesses to revert to their old inefficient ways”.

But what businesses do need to take this first step is good advice on which energy efficiency measures to implement to cut costs and carbon emissions. Just over half of respondents (51%) said they did not think that the Government offers useful advice on energy efficiency or carbon reduction.

Lynch-Williams says there is a communications issue for the Government and organisations like the Energy Saving and Carbon Trust to address. Businesses need more access to unbiased, independent information to drive them towards more energy efficient operations.

Fuente: Energy Efficiency News