Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
Reducing energy use is one of the simplest ways to reduce the carbon footprint of your business and to help tackle the climate emergency.
All businesses can reduce their energy use, benefiting the environment and their bottom line. Saving energy can also have other benefits, including boosting employees' morale and an improved business reputation.
Carbon Trust: Why saving energy is good for your business
Carbon Trust: An SME guide to financing energy efficiency projects
There are many changes your business can make to cut carbon emissions from energy use.
Carbon Trust: Technology and energy management publications
The changes you make can be as small as turning electrical equipment off overnight or changing your light bulbs to energy-efficient ones. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs estimates that traditional light bulbs waste 95 per cent of the energy they use as heat. Energy-efficient bulbs are up to 80 per cent more efficient than traditional bulbs and each bulb could save you up to £40 over its lifetime. As part of the effort to reduce emissions, all inefficient light bulbs were phased out in September 2012.
Energy Saving Trust: Energy Efficient Lighting
You may want to consider larger measures where the financial benefits are more long term, such as investing in new energy-saving plant or machinery.
You may also be eligible for tax breaks, if you invest in certain energy-saving equipment. See the page in this guideline dealing with tax breaks to encourage energy efficiency
Buildings can be a major contributor to carbon emissions, often through inefficient energy use. See the page in this guideline on how to cut carbon emissions from business buildings
For information on reducing energy use in your business, read our guideline: Energy efficiency
Zero Waste Scotland has produced a series of free, online training modules for SMEs. The training will help develop the skills and knowledge needed to put in place effective resource efficiency measures in your business. They deal with energy, waste and water efficiency. You can work through them at your own speed, choosing the modules that are relevant to your business.
How climate change affects your business
How to cut carbon emissions from energy use
How to cut carbon emissions from business travel
How to cut carbon emissions from business buildings
How to design low-carbon products
How to find suppliers of low-carbon products
Tax breaks to encourage energy efficiency
Comply with emissions trading requirements
International climate change projects and the carbon offset market
How to get involved with Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation projects
Groundwater in Northern Ireland, DAERA have produced a leaflet to raise awareness about this untapped resource
EU Exit, EU Exit useful information
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