How to cut carbon emissions from energy use

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.

ZWS: Green Champions Training

In this Guideline

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

Purchasing carbon offsets