20% Of Energy Wasted And Environmental Damage

UK businesses are wasting around 20 per cent of energy consumption, with the average company losing GBP7,000 per year in this way and causing unnecessary environmental damage.

UK businesses are wasting around 20 per cent of energy consumption, with the average company losing GBP7,000 per year in this way and causing unnecessary environmental damage.

That is according to Utility Auditing, which added that every business can take simple measures to stem such wastage to save both money and protect the environment.

The company's comments come after the Stern Review, compiled by economist Sir Nicholas Stern for the UK Government, warned that the world needed to act now on climate change, or face devastating economic consequences.

Its main conclusions were that one per cent of global GDP needs to be invested to mitigate the effects of climate change, warning that failure to do so could risk a recession worth up to 20 per cent of global GDP.

The report suggests that climate change threatens to be the greatest and widest-ranging market failure ever seen and it provides prescriptions including environmental taxes to minimise the economic and social challenges faced.

Whilst both business and domestic consumers worldwide must respond to this global challenge, UK companies can play their part in helping the environment and help themselves, said Utility Auditing.

The company said that businesses with an annual energy spend of more than GBP50,000 can also benefit from free on-site Carbon Trust surveys.

The survey begins with a visit to a company's premises by a qualified Utility Auditing energy auditor, who will carry out a walk through of the site to pinpoint unnecessary, poorly controlled, inefficient or inappropriate energy use.

Energy usage is also bench-marked against consumption figures by similar businesses.

The next stage is to present fully costed recommendations for improving efficiency, including simple measures, which require no capital outlay.

Project management and training can then be provided, if necessary, to help businesses implement the energy saving recommendations, added the company.

Utility Auditing added that it can help businesses to gain access to interest free Carbon Trust loans of up to GBP100,000 and claim Enhanced Capital Allowances to help implement energy efficiency measures.

Through its parent group, ENER-G plc, the company said that it can also provide building energy management and combined heat and power services to make a contribution to energy efficiency programmes.

The company explained that it works in partnership with more than 60 accredited chambers of commerce and membership organisations.

The company buys GBP175 million worth of energy on behalf of UK businesses each year and can use its national purchasing power and expertise to negotiate the best UK contract rates on gas and electricity, it added.

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