Energy Audits give Good Return
24 Aug 2010
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The Groundwork Suffolk Coastal Business Energy Advisor offers
small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) across the Suffolk Coastal
District free specialist energy advice to help cut costs and save
carbon. Featuring prominently in local press, including the East
Anglian Daily Times, the service offers every SME that signs up a
site visit, an energy and resource assessment, and a subsequent
energy report and action plan to be put to use within the
business.
Over the last year 67 SMEs made use of the service, from hotels
to museums to health centres. Through the suggestions of lighting
upgrades, improvements to building fabric, heating system upgrades,
refrigeration improvement and general good housekeeping measures, a
huge amount of energy and cost potentially has been saved. By
improving environmental performance the estimated annual energy
cost savings for the 67 SMEs was calculated at £282,050 and the
annual carbon savings at 1,247 tonnes of CO2(e) a year. If these
figures were applied to the 4,000 estimated SMEs in the District
there is the potential to save £16,838,800 and 74,440 tonnes of
CO2(e) a year.
Apart from the Environmental benefits, the service makes great
Economic sense. For every £1 invested the return is £5.40. When
applying this to the annual potential carbon savings the return is
24kg for every £1 invested in the service, which equates to a cost
saving of £42 per tonne of CO2(e) giving a return on investment of
less than 2 years. These potential saving have been widely
recognised and the service has had a clear impact in the immediate
District. Numerous businesses are adopting measures to improve
their environmental performance, taking advantage of 0% loans
provided by the Carbon Trust and the expert knowledge provided by
the energy advisor team. The feedback indicates that it is a
service that 100% of those businesses involved would recommend to
others.
From relatively small businesses like Moat House B&B; where low energy lighting
and freezers have been upgraded, to larger enterprises like the
Highlands Residential Care Home; where
upgrading of boilers and improved recycling is taking place, it is
clear that the role of the Suffolk Coastal Business Energy Advisor
has been very positive. Groundwork is continuing to offer this
valuable service into 2011.
You can view the full Suffolk Coastal Business Energy
Advisor Year 1 Summary Report here
For more information on our Business Advisor Service, please
click here