Businesses Can Save Money Through Green Switch

Businesses are being urged to calculate and reduce their carbon footprint under a scheme to help them cut their energy use and save money.

The Carbon Trust is launching an on-line carbon calculator for businesses, which it says will allow companies to quickly work out their main carbon impacts and how they can reduce emissions.

According to the Government-funded trust, businesses could save almost £350m this winter (December to the end of February) through cost-free or low-cost actions such as energy-efficient light bulbs or opening blinds to use natural light.

It would also save more than 2.7m tonnes of carbon dioxide, equivalent to the entire annual emissions of Liverpool, the Carbon Trust said.

As part of the initiative, businesses can apply on-line for a free carbon survey, in which an expert consultant will carry out an on-site visit to measure and help reduce their emissions, and the trust is also running a series of free interactive workshops around the UK.

Tom Delay, chief executive of the Carbon Trust, said:

"This initiative is a timely reminder that acting on CO2 makes perfect business sense. We want all businesses to take advantage of our new, free on-line carbon footprint calculator to help them measure and ultimately reduce their carbon emissions. Businesses that act will quickly reap the benefits of improving their bottom line while increasing competitiveness."

The Carbon Trust's calculator for businesses is available at www.carbontrust.co.uk/footprintcalculator.