Increasingly companies are setting public energy reduction goals as businesses better recognize the link between reduced energy consumption, cost savings and an improved bottom line as well as a lower company carbon footprint.
During this recession and with energy prices starting to rise, companies who do not have a formal energy reduction goal should establish one this year to take advantage of the benefits not fulfilled by an emissions reduction goal.
In the past five years, leading companies have set public carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reduction goals and reviewed and reported progress annually. The process of achieving these goals demonstrated to organisations the power of energy reduction.
A lighting upgrade project that was previously “deferred maintenance,” for instance, is now a project with strategic benefits and a strong financial payback.
Gary Brandwood, Commercial Business Manager at Renewables4Business said “Many leading companies have publicly set energy goals. Establishing an energy goal offers benefits that carbon reduction goals do not in today’s business climate. Energy reduction directly translates to money savings, which is easier to sell internally, especially to line managers and board members who are skeptical about climate change. Reduced energy use is straightforward to understand by many in the company. Instituting an energy reduction goal is straightforward but requires internal education and top level management support before making it a publicly stated goal.
Gary continued “Goals can be set as either as absolute or intensity targets. Investing the time to secure top level management support for a public energy reduction goal is well worth it. Energy visibility and accountability within most companies is diffuse and nonexistent. A publicly stated energy reduction target powerfully focuses the company to execute on the reduction opportunity. This public commitment galvanizes accountability, support and process improvements.
Energy reduction has broad, organisational support, fits in with the need for companies to be operationally lean during a recession, and reduces the company’s environmental impact. When announced and tracked publicly, corporate energy reduction goals save the company money, increase profits and ensure progress toward environmental objectives.
For an explanation of how you can take advantage of the new Energy Bill, please contact Gary Brandwood directly at Renewables4business on 01925 764586 .
