Improving the energy efficiency of your business needn’t require upfront costs or investment. As a starting point, implement simple measures which are free or cost-effective, for a viable way to start your journey towards Net Zero.

1. Improve energy efficiency
Consuming less energy means you could save while lessening the impact of your carbon footprint. Smart meters can help your business to chart energy use, giving detailed information on consumption and costs in real time. Understanding these insights may help to make more cost-effective changes across your operation, with no up-front or installation costs.

2. Switch to direct debit
Direct Debit payments offer lower associated carbon emissions. Direct Debits with paper billing have a carbon footprint of 73.36g of CO2 per year, compared to 591.36g for cheques. Direct Debits with paperless billing lowers this figure to just 35.51g of C02 per year. So, it’s well worth rethinking how you make your payments.

3. Cutdown on emails
This might not spring to mind in terms of taking a greener approach, but emails have environmental costs attached. In 2019, an estimated 64 million unnecessary emails were sent in the UK each day, amounting to 16,433 tonnes of CO2. Pick up the phone or hit video call instead for greener communications.

4. Overcrowding the cloud?
Cloud-based storage or server-based activities rely on an energy-intensive data centre. This activity contributes carbon unless powered by a renewable energy provider, which presents your business with an opportunity to reduce IT-related emissions.

5. Remote working
Providing staff with a flexible, remote working option brings a huge reduction to business and transport emissions. Transport accounts for around one-fifth of global CO2 emissions, so there is scope for large reductions in collective emissions, which can be supported by online collaboration and less commuting.

6. Recycle it!
Recycling reduces your organisation’s carbon footprint and also promotes a greener working culture. A ton of recycled paper can save up to 17 trees from deforestation, as well as 7000 gallons of water, 380 gallons of oil, 4000 kWh energy, and 3 cubic yards of landfill space. Well worth a few seconds of shredding.

7. Sustainable Suppliers
Along with ensuring your business is sustainable, support suppliers with ISO 14001 or CarbonNeutral® certification. This proves an organisation has environmental management and is improving resource efficiency and waste reduction.

GEAB provide expert energy advice tailored to any budget. Call GEAB today to discuss how your business can start to lower emissions, from 9am to 5pm, on 0191 303 7750.

What it means for your Business

The water market opened in 2017, giving eligible businesses, charities and public sector customers the ability to purchase their supply from water retailers and wastewater services.

GEAB work with businesses across the UK and Scotland to access eligibility, devise purchasing strategies, and reduce operational costs.

The benefits of switching water retailer include:

• Direct contact regarding bills and payments, meter readings, customer service enquiries, and water saving advice.
• Increased value for money and discounted costs.

As well as delivering benefits to businesses and organisations, environmental benefits aim to reduce carbon emissions via reduced water usage, improved efficiency and processing, and the use of water-conserving technologies.

FREE Water Health Check

GEAB conduct historical bill analysis with a free Water Health Check. Businesses may have been overpaying for services due to complex pricing structures and the reorganisation of water companies. Your free Water Health Check will potentially assist your business to:

• Identify historical overcharges and potential refunds.
• Develop a baseline understanding of water usage.
• Identify organisational areas requiring competitive rates and service.

Water Auditing

GEAB auditors provide comprehensive reports to improve onsite water management. A Water Audit will potentially assist your business to:

• Identify maintenance issues before they become operational problems.
• Diagnose water efficiency improvements.
• Present opportunities for the installation of improved water control technologies with costed estimates for retrofits and improvement works. 

GEAB offer integrated Water Management Programmes which allow businesses to comply with official regulations and reduce overall costs without significant investment.

For advice on Water management and on-going support to make your company a greener more profitable business, contact the GEAB team.