A new campaign to help businesses, charities and public sector bodies increase their energy efficiency and drive down bills by making simple changes at low-to-no cost has been launched.
The iniative coincides with the Government’s new energy bill discount scheme coming into force, which has drawn criticism from some business leaders who think the financial support is nowhere near enough.
Targeted at small and medium sized businesses, the new campaign will offer guidance on how organisations can make significant savings while cutting emissions, from installing light and heating timers, to turning down boiler flow temperature and changing light bulbs.
For many companies, a 20% cut in energy costs represents the same bottom-line benefit as a 5% increase in sales.
To make sure as many businesses as possible know about the Government run campaign, it will be promoted through partnerships with the British Chambers of Commerce and Federation of Small Business. It will also feature on TV, radio, and social media advertising.
Meanwhile, organisations across the country will now start receiving money off their energy bills through the new Energy Bills Discount Scheme.
Suppliers will automatically factor the discount into the bills of all eligible non-domestic customers, so business customers do not need to apply,
The new scheme replaces the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which many organisations had called for to remain. Some critics say the new scheme will mean an 85 per cent reduction in energy support.
Alex Veitch, Director of Policy & Public Affairs at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “We have been signalling for months that many businesses will struggle to afford their energy bills when the financial envelope of support reduces by 85%, with many receiving a fraction of their original support. Almost half (47%) of firms say paying bills will be difficult.
“But of the seven energy policies we advocated for the Government to include in this month’s Spring Budget, not one was acted upon.”
