*********************************************************************************

• Renewable energy promotion campaign - please find the electronic copy of the information leaflet here, on the technologies, advice and financial incentives available.
• For info about the upcoming Richmondshire Eco Week: 16th - 25th March 2012, including various business events.

Why should my business be energy & resource efficient?

From a purely economic perspective, wasting less and being efficient with the utilities and materials you use, will save your business money and improve your profit margins!  Every year, your business could save at least £200 per employee, cut energy bills by 20% and water bills by 50% (Defra, 2010). It's not just energy and fuel that contribute to business running costs - minimising all materials and supplies you have to buy, and then pay to dispose of as waste, will improve competitiveness as well as reducing your environmental impact. You will also be able to advertise your green credentials to ever more environmentally-aware customers, to help you gain new business. 

• See the Business Resource Efficiency fact sheet for how this could help your business. 

So how do I save energy & money?

• For advice on how to improve your resource efficiency, see Richmondshire's new Greener Business website, including training events, information, contacts and grants information.
• Richmondshire District Council's a Business Waste Handbook has advice on how your business can save money through waste elimination, minimisation, re-using, recycling and disposal, including details of lots of useful contacts to help you with advice and funding on resource and energy efficiency issues.

Useful links:

• Locally, the North Yorkshire Green Business Club, run by the Yorkshire Energy Partnership, runs courses and workshops and knowledge sharing with other local businesses.  They can also give presentations to your staff on energy saving behaviour and smarter (and more fuel efficient) driving.  They're now launching a new Investors in the Environment scheme (similar to the Investors in People mark) for businesses.
• The Carbon Trust website is mainly tailored to larger businesses but they do have online video tutorials to help small and medium-sized enterprises cut their energy bills by 20%.
• CO₂Sense Yorkshire support businesses of all types to become greener through their Environment Voucher grants, but also offer active support if you're starting a business in the green sector e.g. involving renewable or low-carbon energy.
• The Energy Saving Trust - general information and advice on energy saving

• CO₂Sense on 0113 237 8400.
• Economic Development via the Richmondshire District Council switchboard on 01748 829 100.
• Sustainable Development Officer on sustainable.development@richmondshire.gov.uk, or 01609 767160.