The Carbon Trust has launched a new business offering free advice to organisations looking to invest in energy-efficient and renewables technology.
The new firm, Carbon Trust Implementation, examines companies’ energy-efficiency needs, provides advice on what equipment would work best and then puts them in touch with accredited suppliers.
According to the trust, UK businesses are failing to invest in low-energy technologies in part due to the time and resources it takes to find the right equipment and because they are unable to quantify the expected returns.
The new service, which is funded through charging suppliers commission, has been created in a bid to make procurement of energy-efficienct equipment as simple as possible and aid investment in green technologies.
“We know many more companies are concerned about rising energy costs and want to act, but they need help,” said Tom Delay, chief executive of the Carbon Trust.
“The new business will help unlock £9 billion of investment in energy-efficient equipment. We are confident that our new business will catalyse organisations to take action and in turn benefit from implementing cost-effective energy-efficiency and renewable energy projects and help the UK capitalise on green growth.”
Energy minister Greg Barker, welcomed the creation of the business saying: “In these tough times for business, using energy more wisely and creating your own clean green power can help cut bills and improve the bottom line.”
Meanwhile John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace UK, said: “Historically businesses have massively underestimated the returns from energy-efficiency investments. Even simple things like upgrading lighting and heating would deliver a good rate of return.”
The launch of Carbon Trust Implementation follows just weeks after the trust announced the creation of a new business offering verification services for organisations measuring their carbon footprint.
