There is plenty of advice and support available to Lancashire businesses that need help starting or progressing their net zero journey.
• The chamber of commerce’s low carbon team can help whether your are a member or not. For more details visit
www.chamberlowcarbon.co.uk
• For information on RedCAT and how it can help businesses close the gap between innovation and successful commercialisation visit
www.red-cat.uk
• The MaCaW project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund alongside the University of Central Lancashire and was set up to help Lancashire-based SMEs move to a low carbon model. Information can be found at
www.macawlancs.co.uk
• Eco-I North West (NW) is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and aims to support SMEs as they undertake low-carbon business innovations. Information can be found on the UCLan and Lancaster University websites
• For further information about Burnley College’s low carbon hub contact Paul Sharples on 01282 733275 or email
p.sharples@
burnley.ac.uk
per cent, but recent events have shown that to be a significant underestimate.
“Since we had the audit, power prices have gone through the roof. Doing this now has become one of the best decisions we’ve made.”
He adds: “I always come back to finance. Businesses work to the bottom line, so let’s talk basics. If you cut your carbon emissions, you will cut costs.”
Miranda Barker
With the rising cost of energy, the business says talking to MaCaW has been “one of the best decisions’’ it has ever made.
Managing director Neil Wallace explains: “Across the business we sought initiatives to make our production process more environmentally friendly, in line with our R&D innovations to de-carbonise.
“In order to make the best strategic decisions for the business, we sought a reliable, independent source of information. We needed our investment to generate a return, so it was important to have an independent expert on our side - somebody who understands carbon reduction and the practicalities involved.”
For Neil, that was partly a matter of understanding outputs, carbon savings and return on investment. It was also about sourcing answers to questions such as whether the roof would support a solar installation, how to keep the panels clean and how else the business might cut carbon and costs.
Calculating the carbon footprint of the business meant examining billing data which, for AquaSpira, comprised electricity, LPG, diesel and waste. Recommendations included behavioural change, transport improvements, waste recycling initiatives and the installation of solar photovoltaics (PV).
Neil says: “Gathering the information was a bit like sending your accounts to the auditors. At the time of the report, the utility cost savings of solar were estimated at around 23
Miranda Barker co-chairs the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership’s business-led energy and low carbon sector group. She is also chief executive of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, which has also led the way in supporting businesses on their net zero journeys.
It has a suite of environmental and climate business support products, delivered under the banner of Chamber Low Carbon (CLC), which has been recognised for its work internationally.
CLC’s well-established energy-efficiency programme works to move businesses from high-carbon fossil-fuel use to low-carbon, net- zero, and eventually zero-carbon working.
Companies with a strong commercial potential can also benefit from the pioneering RedCAT initiative on a wider journey to overcome the tough technical, environmental, communication, marketing and financial challenges involved in breaking successfully into competitive global markets.
Miranda agrees the massively steep rise of energy bills is focusing minds. She says: “The fact is energy prices are insane. Your business needs to be on top of this because there isn’t an energy price cap for businesses.”
She cites examples of firms who have seen their monthly bills rise from £15,000 to £90,000 and adds: “It is completely unsustainable. If you want your business to survive you have to be on top of your energy use.”
Businesses also increasingly need to show they are on a net zero journey with growing numbers of larger companies seeking that assurance and evidence from their supply chains.
Continued on page 72
LANCASHIREBUSINESSVIEW.CO.UK
Becky Toal Managing director
@CrowberryEnergy crowberry-energy
GET THE BASICS RIGHT TO GO
CARBON NEUTRAL Businesses are increasingly aware of their carbon emissions and how they might reduce them. There are several ways but following the PAS2060 standard will provide your business with a step-by-step method of quantifying your carbon footprint.
Crowberry Consulting has experience in providing consultancy regarding carbon neutrality and the PAS2060 process. Managing director Becky Toal, explains how to get the basics right surrounding this topic.
Establishing baseline
Establishing your baseline is the first step in the carbon neutrality process. You must select a year’s worth of data to create your claim. Emissions are categorised under Scope 1, 2 and 3. Scope 1 emissions are in direct control of your organisation. Scope 2 emissions are indirectly controlled by your organisation. Scope 3 emissions are tricky, as these include the emissions within your supply chain.
Footprint quantification
Quantifying your emissions involves the use of primary activity data and the use of emissions factors from the DEFRA. This categorises all emissions sources, providing the figures needed to convert your emissions into CO2
equivalents.
PAS2060 sets methodologies that are followable to ensure uncertainty is avoided, so that accurate and reproducible results are produced.
Carbon management plan
Creating your carbon management plan is straight forward, it is a working document of your journey towards carbon neutrality has developed. This should include total tonnage of CO2
, a statement of commitment to neutrality, a timescale for achievement, reduction targets, the means of achieving the above reduction, and the carbon offset strategy. Offsetting options are globally available. They range in price (per tonne) so can accompany your organisation’s budget.
For support with your journey to carbon neutrality, including the application of the
PAS2060 standard and various international standards, contact 01257 231171 or email
mary@crowberryconsulting.com or visit
www.crowberryconsulting.com
71
ENERGY
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