Be Eco Friendly

There are undoubtedly 101 ways UK small businesses can save energy and lower their costs. But just how significant would it be if SMEs increased their energy efficiency?

According to the Carbon Trust, UK SMEs account for 45 per cent of business energyusage and, says Harry Morrison, general manager of the Carbon Trust Standard Company, UK SMEs have the greatest potential for on energy: 20 per cent compared to eight per cent for larger organisations.

“That means that when added together, the potential for savings by SMEs could be up to £1.1 billion,” says Morrison.

The truth about UK small business energy consumption

The bad news, however, is that the big majority of UK small businesses are missing out on savings because they are not aware of energy efficiency solutions that can save them money and lower their environmental impact. Perhaps because engineering companies devising energy saving solutions for the workplace are not good at communicating with small business.

Read more: http://www.greenwisebusiness.co.uk/news/101-ways-uk-small-businesses-can-save-energy-and-lower-their-costs-2841.aspx

China will not allow its carbon dioxide emissions per person to reach levels seen in the US, according to the minister in charge of climate policy.

Chinese per-capita emissions may reach US levels by 2017, a recent study said.

But because its population is so much bigger, its per-capita emissions are currently much lower – but rising fast.

An analysis released last month by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) put China’s annual emissions at 6.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide per person, compared to the US figure of 16.9 tonnes – although other analyses put the US figure higher, around 20 tonnes.

Read full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15444858

Sportswear firm Puma says it has become the first major corporation to fully cost its impact on the environment.

The German-based company has costed its greenhouse gas emissions, water and land use, air pollution and waste in 2010 at 145m euros ($196m; £124m).

This includes the activities of Puma itself and those of its suppliers.

Read full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15756080