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

Representatives of local councils and small businesses will today sign up to a new charter designed to improve access to recycling services for small and medium-sized business (SMBs).

According to government figures, UK SMBs produce 30 million tonnes of waste a year and achieve recycling rates of over 50 per cent. However, there have been widespread complaints from small businesses that they often struggle to access cost-effective recycling services and, as a result, are forced to throw out materials that are useful for recycling.

Read full article.

What a great idea this is.

In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that she should bring her own grocery bag because plastic bags weren’t good for the environment.

The woman apologized to him and explained, “We didn’t have the green thing back in my day.”

The clerk responded, “That’s our problem today. The former generation did not care enough to save our environment.” She was right, that generation didn’t have the green thing in its day.

Back then, they returned their milk bottles, pop bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But they didn’t have the green thing back in that customer’s day.

In her day, they walked up stairs, because they didn’t have an escalator in every store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and didn’t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time they had to go down the street to the local shop.

But she was right. They didn’t have the green thing in her day.

Back then, they washed the baby’s nappies because they didn’t have the throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts – wind and solar power really did dry the clothes! Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that old lady is right; they didn’t have the green thing back in her day. Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house – not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief, not a screen the size of Milton Keynes. In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because they didn’t have electric machines to do everything for you. When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.Back then, they didn’t fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power. They exercised by working so they didn’t need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she’s right; they didn’t have the green thing back then.

They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water. They refilled their writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But they didn’t have the green thing back then. Back then, people took the bus and kids rode their bikes to school or rode the school bus instead of turning their parents into a 24-hour taxi service. They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And they didn’t need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

Now you can see how wasteful the previous generations were!

To say that Britain is unique is not just a bit of patriotic jingoism brought on by April’s royal wedding; when it comes to attacking climate change the UK is now the ONLY country in the world to have legally binding targets for reducing our greenhouse gases emissions (GHG) beyond 2020. On May 17th the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Chris Huhne made a statement to the House in which he announced that Government would accept the Committee’s recommendations on the 4th Carbon Budget (2023-2027) in full.

This means there will be legislation to cut UK emissions 50% on 1990 levels by 2025 and will put the UK on track to meeting the 2050 target of an 80% reduction in emissions.

As you might imagine, the move was broadly welcomed by activists but each and every one of them pointed out that plans (even laws) are not the same as achievements and the real test will come when the practicalities are addressed. The Committee on Climate Change are making their 3rd Progress report on June 30th, which will give an indication on whether all the good intentions are making headway. It is good timing as the parliament current has an Energy Bill that seeks to provide for a step change in the provision of energy efficiency measures to homes and businesses. Critics have said it is good on intention but falls short on the practical side and are urging MP’s to support a Warm Homes amendment. Stop Climate Chaos are co-ordinating a campaign to lobby for it. Please join in.

Read more: http://www.hksuperh.com/Newsletter

Questions have been raised with regards to the benefit of rewards given to residents who recycle.

According to a report put together by the London Assembly, reward schemes work well first-off but it then becomes unclear as to whether or not they lead to changes in behaviour in the long term.

Mr Darren Johnson, the deputy chairman of the important environment committee, has warned against any kind of “one-size-fits-all” approaches. This latest report comes after residents of Lambeth in London became the first in the capital to be offered new recycling rewards.

The report, entitled Carrots and Sticks, was released by the London assembly’s environment committee yesterday and says that London has the UK’s lowest recycling rate, due to the fact that only a third of its waste is currently being recycled. It also says that recycling rates in boroughs where penalty and reward schemes are in place have improved dramatically.

Read more: http://www.london.gov.uk/media/press_releases_london_assembly/questions-raised-about-long-term-benefits-recycling-incentive-s