5 minute read
Let’s work for a brighter, cleaner future
What can businesses do to help fight climate change and how can they benefit as a result? SEMLEP’s Growth Hub manager Vicky Hlomuka takes a look.
The effects of climate change are becoming clearer and clearer and are currently only set to get worse. The science is clear: we need to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050 or risk facing serious consequences. Individuals, organisations and governments are becoming increasingly aware of how important it is to do their part to help reduce carbon emissions and make the planet a cleaner, safer and more pleasant place to live.
But can any one individual - or even one business - actually make that much difference? You are probably thinking that big multinational corporations could possibly do something. But what can a SME realistically do to help?
An awful lot, as it turns out.
With the COP26 international conference on how to tackle climate change taking place in Glasgow next month, businesses of all sizes - from huge multinationals to sole traders - are committing to do their bit to help cut carbon emissions and protect the planet. The government wants to make it as easy as possible for businesses to do their part and has partnered with business owners and respected climate groups to help employers to join them.
SMEs significantly outnumber large corporations so the effect they can have by working together should not be underestimated. No matter how big or small your business is or which industry you are in, your commitment can make a genuine difference. Not only to the planet, but to your customers, and to your operating costs. Even the smallest businesses produce carbon, through their building,
their vehicles or simply through their supply chain. By cutting your emissions and providing innovative climate solutions, you will meet the expectations of customers, retain market access, cut operating costs and win new business.
The government is asking businesses to make a commitment and pledge to halve their carbon emissions by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2050. That is, to reach the point where you and your supply chain are putting no more carbon into the atmosphere than you are removing from it. Participating businesses will then be asked to disclose their progress towards these Vicky Hlomuka
goals each year in order to allow the government to track how well the UK is doing.
There are plenty of tools and support to help you to achieve this and measure your success, both from the government, and from SEMLEP’s Growth Hub and its partners. For example, the Low Carbon Workspaces scheme provides match-funded grants of up to £5,000 to businesses to help to pay for projects that will cut their carbon emissions and minimise waste. This will allow businesses to recover up to a third of the costs of a wide array of different energy-saving measures, reducing the upfront costs, and helping to cut the time it takes to recover your investment.
Although doing your bit to help to reduce the effects of climate change is a good enough reason by itself, becoming more environmentally sustainable is good for your businesses too. Cutting your emissions by reducing energy bills through improving insulation or installing your own renewable energy sources can potentially save your business money and provide a competitive advantage.
At the same time, by making your business more sustainable now, you will be futureproofing it for years to come. For example, by 2030 you will not be able to buy new petrol and diesel vehicles in the UK. By getting ahead of this change now, you will be boosting your opportunities for the future.
On top of this, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are joining an international community of thousands of likeminded businesses, governments, universities, cities and regions that are all working together to make the future a brighter and cleaner place. Participating businesses will be recognised by the United Nations Race to Zero campaign, and you will be able to publicise your involvement to show your customers and stakeholders that you are a socially responsible company.
n To find out more about how you can help, visit the SME Climate Hub. This provides a one stop shop for making your climate commitment and gives you access to best-in-class tools and resources for measuring your emissions, developing your climate strategy, reducing your own emissions and the emissions in your value chain and exemplifies complementary offset projects.
To learn more and to make your commitment today, visit: https:// businessclimatehub.org/uk/
Expertise has stood the test of time
October 2021 marks the 22nd anniversary for Griffiths Air Conditioning & Electrical Contractors, the Burton Latimer-based business that now involves itself in a lot more activities than the business name suggests.
Progressively over the years the business has expanded to become a provider of the full range of building and engineering services, meeting the needs of domestic, commercial and industrial clients throughout Northamptonshire and the seven surrounding counties.
With modern town centre offices housed in a Grade II listed building that dates back to the 18th century, Griffiths works with homeowners,
architects, builders, plumbers and commercial clients who all appreciate the benefits of working with just one provider to install all the services that today’s buildings require. Griffiths is a D1+ approved installer of Daikin air conditioning and heat pump systems, a NICEIC approved electrical contractor, MCS certified installer of heat pumps, solar thermal and solar PV, Gas Safe registered for domestic work, Polypipe underfloor heating approved installer and holder of several other certifications and accreditations relating to its work with plumbing and ventilation. Griffiths was the first Northamptonshire approved installer of heat pumps under the Microgeneration Certification 6 Business Times | October 2021
Scheme back in 2008 and has carried out hundreds of heat pump jobs since then. With the government’s plans to phase out fossil fuel burning systems in new homes over the next few years, Griffiths is well placed to draw on its experience and to assist developers with the design and installation of heat pump systems.
Energy efficiency is at the top of everyone’s agenda these days so Griffiths’ Energy Efficiency Centre showroom is ideally placed to show working examples of heat pumps and a wide range of energy saving products.
One of the main factors to ensure low running costs of air conditioning, heat pumps and ventilation is regular maintenance. The Griffiths service team carry out planned regular visits to a wide range of clients to make sure the installed equipment is running at its maximum efficiency as well as responding to any potential problems. Contact Griffiths on 01536 420666 or via www.griffithsaircon.co.uk. Visit the company’s Energy Efficiency Centre showroom at 111 High Street in Burton Latimer, open 9am-5pm Monday-Friday.
