LED lighting delivers major savings for local organisations
Small and medium sized businesses are making big savings on their energy costs through the Business Energy Efficiency (BEE) programme.
The Carbon Trust reports that lighting accounts for around 40% of a UK building’s energy consumption and that switching to LED lighting improves energy efficiency and can lead to significant cost savings.
Funding from the European Regional Development Fund enables the BEE programme to take eligible businesses through a review process to identify energy saving measures and also offers them the opportunity to apply for grant funding that could contribute up to 25% of the capital costs towards eligible energy efficiency measures . Three local organisations have seen sizeable gains thanks to this support:
Family business Pike Textiles in Wisbech needed to replace its lighting scheme and contacted BEE for advice. It was awarded a grant of £1,409 towards new lighting which used fewer fittings and reduced the company’s energy costs by 75 per cent. Savings will total £1,000 per year and save 3.15 tonnes of carbon – and the new scheme will pay for itself in just three years.
Document management specialist Automated Systems Group Ltd, in Bar Hill, was advised by BEE to replace its traditional light with LEDs to save energy and reduce costs. The Group received £5,246 towards the installation and is set to save around £2,500 in the first year alone.
Commercial vehicle body builder, Wilcox Commercial Vehicles Ltd, based in Market Deeping, contacted BEE to help reduce its energy costs. A grant from BEE enabled Wilcox to retrofit LED lighting, install a more efficient heating system and replace windows. These measures will eliminate around 10 tonnes of carbon emissions, as well as saving Wilcox over £5,000 a year in reduced energy costs.
Antony Gough, BEE Project Manager, said “Since BEE launched in Spring 2017, we’ve supported over 100 SMEs to identify cost savings of over £600,000 and potential carbon reductions of over 2950 tonnes.
“The funding pot is limited and is only available for a fixed period, so we urge businesses across the country to get in touch to find out if they’re eligible for support. It’s the perfect time to update your lighting and reduce your ongoing energy costs.”
BEE’s free audit service helps small and medium sized enterprises identify energy saving opportunities and consider capital projects to implement them. Grants are available up to a maximum of 25% of total eligible costs or £20,000, whichever is lower.
The programme is being delivered by the environmental charity PECT, Groundwork and Nwes, with funding secured from the European Regional Development Fund.
To find out more please visit www.beecp.co.uk, email info@beecp.co.uk or call 01733 882549.
