Thousands of UK businesses hoping to save money and reduce their carbon footprint by implementing energy efficiency schemes could potentially miss out on funding from the Carbon Trust’s Green Business Fund, according to Powersun’s director Ian Brent-Smith.
Launched in April 2016, the £7 million funding programme offers small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) up to a 30% financial contribution towards the cost of energy saving equipment, capped at £10,000.
Director for Powersun, Ian Brent-Smith remarked: “Energy costs are a major factor in company profitability. In previous years many SME business owners were put off by the perception that incorporating energy efficiency measures was difficult and time consuming. Judging by the increasing number of applications being made to the Green Business Fund, the tide is turning. Business owners are finally realising that financial savings, made from energy efficiency measures, can be reinvested elsewhere in the business. This makes perfect business sense for businesses wishing to reduce energy expenditure and lower their carbon footprint.”
He continued, “Having recently been awarded the Carbon Trust’s installer accreditation, we can ensure that eligible SMEs are given access to a range of carbon-saving technologies, such as solar PV, voltage optimisation and battery energy storage systems, without having to pay for the entire capital outlay and installation costs.”
According to The Carbon Trust, businesses could make significant savings on their bottom line. Savings of up to 20-30% savings on their energy bills could be realised simply by making smarter energy investment decisions and taking advantage of technology funding opportunities.
Laura Timlin, director of the Carbon Trust’s Green Business Fund said: “Although we initially expected financial support to be available until early 2018, capital contributions are provided on a first-come-first-served basis and when the money is gone, it is gone,”
She continued: “Over the past year we have been busy promoting the availability of advice and capital contributions through the Green Business Fund, as well as running workshops across Great Britain to directly reach hundreds of businesses. This increased awareness of the business opportunity in energy efficiency has driven continued growth in the amount of funding being provided each month, with over 200 companies now having taken advantage of the scheme.”
Delivery of projects funded through the Green Business Fund is limited to accredited suppliers, which have met or exceeded Carbon Trust criteria designed to examine capability and track record of delivery.
Business owners wishing to find out how solar PV, voltage optimisation and energy storage technologies can help save them money, and learn more about the Carbon Trust Green Business Fund should contact Ian Brent-Smith at Powersun while funding remains available.
