Information for Businesses
FREE Greening your Business Event
Through the Sustainable Efficiency East project - SmartLIFE, Cambridgeshire County Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and Anglian Water are offering a FREE evening giving you smart advice on greening your business and how you can apply for a £500 grant to put towards making improvements.
On Wednesday 30 May 2012 from 4.30pm until 7pm the St Ives Green House will be host, giving visitors the chance to see some of the technologies in situ.
Speakers will be presenting on a number of hot topics to inspire businesses to take that next step in improving their environmental footprint and saving money.
- Find out how your business can take advantage of a free energy audit and apply for a grant of up to £500 to put towards a project. The Business Environmental Pledge asks businesses in Huntingdonshire to sign a pledge and commit to making the changes. Once the pledge has been signed, an audit of your premises will be conducted to help you identify where savings can be made and to access the grant .
- Anglian Water will be providing advice on how you can save money on your water bills and make your premises more water efficient. Businesses who take action on water efficiency can save around 30 per cent on their water and sewerage use.
- Cambridgeshire County Council waste partnership will provide information on how your business can cut costs through better waste and resource management practices. Information on local service providers and update on the current waste management legislation and how it affects businesses will also be provided.
- You will also have the opportunity to talk with an expert and find out what other funding and training opportunities are available for your business.
- The evening will conclude with a guided tour of the St Ives Green House, retrofitted from an E performance rating to a B performance rating. See renewable technology and refurbishment in practice.
Find out more about the Sustainable Efficiency East project and the FREE one to one support via the link on the right
There are a limited amount of spaces available, so to avoid disappointment book today, call Huntingdonshire District Council on 01480 388315 or 01480 388304
Make a Start - Take Part
By signing Huntingdonshire District Council's Business Environmental Pledge
Small to medium sized enterprises (SME’s) generate approximately 110 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year. Research of more that 2,000 SME’s which was undertaken in April 2008 found that 55 per cent of SME’s felt their business contributed to climate change, but less than 6 per cent opted for a green energy supply. Only 36 per cent recycle and 25 per cent use environmentally friendly products. Of those surveyed 25 per cent encouraged their employees to conserve energy but only 9 per cent have a green travel plan.
Small businesses in Huntingdonshire can apply for a grant of up to £500 to make a change, start saving and reduce carbon emissions at the same time.
Under the new scheme local businesses are asked to sign an Environmental Pledge to improve their environmental performance. The pledge consists of a range of actions aiming to reduce greenhouse emissions, raise awareness and assist in adapting to the impact of climate change. Any small to medium size businesses signing the pledge will be able to apply for the environmental grant and successful applicants will be awarded based on the potential to reduce energy us and carbon emissions.
Reducing the amount of energy a business uses is possibly the greatest environmental challenge owners face. This scheme will help businesses to make structural improvements to their properties to improve efficiency. The council will also be encouraging the installation of renewable energy sources which occur naturally in the environment, release no greenhouse gases and therefore don’t contribute to climate change
Under this scheme local businesses are asked to sign an Environmental Pledge to improve their environmental performance. The pledge consists of a range of actions aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, raise awareness and assist in adapting to the impact of climate change.
Once your business has signed the pledge you will be provided with a minimum of two free days of support from the Sustainable Efficiency East project (SEE), led by Cambridgeshire County Council, to help with your green plans.
SEE can offer you a free diagnostic of your working practices, highlight opportunities that can help reduce costs and improve business practices through resource and energy efficiency. SEE will take you through the grant process and successful applicants will be awarded up to £500 to make the change, start saving and reduce carbon emissions at the same time.
Local businesses are invited to take their first step towards recognising the links between their operations and our changing environment by completing and signing our Environmental Pledge. You can either complete this online via the link on the right or contact us on 01480 388843 to request your copy.
New Sustainable Courses
New sustainable courses have been developed for companies in Cambridgeshire by
These courses are aimed at local companies to help build up knowledge and training in sutainable refurbishment ensuring they are ready to take on the huge step change we are anticipating in sustainable construction, not least with The Green Deal legislation coming soon!
Introduction to Micorgeneration Technologies - 21st May 2012 and 24th September 2012 This course delivers the theory and installation practices, benefits and requirements for the six main technologies used in homes today. So whether you are a householder, community group member or company interested in diversifying into renewables and you need to know what each technology can produce then this is the course for you!
Passive house - 1st June 21012 and 3rd September 2012 Whether you are a project manager from a housing association, architect, environmental technology or building services engineer or someone looking for the ultimate in building performance, comfort and cost effectiveness this course explains the concept, principles and aspects of a Passiv Haus building.
Green Deal - 30th May, 18th July 2012 and 25 June 2012 This course will go into depth on what the green deal means, especially for your company and what you will have to do to ensure you are Green deal ready! we will help you identify what skills and qualifications you will need and help you look at becoming ready to maximise your chances at successfully securing work within the green deal sector.
Renewable Technologies - 23rd July 2012 and 17th September 2012 This course will examine each microgeneration technology in detail looking into depth in terms of their practicality on domestic properties and comparing which technologies work well with others. We will also look at large scale renewable energy technologies in terms of functionality, practicality and implementation.
The Microgen Certification Scheme (MCS) explained - 18th June 2012, 16th July 2012 and 7th September 2012 To enable your customers to claim Feed in Tariff payments, obtain a Renewable Heat Premium Payment or be ready for the Renewable Heat Incentive payments your company needs to be MCS certificated and use MCS approved products. This half day workshop provides an insight into what it's all about and what your company should consider before applying for certification.
The Microgen Certification Scheme (MCS) application and compliance workshop - 11 July 2012 and 10th September 2012 This full day course is designed to explain and guide delegates through all 19 aspects of the MCS Standard, how a company should satisfy the requirements, which documents are essential and how to progress through to successful certification. All microgeneration technologies are included and referenced.
For further information or to book at place visit Smartlife via the link on the right
Sources of Advice
Click on the external links for more information, advice and contacts of organisations who can assist with greening your business.