Research
from the Environment Agency has revealed
that firms are not investing in 'green'
measures such as water and energy efficiency
as a result of the credit crunch.
53 per cent of UK businesses
are missing out on energy and water efficiency
cost savings
Firms are not investing
in ‘green’ measures such as water and energy
efficiency as a result of the credit crunch,
despite the fact that green initiatives
can lead to substantial cost savings for
businesses, new research from the Environment
Agency has revealed.
The poll of 1,000 UK
decision makers shows that over half of
companies do not have any form of environmental
or sustainability policy in place, whilst
55% expect that UK businesses will cut back
on future investment in sustainability measures
as a result of economic necessity.
The research also identified
clear misconceptions amongst business decision
makers as to the importance of water efficiency,
with only ten per cent of those questioned
seeing saving water as important as saving
energy. Just 15% of businesses surveyed
said they currently have a water efficiency
policy in place.
The Environment Agency’s
survey, carried out to launch its 2009 Water
Efficiency Awards, aims to highlight that
sustainability and profit should go hand
in hand for businesses.
Few companies identify
water as a product that is paid for twice
- when receiving it and when taking waste
water away - and Envirowise, the Government-funded
programme to help businesses with the sustainable
use of resources, estimates that UK companies
could save £9 million a day through
simple water efficiency measures. In fact,
a business could save more than £900
per year in water and wastewater treatment
costs by fixing a constant 5mm leak from
a single tap and over £3,800 per year
by installing infrared flush sensors in
urinals (<http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/uk/Topics-and-Issues/Water/Water-Top-tips.html>).
Worryingly, those areas
of the country classified as most water
stressed were the least proactive in developing
sustainability policies. Three quarters
(74%) of businesses in the east of England
lacked a sustainability initiative, in marked
contrast to Wales where almost two thirds
(61%) possess a policy. This commitment
to the environment looks set to continue
with over 80% of senior figures within Welsh
organisations planning further sustainability
activity in 2009.
Businesses in London
look to be the most proactive when it comes
to water efficiency in the coming year with
more organisations in the capital planning
investment in water saving measures than
companies from any other area.
The research also revealed
that attitudes to sustainability vary by
industry. The public sector was found to
be the best at implementing environmental
initiatives with half of organisations in
this area possessing an environmental policy.
The hotel and restaurant trade shows scope
for improvement, with 40% having no sustainability
measures in place at all. This is of particular
concern as prior research finds businesses
in the retail, hospitality and service sectors
are often wasting up to half of all the
water they use.
Ian Barker, Head of
Water Resources at the Environment Agency
said: "It is vital that businesses
remain committed to best practice through
this difficult economic period. Whilst we
appreciate the strains that company finances
are under, the majority of efficiency measures
actually reduce costs by reducing water
and energy use.
"Not only is green
business good business, but also we all
have our part to play to help save water."
To showcase best practice
in water efficiency, The Environment Agency
is today launching its Water Efficiency
Awards, sponsored by Defra, Ofwat and the
Food and Drink Federation. Backed by partners
Business Link, Envirowise, IEMA and the
Welsh Assembly Government, the Awards are
in their ninth year and are the leading
scheme in England and Wales to recognise
the achievements of business in promoting
water efficiency. The Environment Agency
Water Efficiency Awards were launched in
2000 and are held bi-annually. The next
Awards ceremony will next take place on
15 July 2009. Businesses can find more details
on past winners or enter their own firms
at www.water-efficiency-awards.org.uk <http://www.water-efficiency-awards.org.uk>.
+ More
Economic climate affects
West Midlands’ business investment in energy
and water efficiency
Firms are not investing
in green measures such as water and energy
efficiency as a result of the credit crunch,
despite the fact that green initiatives
can lead to substantial cost savings for
businesses.
Fifty per cent of UK
businesses in the West Midlands are missing
out on energy and water efficiency cost
savings
Firms are not investing
in ‘green’ measures such as water and energy
efficiency as a result of the credit crunch,
despite the fact that green initiatives
can lead to substantial cost savings for
businesses, new research from the Environment
Agency has revealed.
The poll of 1,000 UK
decision makers shows that half (50 per
cent) of companies in the West Midlands
do not have any form of environmental or
sustainability policy in place, whilst 48
per cent expect that businesses will cut
back on future investment in sustainability
measures as a result of economic necessity.
The research also identified
clear misconceptions amongst business decision
makers as to the importance of water efficiency,
with only ten per cent of those questioned
seeing saving water as important as saving
energy. Just 27 per cent of businesses surveyed
in the region said they currently have a
water efficiency policy in place.
The Environment Agency’s
survey, carried out to launch its 2009 Water
Efficiency Awards, aims to highlight that
sustainability and profit should go hand
in hand for businesses.
Few companies identify
water as a product that is paid for twice
– when receiving it and when taking waste
water away – and Envirowise, the Government-funded
programme to help businesses with the sustainable
use of resources, estimates that UK companies
could save £9 million a day through
simple water efficiency measures. In fact,
a business could save more than £900
per year in water and wastewater treatment
costs by fixing a constant 5mm leak from
a single tap and over £3,800 per year
by installing infrared flush sensors in
urinals (http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/uk/Topics-and-Issues/Water/Water-Top-tips.html).
The research also revealed
that attitudes to sustainability vary by
industry. The public sector was found to
be the best at implementing environmental
initiatives with half of organisations in
this area possessing an environmental policy.
The hotel and restaurant trade shows scope
for improvement, with 40 per cent having
no sustainability measures in place at all.
This is of particular concern as prior research
finds businesses in the retail, hospitality
and service sectors are often wasting up
to half of all the water they use.
Ian Barker, Head of
Water Resources at the Environment Agency
said: “It is vital that businesses remain
committed to best practice through this
difficult economic period. Whilst we appreciate
the strains that company finances are under,
the majority of efficiency measures actually
reduce costs by reducing water and energy
use.
“Not only is green business
good business, but also we all have our
part to play to help save water.”
To showcase best practice
in water efficiency, The Environment Agency
is today launching its Water Efficiency
Awards, sponsored by Defra, Ofwat and the
Food and Drink Federation. Backed by partners
Business Link, Envirowise, IEMA and the
Welsh Assembly Government, the Awards are
in their ninth year and are the leading
scheme in England and Wales to recognise
the achievements of business in promoting
water efficiency. The Environment Agency
Water Efficiency Awards were launched in
2000 and are held bi-annually. The next
Awards ceremony will next take place on
15 July 2009. Businesses can find more details
on past winners or enter their own firms
at www.water-efficiency-awards.org.uk.
+ More
Economic climate affects
East Midlands’ business investment in energy
and water efficiency
Firms are not investing
in green measures such as water and energy
efficiency as a result of the credit crunch,
despite the fact that green initiatives
can lead to substantial cost savings for
businesses.
Thirty-five per cent
of UK businesses in the East Midlands are
missing out on energy and water efficiency
cost savings
Firms are not investing
in ‘green’ measures such as water and energy
efficiency as a result of the credit crunch,
despite the fact that green initiatives
can lead to substantial cost savings for
businesses, new research from the Environment
Agency has revealed.
The poll of 1,000 UK
decision makers shows that less than half
(35 per cent) of companies in the East Midlands
do not have any form of environmental or
sustainability policy in place, whilst 60
per cent expect that businesses will cut
back on future investment in sustainability
measures as a result of economic necessity.
The research also identified
clear misconceptions amongst business decision
makers as to the importance of water efficiency,
with only ten per cent of those questioned
seeing saving water as important as saving
energy. Just 35 per cent of businesses surveyed
in the region said they currently have a
water efficiency policy in place.
The Environment Agency’s
survey, carried out to launch its 2009 Water
Efficiency Awards, aims to highlight that
sustainability and profit should go hand
in hand for businesses.
Few companies identify
water as a product that is paid for twice
– when receiving it and when taking waste
water away – and Envirowise, the Government-funded
programme to help businesses with the sustainable
use of resources, estimates that UK companies
could save £9 million a day through
simple water efficiency measures. In fact,
a business could save more than £900
per year in water and wastewater treatment
costs by fixing a constant 5mm leak from
a single tap and over £3,800 per year
by installing infrared flush sensors in
urinals (http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/uk/Topics-and-Issues/Water/Water-Top-tips.html).
The research also revealed
that attitudes to sustainability vary by
industry. The public sector was found to
be the best at implementing environmental
initiatives with half of organisations in
this area possessing an environmental policy.
The hotel and restaurant trade shows scope
for improvement, with 40 per cent having
no sustainability measures in place at all.
This is of particular concern as prior research
finds businesses in the retail, hospitality
and service sectors are often wasting up
to half of all the water they use.
Ian Barker, Head of
Water Resources at the Environment Agency
said: “It is vital that businesses remain
committed to best practice through this
difficult economic period. Whilst we appreciate
the strains that company finances are under,
the majority of efficiency measures actually
reduce costs by reducing water and energy
use.
“Not only is green business
good business, but also we all have our
part to play to help save water.”
To showcase best
practice in water efficiency, The Environment
Agency is today launching its Water Efficiency
Awards, sponsored by Defra, Ofwat and the
Food and Drink Federation. Backed by partners
Business Link, Envirowise, IEMA and the
Welsh Assembly Government, the Awards are
in their ninth year and are the leading
scheme in England and Wales to recognise
the achievements of business in promoting
water efficiency. The Environment Agency
Water Efficiency Awards were launched in
2000 and are held bi-annually. The next
Awards ceremony will next take place on
15 July 2009. Businesses can find more details
on past winners or enter their own firms
at www.water-efficiency-awards.org.uk.
