Businesses must now commit to net zero to bid for government contracts
The UK government has announced new measures requiring businesses to ‘commit to net zero by 2050 and publish clear and credible carbon reduction plans’ before they can bid for government contracts. This new rule will come into force in September 2021, and only applies to large contracts of above £5million a year. The government spends…
Red Flags or Green Credentials: get the right recognition for your organisation’s climate change action
Connor Enright is a Consultant at EP Group (formerly EnergyPro Limited) – one of the three project partners working on Energy Solutions Oxfordshire. In this article he explores the good and bad of corporate action against climate change – including useful advice for organisation’s who are looking to reduce the environmental impact of their energy…
23 Simple Steps You Can Take to Make Your Business Energy Efficient
The team at Blue & Green Tomorrow have put together 23 ways that you can improve energy efficiency in a business environment – reducing energy use to reduce carbon emissions. It gives a useful place to get started. Don’t forget that at Energy Solutions Oxfordshire we can help you with expert recommendations on the best…
The most common energy saving opportunities for schools and education providers
Do you work in a school building which is too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer? Is your school spending an excessive amount on energy bills? We know this is often true in UK schools – where budget is always scarce and where comfort and warmth is key for pupils to…
Energy improvements and funding for UK schools [webinar recording]
Oxfordshire’s buildings are old, inefficient, and constantly wasting energy. In fact, in the UK buildings are responsible for 29% of total carbon emissions – and that includes our school buildings. Not only is this a disaster for the environment, it’s also leaving schools like yours with high energy bills that leave you cutting costs elsewhere,…
Positive News: how small businesses can benefit from installing solar panels
The team at Positive News recently interviewed Simon Nicholls, managing director of UK renewable energy developer Olympus Power, about how small businesses could benefit from installing solar panels on their rooftops. The interview covers: likely installation costs, payback times, building requirements, and more. Stay up-to-date with the latest news The Sparks newsletter by Energy Solutions Oxfordshire…
Is it possible for an historic building to become carbon neutral?
In the UK we’re lucky to have a wealth of historic and listed buildings. Some of these are homes, but many operate as businesses, often in the hospitality or tourism industries. Older buildings tend to have more complex issues when it comes to energy being wasted in the building, and they require a specific approach.…
All but two regions are failing on school energy efficiency in the UK
UK schools are missing targets on reducing energy use per pupil. New data released shows that Yorkshire & the Humber and the North East are the only regions where schools have collectively reduced how much they spend on energy per pupil, cutting expenditure by 4.4% and 0.9% respectively. Every other region of England increased its…
Research shows that commercial buildings must reduce energy use by 80% to meet net zero targets
Research published by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) found that to meet the government’s net zero targets, commercial buildings must reduce their energy use by up to 80%. The research determined that a typical commercial building uses 284 kWhe/m2, compared to the 55-70 kWhe/m2 which would be needed by 2050 to comply…