| Business | Employee engagement: the Carbon Trust's new online tool empowers employees to make changes to reduce energy costs within their workplace
This month the Carbon Trust launched Carbon Trust Empower™, a web-based tool which engages employees to make practical commitments to save energy in the work place. It provides an interactive animated tour of a typical workplace, starting by considering how an employee arrives for work, moving on to their desk and other office areas to complete the journey. |  | Changing employee behaviour could save UK businesses and public bodies £500m and two million tonnes of CO2 – equivalent to the annual carbon emissions of all the households in Birmingham.
By engaging employees in cutting energy use, paper waste and travel, Carbon Trust Empower has the potential to save a typical small business over 15% off their energy bill or more than £6k per year – equivalent to powering 3.5km of street lights for a year. Larger businesses that base their approach on this tool could save £150k and over 500 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
Read the press release
Try out the tool and sign up to energy saving at www.carbontrust.co.uk/empower. Companies interested in tailoring the software for their own business should call the Advice Line on 0800 085 2005. | | | | Supply chain: What is the financial imperative for cutting carbon in the value chain?
Dominic Burbridge, Senior Client Manager Carbon Trust Advisory discusses the financial drivers for cutting carbon |  | By definition a value chain is the process of adding value to raw materials. Optimising the use of these raw materials in the creation of products and services is central to business strategy.
A by-product of this value creation process is the generation and release of carbon emissions – lots of them. Many business leaders, particularly CFOs, have seen the financial benefits of cutting emissions in their own organisations. However, when it comes to dealing with carbon emissions generated upstream by suppliers and downstream by customers, there’s a different story to tell: currently, fewer than half of multi-nationals (40%) are addressing these indirect carbon emissions, so are missing out on reaping considerable cost savings. | | |
This Viewpoint is part of a series of articles examining indirect carbon emissions in the supply chain. Read other viewpoints in the series from: - Aleyn Smith-Gillespie, Principal at Carbon Trust Advisory, as he discusses how companies can reduce risk and gain competitive advantage by better understanding the supply chain
- Martin Barrow, a world-leading authority on product and service carbon footprinting at Carbon Trust Advisory, as he explains where to start with reducing indirect carbon emissions?
- Laura Timlin, Senior Client Manager at Carbon Trust Advisory as she discusses the challenges of assessing indirect emissions across the whole value chain of a product.
| | | International | Durban: our reflections a month after COP17 - the Durban Platform, future of Kyoto, climate finance and where it all leaves us
Viewpoint from Simon Retallack, Strategy Manager, Carbon Trust |  | Immediate reaction to the outcome of the United Nations climate negotiations in Durban was decidedly mixed. Some commentators acclaimed the conference for having achieved what more than a decade of climate change negotiations had never done before. Others slated it as an abject failure, accusing world governments of turning their backs on the stark realities of climate science.
A month on, with the spin on both sides having died down, what does a sober look at the facts tell us about what actually happened in Durban and what the implications might be? | | | | | Public sector | Schools: Benefits of driving energy efficiency in schools
Viewpoint from Richard Rugg, Director of Carbon Trust Programmes
With a squeeze on school budgets, it has never been more important for local authorities to identify low cost ways to deliver high financial savings. Reducing energy consumption is one of the quickest and simplest ways to deliver direct savings and could help the average secondary school save £21,500 in energy bills – almost equal to the annual salary of a newly qualified teacher. |  | | | | Advice: Expert in Energy series – Lighting
The Carbon Trust’s Expert in Energy series focuses this month on Lighting. Lighting uses some 20% of the electricity generated in the UK; and over 75% of lighting installations are thought to be out of date and unable to meet current design standards. To help organisations improve the efficiency of their lighting Carbon Trust has launched a new technology overview guide, updated web pages, and a free training webinar all available to view online at www.carbontrust.co.uk/expert-lighting. |  | | | | | Events | Carbon Trust Evening Reception
On a wet December 1st we held our Evening Reception: Where is the Real Green Growth? Over 100 guests gathered at the Law Society to hear BBC HardTalk presenter Stephen Sackur quiz the panel on the opportunities and challenges in the future of green business and how we can create jobs, growth and returns. |  | Contributions came from Joe Franses, Head of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability at Coca-Cola Enterprises; Fintan Whelan, Co-founder and Corporate Finance Director at Mainstream Renewable Power; Ray Baker, Director Group Corporate Responsibility, Kingfisher; Juliet Davenport, CEO and Founder of Good Energy; and Tom Delay, CEO at the Carbon Trust.
The challenge was to identify where investments should be made, discuss innovations, future renewable and clean energy sources and how to deliver green growth. The mood was positive with the panel strongly believing in the gains to be had and that leading the way and changing how business operates is the right move for successful business. The panel agreed now is the time to invest in sustainable business models and Ray Baker remarked that doing nothing carries the biggest cost. After the debate guests enjoyed digesting the conversation and networking over a few drinks before stepping out into the rainy evening once more. | | | Upcoming events
Carbon Trust Energy Efficient Breakfasts provide energy management training for SMEs, to help save money, improve energy efficiency knowledge, and enhance business reputation.
Find an event near you. | | Contact Us | Call our Advice Line
on 0800 085 2005
or send us an email | |