Low-carbon Britain makes sound business says npower report

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Businesses that make emissions reduction a board level priority and embrace new skills can reap the rewards of a low-carbon Britain, according to a new report.

The research – UK Climate Policy for Business – commissioned by Worcester-based energy giant npower from the London School of Economics follows a report by npower which found many businesses are concerned that government regulation to reduce carbon emissions will bring more costs than benefits.

But the report stressed the potential financial reward of emission reduction. It provides a guide to the UK’s emission reduction regulations and gives advice on the action businesses need to take to succeed.

“Reducing a firm’s carbon footprint can be a challenge, but the measures needed are often cash-flow positive, with investments recouped in a short period of time,” said Dr Samuel Fankhauser, author of the paper, principal research fellow at the Grantham Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and a member of the Committee on Climate Change.

“Reducing a carbon footprint is all about sound management and success will be determined by the priority businesses attach to emission reduction. Research has shown that well-managed firms tend to use less energy per unit of output than less well-run firms and are therefore better placed to succeed.”

The report said the new regulatory instruments will not be without their complexities and that firms will have to learn new skills to ensure compliance with the rules. But it said that those that can do this early will be best placed to take advantage of the opportunities that might arise.

David Titterton, head of business development within energy services at npower, said: “Putting in place an energy management programme to reduce consumption can help manage costs, while also reducing emissions.”