LONDON, February 5 /PRNewswire/ --

- Campaign to Boost Economy by GBP1 Billion Through Climate Change Action

A new campaign is being launched by the Carbon Trust today (Thurs 5 Feb) to mobilise UK business and help them in the recession by saving at least GBP1 million a day through cost effective action on climate change. The campaign is backed by business groups, leading companies, and Dragons' Den entrepreneur Theo Paphitis, all urging business to immediately prioritise cutting carbon by saving energy to cut costs.

In its new 'One Million A Day' campaign, the Carbon Trust is urging businesses of all sizes to join up and prioritise actions to kick-start immediate energy savings, reduce carbon emissions and make significant direct costs savings. SMEs are also being encouraged to take advantage of a GBP35 million Carbon Trust fund to upgrade or replace existing equipment to more energy efficient versions using unsecured, interest-free loans ranging from GBP5,000 up to GBP200,000.

The campaign's target is to help save the UK economy GBP1 billion over the next three years and reduce the UK's carbon emissions by at least 17m tonnes CO2 - the equivalent to annual emissions from heating nearly 5.5 million average UK homes.

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband welcomed the initiative saying:

We are no longer choosing between what's good for business and what's good for the environment. By taking action now to reduce energy use and cut carbon from our goods and services, British business has the opportunity to not only save money and create jobs, but set us on the path to becoming an innovative low carbon economy.

The Carbon Trust says most businesses could save up to 20% on energy bills by taking low cost or no cost action on energy efficiency.

Three key areas for immediate action are:

Energy Management - Last year UK businesses working with the Carbon Trust implemented energy saving measures including metering and monitoring, staff awareness and setting board level policies to effectively identify opportunities and monitor results, that will save over GBP64 million a year

Improved Lighting - Installing controls, replacing and upgrading lamps to energy efficient versions and installing motion detectors are a few examples of action that will enable over GBP11 million worth of savings in one year

Efficient Heating - Upgrading inefficient boilers, installing controls, improving insulation and improving maintenance schedules will lead to savings of over GBP8.5 million a year.

Tom Delay, Chief Executive of the Carbon Trust, said:

As UK companies look for strategies to weather the recession it makes business sense to join the Carbon Trust campaign to cut costs by cutting carbon. We want to take GBP1 billion off the energy bills of UK plc over the next three years by saving at least GBP1m a day through cutting carbon emissions. All businesses - whether big or small - should realise easy cost savings by taking sensible energy efficiency measures. Every business should be asking how much cash their company can save by cutting carbon.

Dragons' Den entrepreneur Theo Paphitis, said:

Businesses of all sizes need to find ways to cut costs in this economic climate - that's a fact. But there are ways to save cash without affecting the day to day running of the company and finding ways to reduce energy is one sure-fire way to do this. Whether a business has already made a start in this area or has yet to get going, there is help and support on offer from the Carbon Trust, including interest-free loans for small businesses.

Sir Stuart Rose, Chairman, Marks and Spencer, said:

Two years into Plan A - our 100 point eco and ethical plan - we know that a sustainable business can be a profitable business. We are already achieving cost savings as we aim to become carbon neutral by 2012, so I encourage businesses up and down the country to take part in the Carbon Trust's 'One Million a Day' campaign.

Miles Templeman, Director-General of the IoD, said:

Although we are aware that many businesses are trying to address energy efficiency, the current financial situation is proving extremely challenging but there is no doubt that businesses can reduce their operating costs through investments in energy efficiency. It is important that at this time businesses should maintain their focus on energy efficiency to cut costs and carbon and the IoD would encourage our members to contact the Carbon Trust for advice and support as soon as possible.

Neil Bentley, Director Business Environment at the CBI, commented:

The CBI welcomes these measures to reduce energy consumption, which will save money, increase economic efficiency and cut carbon emissions. We particularly welcome the increase in interest-free loans to small and medium-sized companies, from GBP50,000 to GBP200,000, to upgrade or replace equipment to improve energy efficiency. This increase, combined with making the loans easy to access, will make a real difference. Small firms are very important in the quest to cut UK carbon emissions. For example, they account for 45% of the potential to reduce emissions via more energy-efficient buildings, according to The Climate Change Committee.

As part of the campaign small and medium sized businesses are also being encouraged to get involved and use its new online carbon saving advice, with practical action guides, web tools and videos and a range of sector-specific guides including offices; retail and distribution; hospitality; engineering and mining and quarrying.

The monthly loan repayments on unsecured interest-free Energy Efficiency Loans from the Carbon Trust could be covered by immediate savings on their energy bill, so it shouldn't hurt pockets now and will save businesses money in the long term. To check eligibility and for more information visit http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/loans or call the free dedicated Carbon Trust Advice Line on 0800-085-2005.

The Carbon Trust

- The Carbon Trust is an independent company set up by government in response to the threat of climate change, to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy by working with organisations to reduce carbon emissions and develop commercial low carbon technologies. The Carbon Trust works with UK business and the public sector through its work in five complementary areas: insights, solutions, innovations, enterprises and investments. Together these help to explain, deliver, develop, create and finance low carbon enterprise.

- The Carbon Trust is funded by Government

- For more information on the Carbon Trust visit http://www.carbontrust.co.uk or call the Carbon Trust Advice Line on 0800-085-2005.

Editors, for further information about the project please contact: Carbon Trust Press Office: Tel: +44(0)20-7544-3100, Carbontrust@fishburn-hedges.co.uk