NEWS
THORN’S NEW ENERGY SERVICE SOLUTION – HELPING CUSTOMERS ACHIEVE THE MAXIMUM BENEFITS OF ENERGY EFFICIENT SOLUTIONS
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horn Lighting has launched the Energy Service Solution to help customers achieve the maximum benefits of energy efficient solutions. Rising energy costs and increasing pressures to reduce energy consumption are making the need to become energy efficient more of a strategic necessity than an option for the environmentally conscious. Dedicated to auditing, designing, supplying, installing, and maintaining energy efficient lighting systems as a full turnkey package, Energy Service Solutions is a comprehensive, and hassle-free service for customers across all industry sectors. Energy Service Solutions will help improve energy efficiency and ensure companies
reap the rewards in terms of both sustainability and the financial benefits it has to offer. Planning a lighting scheme and incorporating the most energy efficient products, can yield significant savings, reduced maintenance intervals and minimal interruption for the foreseeable future. An optimised correctly adapted lighting control system could help you reduce your energy consumption by up to 82% by the efficient application with
the use of a daylight, presence and time-based lighting control system. More information can be found on Thorn’s website www.thornlighting.co.uk
NEW REPORT REVEALS BUSINESSES BELIEVE NET ZERO IS IN DANGER OF ‘BECOMING A MEANINGLESS TERM’ UNLESS A CONSISTENT APPROACH IS ADOPTED
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ew research has revealed that the amount of ‘carbon jargon’ - different ways of describing emissions reduction targets, strategies and measurement - could be seriously hampering business progress towards net zero. The report from leading energy consultant Inspired Energy has revealed that 86% of organisations believe ‘net zero’ could become a meaningless term unless there’s a more coherent approach to how it is interpreted and measured. The ‘Cutting the Carbon Jargon’ report canvassed the views of over 100 energy professionals across sectors including manufacturing, retail, professional services and the public sector. While many are being proactive in setting ambitious carbon reduction targets – 9 in 10 (88%) are working towards new strategies, rising to 97% among manufacturers and dropping to 79% for retailers – only half (53%) said that they ‘fully understand’ the term ‘net zero’. However, even among those businesses, the research revealed the way it is interpreted varies significantly. Over twothirds of energy professionals admitted that they’re confused by the sheer amount of terms used to describe carbon reduction, and when asked to define the meaning of net zero, energy professionals mentioned carbon offsetting (42%),
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carbon or emission elimination (36%) and carbon emission reduction (17%). The report sets out key issues that need to be addressed, from the lack of a single reference point for businesses to ensure clarity and consistency to the need for a Net Zero roadmap to allow businesses to plan and adapt their operations. The report also examined whether energy professionals felt under pressure to deliver ambitious carbon reduction targets, with almost a quarter saying the most pressure was coming from their organisation’s board or CEO. However, almost two-thirds of businesses expressed concern that their organisation’s carbon reduction targets could be seen as ‘greenwashing’ or ‘jumping on the net zero bandwagon’. Where organisations are working towards new targets, delivery plans focus heavily on investment in green technology, and working collaboratively with colleagues and departments across the organisation to drive change. 60% of respondents supported green strings being attached to any Government incentives or bailouts that support businesses with post-Covid recovery. Crowe from Inspired Energy concludes: “It’s clear from our research that businesses are engaged with net zero and striving to play their part in helping the UK to reach its 2050 target. The
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
vast majority of businesses we spoke to were working towards new carbon reduction targets, and board support for sustainability seems to be increasing, which are really encouraging signs. “It’s therefore vital that the carbon jargon surrounding net zero doesn’t prevent businesses from planning, measuring, and making progress on decarbonisation – only by working together can we make net zero by 2050 a reality. Supporting businesses to improve their sustainability credentials through consistent definitions, a clear mandate and a framework in which to operate, could boost UK businesses and ensure that organisations of all shapes and sizes are well placed to benefit from decarbonisation as well as avoid any company being left behind.” Inspired Energy is already working with businesses to support them in their net zero ambitions, working through a structured framework to set Science Based Targets, explore and implement carbon reduction strategies and technologies, and put in place robust measurement and reporting tools to monitor progress. For more information about Inspired Energy’s net zero services or to download a copy of the Cutting the Carbon Jargon report, visit: www.inspiredenergy.com/carbonjargon
