Defra encourages firms to tackle emissions and prices from energy suppliers - 20/11/2009
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is encouraging small firms to reduce business energy rates and lower emissions.
According to Defra, businesses could save £6.4 billion every year by increasing their recycling efforts and adopting more energy-efficient workplace practices like turning down thermostats and switching off lights in rooms that are not being used.
Research from Defra indicates people are much less concerned about reducing costs and lowering their carbon footprint at work than they are at home.
Rob Holdway, presenter of Channel 4's Dumped and a Defra campaign supporter, said: "[Employees] don't actually see the energy bills [and] they don't pay for the recycling, so they don't actually have any direct contact with the cost to the business and the associated environmental impact."
As a result, he argues employees have much less motivation to help their firm switch energy practices.
More efficient use of resources could reduce consumers' emissions by eight per cent by 2050, according to Defra.
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