Green Light Trust's Low Carbon Champions: One year on

One year after the start of an innovative new project, the resulting energy efficiency savings to Suffolk businesses, and a cleaner environment, are stacking up.

Low Carbon Champions is a robust environmental initiative led by Green Light Trust that helps Suffolk businesses and social enterprises to become more sustainable. The project consists of a resource efficiency audit; a three-day mentoring programme and participating organisations can also apply for grants of up to £3,000 and accreditation to the Suffolk Carbon Charter. Made possible by support from the European Regional Development Fund, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, Suffolk County Council, Groundwork East and Suffolk Climate Change Partnership, the aim of the project is to help 85 small businesses and social enterprises in the county to reduce their carbon emissions by up to 15 per cent over the next three years.

Based on data from the Resource Efficiency Reports from the first 39 businesses, we calculated that £316,855 and 1,617 tonnes of CO₂ could be saved per year through the implementation of efficiency measures. This amount of CO₂ is equivalent to planting 1,617 trees that will live at least 100 years.

One year on, the project has developed 68 champions in 49 Suffolk businesses who are continuously improving resource efficiency in their organisations. Marie Smith from Alde Garden said: “Low Carbon Champions mentoring has been an amazing and inspirational step on our journey - one that we truly believe all businesses should take - as no matter how green you think you are there is always room for improvement.”

Following the mentoring programme, organisations are encouraged to make an application for an independent accreditation to demonstrate their environmental achievements. So far, 10 Low Carbon Champion organisations have achieved the Suffolk Carbon Charter thanks to the project: Strident Group, Broadland Holiday Village, Green Light Trust, Suffolk Acre, Ansaback, Stour Marine, Royal Hospital School, 15-52 Sound and Lighting, Risby Village Hall and Debach Enterprises.

Liz Moss, Project Manager at Green Light Trust said: “It’s great to see all our hard work paying off and to be delivering such a comprehensive service which equates to £7,000 worth of intervention for each organisation.”

To help Small and Medium sized and Social Enterprises deliver the recommendations made by their Champions, grants of up to £3,000 are available to fund 50 per cent of any carbon efficiency project within the plan. In the first two grant rounds, almost £20,000 worth of funds was awarded for replacing and insulating windows, installing low energy and LED lighting, loft and pipe insulation, green IT, biomass heating or voltage optimisation. Together, these projects should cut carbon emissions by at least 77.6 tonnes and save at least £14,502 on annual energy bills. The deadline for next round is in March 2012.

Stephany Hardingham from Alder Tree said: “Being involved with Low Carbon Champions has reminded me why I wanted to run my own business. It has motivated and inspired me to take the sustainable management at the Alder tree to the next level.”

There are currently only 25 places left on the Low Carbon Champions Programme, so to take the advantage of a (free!) place, call: 01284 830829 or email: lcc@greenlighttrust.org