Decarbonisation is a major factor in alleviating climate change; the objective is clear: reducing carbon dioxide emissions worldwide as quickly as possible. And this is essential to limit the impact of climate change. This process requires sweeping change and incremental steps: from sector to sector, industry to industry.
Decarbonisation is challenging and will necessitate billions of investments, but it is possible with global companies’ active involvement. Companies such as Greenly can help your business accurately assess its carbon footprint via carbon accounting and therefore set achievable and quantifiable targets.
What exactly is decarbonisation?
The concept arose from the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement – intending to ensure global warming stays below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to follow efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. Decarbonisation is the method of removing or reducing manufactured carbon emissions, intending to eliminate them – and eventually reach net-zero emissions.
What are the advantages of decarbonising your company?
If you are thinking about decarbonising your business, the good news is that there are many benefits:
Economy – if you require less energy to run your business, fuel bills will be lower;
Future-proofing – Reducing energy requirements potentially mitigates forecast future cost increases;
Improved reputation – consumers prefer brands that aren’t associated with pollution;
More attractive to investors;
Staff retention – in an employees’ market, people are more likely to be loyal to a company with proven green credentials.
How to decarbonise your enterprise
Here are some easy tips to get you started:
1. Insulation
Stopping heat leakage from a building uses fuel to heat or cool the interior.
2. Proper maintenance
Any boiler or air conditioning system should be properly maintained to enable it to operate at maximum efficiency. Replacement costs can often be assisted by Government grants and allowances for businesses.
3. Energy-efficient appliances
Small changes such as using energy-efficient lightbulbs, replacing inefficient appliances and encouraging employees to switch things off have a significant impact.
4. Building Management System
A Building Management System (BMS) enables the heating and cooling of a building to be centrally controlled and can lead to huge savings.
5. Solar Photo Voltaic
Solar PV is an increasingly viable option for business. It generates electricity during the day when people are in the building using the energy. And if you provide electric car charging facilities for employees, they will be effectively powered free of charge after the initial installation costs. ROI is estimated to be as high as 15%.
Some level of self-generation ensures a higher degree of energy security for your business. Many businesses also find the 100% asset finance availability and the yearly investment allowance very appealing.
6. Encourage hybrid working
The pandemic has shown us that it is possible to work from home. Therefore, facilitating your workforce to work from home will reduce the carbon footprint by removing the impact of the daily commute to work. Long-term, this will reduce road congestion and consequent pollution and benefit carbon reduction.
