Why it’s time we all made the switch...

Jul 24 2007 Evening Gazette

WELCOME to our comment column, in which leading figures from the business community in the region present a thought-provoking view on an issue affecting their company or organisation or the wider community. Today it’s the turn of Alan Jones, customer relationship manager at the Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre for the North-east.

GREEN issues are the news story of the moment.

Articles highlighting the need to change our habits in reaction to climate change are daily occurrences but what we need, as employers in Tees Valley, is some targeted, straightforward and impartial advice about actions we can take as organisations to minimise our impact on climate change.

Headline-grabbing reactions to Live Earth, the recent awareness-raising concerts, focused more on the energy impact of the event than its environmental goals.

It’s a familiar criticism which serves to detract from the basic message – as organisations, we need to find solutions to reduce our carbon emissions and cut the impact on the environment.

And the answers are pretty straightforward. Employees can save energy, both at home and in the workplace. And this is where the Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre can help.

One example of our work includes being asked by the regional development agency One NorthEast to be involved in the Energy Resource Efficiency project.

This has been established to reduce the energy consumption and improve the performance of the North-east’s manufacturing industry.

Manufacturing businesses of all sizes can take part in the project, which will help to identify all opportunities for energy reduction and efficiencies within the organisation.

I feel this project will develop a systematic approach to energy management by adopting a whole business, whole workforce attitude – and is fit for purpose across the business sector as a whole, not simply being limited to the manufacturing industry.

The Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre has been brought into the project to help encourage personal changes within the workplace. We help people engage with the energy-saving message for their homes, and, having made an impact there, expect this to filter to the workplace.

We also pride ourselves on developing bespoke energy-saving staff awareness programmes that will help you to lead the way.

This could be any level of involvement from a simple energy-saving commitment to a week of staff training and promotions.

Resources available include:

Free energy-saving staff training and presentations.

Joint promotions and publicity – helping to showcase your dedication to energy saving.

Support and advice in developing and delivering strategies on energy efficiency.

Current and up-to-date information on domestic energy saving, renewable technologies and transport energy.

The region is fully equipped to help organisations tackle the climate change challenge. Other partner organisations include: Carbon Trust, Environment Agency and Midas.

With the words “Climate Change” come all sorts of associations. Tees Valley employers, I ask you to see the potential in pioneering a positive reaction to climate change and call us in supporting you with this.

If you’d like to get in touch to discuss these issues or how we could work together, please call me on 01642 373022 or email alanjones@est-ne.org.uk