Sage boss backs bid to slash energy costs for firms

Feb 24 2010 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

SAGE'S UK boss has backed a new drive for North East businesses to cut energy bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Paul Stobart, managing director of Sage UK and Ireland, says since a Carbon Trust-backed audit of its energy use it has saved tens of thousands of pounds at its Newcastle offices, which employ 1,100 staff.

Sage is planning to implement similar audits across its UK offices and is encouraging North East business to follow suit.

This comes as the Carbon Trust launched its Best Advice campaign (www.thebestadvice.co.uk), to persuade British businesses to stop wasting more than £3bn of energy every year.

Mr Stobart said: “Energy efficiency is a simple way for businesses to cut costs and fulfil their environmental obligations at the same time.

“I would encourage any business yet to embark on the energy efficiency journey to pick up the phone, or go online, and book in a Carbon Trust Survey. It is likely to be one of the best pieces of free advice businesses get this year.”

Myles McCarthy, head of consultant relations at the Carbon Trust, said it had helped about 500 North East businesses, helping them save between 20% to 30% on energy bills, almost £9m.

He added: “Business could save a total of one-third of a billion pounds if they carried out simple energy-saving measures.”

Sage has implemented a number of measures from reducing its out-of-hours energy consumption to replacing light bulbs in its meeting rooms.

A survey by the Carbon Trust found rising energy prices and tax increases are the biggest worries facing businesses in Newcastle in 2010 after the state of the economy, according to research released.

The Carbon Survey is free to all businesses spending between £50,000 and £3m on energy each year, provides the services of an energy expert on site and a tailored energy-saving action plan. It identifies potential savings on energy costs of between 20% and 30%. Businesses spending £50,000 or more on energy consumption are urged to visit www.thebestadvice.co.uk, or call 01865 885788 for information and to register for a free Carbon Survey. Businesses spending less than £50,000 can get free, expert advice via a new Cut Carbon, Cut Costs online tutorial at www.carbontrust.co.uk/onlinetraining