Advice and Support
It makes good business sense to be as resource-efficient and
sustainable as possible, and there's loads of help out there to
help you do just that.
Envirolink (external link) is a
business support organisation for the low-carbon and environmental
goods and services sector. This includes companies that are
developing new low carbon technologies and products or companies
looking to implement low-carbon projects that will save money and
make them more sustainable.
Groundwork
(external link) delivers a unique business support programme
that can provide environmental advice, training and support to
businesses throughout the Northwest of England. With support
from Groundwork you can implement efficiency measures (many at
little or no cost to your business) that will increase your profits
and set you apart from the competition.
The Carbon
Trust (external link) provides specialist support to help
businesses boost returns by cutting carbon emissions, saving energy
and commercialising low carbon technologies. They can provide
advice, free carbon surveys and interest free loans to help
implement energy saving initiatives.
The Lancashire Business Environment Association (external link)
offers a low cost membership service to organisations with
affordable and professional advice, support, training and
legislative updates on all environmental issues.
Environment
Agency (external link) provides guidance to businesses on
environmental protection, flooding, waste and water issues.
Net Regs provide free, plain English guidance
on environmental regulations that could affect your
business. They can advise on what you need to do to comply
with environmental law and protect the environment and offer ways
to save money by using your resources more efficiently.
Sustainable
Water Environment in Lancashire (SWEL) (external
link) offers free advice and support to businesses
regarding water management. SWEL can help businesses improve
sustainability through reduced water usage and can help to improve
the management of flood risk. Services include staff training, site
water audits, monitoring, flood risk management and sustainable
drainage.
Grants and Funding
Lancashire
Small-Scale Renewables Scheme (external link): a simple,
accessible capital grant fund to assist businesses in Lancashire
that want to install small-scale renewable energy technology.
The Rural Development Programme
for England (external link): £3.9 billion funding programme to
support projects that safeguard and enhance the rural environment,
improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector and foster
sustainable and thriving rural businesses and rural economies
across England.
Enhanced Capital Allowance (external
link) enables a business to claim
100% first year tax relief on energy saving plant, technologies and
machinery. The scheme allows businesses to write off the whole cost
of the equipment against taxable profits in the year of
purchase.
Feed-in Tariff (FIT) (external
link) provides payment for every KWh of renewable electricity
generated from renewable sources, significantly reducing the
payback period of investment in technologies such as solar PV, wind
power, hydro, mini combined heat and power plants and anaerobic
digestion.
Renewable Obligations Certificates (ROCs) (external link) are
for larger installations above 50KW capacity. The Renewables
Obligation commits electricity companies to supply certain amount
of renewable energy. A renewable energy generator receives a
ROC for every MWh they produce, which they can sell to electricity
companies to fulfil their obligations.
Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)
(external link) from July 2011 will provide payment for
every KWh of renewable heat generated from low carbon or renewable
sources, significantly reducing the payback period of investment in
technologies such as heat pumps, solar thermal and
biomass.
Related information