Businesses go green for energy saving week, 20th to 26th October
We lead increasingly busy lives both at work and at home. Even so, we can all find time to do simple things to save energy like switching the lights off, fitting draft proofing or using a power down plug to automatically turn your printer off when you shut down your PC.
CRed Suffolk, the Community Carbon Reduction Partnership comprising the Local Authorities, Groundwork East of England and other key partners, is supporting the Energy Saving Trust’s Energy Saving Week, which runs from 20th to the 26th October. We are working with Suffolk businesses in the fight against climate change, helping their staff and customers to take action to enhance their Green/Life balance by using less and saving more.
Climate Change background
The growing impact of climate change means we all need to take action at work as well as in our homes to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions (the major greenhouse gas causing climate change). Some people may believe that climate change won’t affect them, that it is something that won’t happen until the future, or that it is too big a problem for their actions to have any impact on. But the reality is that climate change is already happening now in our own lifetimes, and will come to affect us all in many different ways.
Here in the Eastern Region we can expect the climate to continue to become warmer and wetter. As rainfall patterns change, heavy rain may cause rivers to burst their banks more often, making flash floods become more common. This will bring more frequent damage to roads, transport, electricity and gas supplies. Sea levels are expected to steadily rise causing flooding and permanent land loss along our coast, and make coastal communities more susceptible to the damaging effects of storms. Every action we take now, no matter how small, will help in the battle to limit the worst effects of climate change, as well as reducing our energy costs.
Activities and events during energy saving week
Throughout the week CRed Suffolk will be holding seminars, advice sessions and pledge opportunities at businesses in Suffolk to show that, no matter how busy our lives become, we can all find the time to take action to fight climate change and save money. Energy Saving Week will be launched by a drop in energy advice surgery at The Cock at Lavenham Pub on Monday 20th October. Other Activities and events taking place throughout Suffolk include:
- Business seminars at West Suffolk College
- Workshops for staff at Suffolk NHS Primary Care Trust and Gotelee & Goldsmiths Solicitor
- CRed Suffolk stand at Easton Farm Park Farmer’s Market
- Opportunities for staff to make energy saving pledges at:
The Environemnt Agency
Jacob Bailey
St Edmundsbury Cathedral
Bury St Edmunds Art Gallery
Businesses who are taking part in the event this year are:
- Suffolk Primary Care Trust
- The Environment Agency
- West Suffolk College
- Havebury Housing Partnership
- St Edmundsbury Cathedral
- Bury St Edmunds Art Gallery
- Jacob Bailey
- Easton Farm Park
- The Cock at Lavenham Pub
Help your business green!
CRed Suffolk, in partnership with Groundwork East of England is developing services for Suffolk business to help reduce their carbon footprint and identify other actions to improve environmental performance. CRed Suffolk offers a free Environmental Business Advisory Service for small and medium sized enterprises in Suffolk. Our Advisor will work with your business to help reduce its carbon footprint by carrying out an environmental audit that includes energy, water use, transport and waste. We provide advice on making your business more climate resilient, and signpost you to other local and national support schemes. If you want to save money and reduce your carbon footprint, then contact CRed Suffolk on the Climate Change and Energy Helpline on 0800 02 88 938, or e-mail seal@suffolkcoastal.gv.uk.