ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Escalating gas, electricity and fuel costs are having a huge impact on businesses in Watford, across the region and nationally. Which is why we've created this page dedicated to energy efficiency for business. It will provide you with valuable information, regularly updated covering topics which include:
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Finance and Grants.
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Guides.
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Services.
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Events.
So, make sure you pop back to this page regularly, to keep informed and updated.
FINANCE AND GRANTS
Government's Energy Bill Relief Scheme
The new Energy Bill Relief Scheme will cut energy prices for businesses, charities and public-sector organisations such as schools and hospitals.
The scheme will run for six months covering energy used from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023. The level of price reduction for each business will vary depending on their contract type and circumstances.
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If you’re on a fixed price contract agreed after 1 April 2022 a price cut will automatically be applied to your bill.
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The savings will first be seen in the October bill, which will typically be received in November.
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There'll be a review in three months into how Government will continue assisting vulnerable customers with their energy costs.
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If you’re on a default or variable tariff your prices will also be automatically cut but you may be able to save more by moving to a new fixed price contract for the duration of the scheme.
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Beware of scams. You don’t need to apply for the scheme.
Find out more here
Low Carbon Workspaces grants
These grants provide support to help businesses make energy efficiency changes to their premises or processes.
Grants of between £1,000 and £6,750 are available to small and medium sized businesses to cover up to a third of the cost of making energy improvements such as insulation, LED lighting, boilers, heat pumps, solar PV and electric vehicles.
Find out more here.
Eastern New Energy (ENE)
Supporting businesses to reach net zero carbon, this scheme helps you to reduce costs by cutting carbon emissions so that you can get on with running your business.
The scheme offers a limited number of services free of charge including:
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Free audits of vehicle fleets
Identify cost savings from switching to electric vehicles (or other low-carbon vehicles). -
Free installation of advanced metering systems (for six months)
By installing an energy monitoring system, ENE can help large energy users to reduce energy wastage and better manage energy bills. -
Free energy audits and surveys for renewable energy projects
ENE’s delivery partner EIC can survey your facility and identify energy efficiency and renewable energy generation projects that can save you money. A report listing the most cost-effective projects will be presented back to you.
Find out more here.
Low-emission vehicles grants
You can secure a discount on the price of some new low-emission vehicles through a grant the Government gives to vehicle dealerships and manufacturers.
You do not need to do anything if you want to buy one of these vehicles - the dealer will include the value of the grant in the vehicle’s price.
The amount of the grant depends on which category the vehicle is in. The eight categories are:
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Wheelchair accessible vehicles
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Motorcycles
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Mopeds
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Small vans
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Large vans
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Taxis
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Small trucks
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Large trucks
Not all low-emission vehicles will get a grant. Only vehicles that have been approved by the government are eligible for a grant. Find out more here.
GUIDES
The Energy Savings Trust has published a set of free guides for businesses and organisation. Read about:
SERVICES
Climate Action for Business service
Action Zero is a new revolutionary service to help businesses tackle climate change. Recently launched by Wenta it builds on Watford Borough Council's drive for the town to become greener and more sustainable and supports our ambitious goal to make the borough carbon neutral by 2030.
The service is delivered in-house by Wenta's team of expert advisors in business support and Net Zero. Net Zero is the target to completely negate the amount of greenhouse gases produced, through reducing carbon emissions.
Support for smaller businesses
There is a lot of good work being undertaken by big business in reducing their carbon footprint. However, there are great opportunities for smaller businesses and one man/women bands to reduce theirs.
Find out more here
EVENTS
How can business can rise to the challenge of being more sustainable?
Energy Workshops for Employees
The Energy Savings Trust workshops provide practical energy efficiency advice for employees. If you'd like to organise a workshop for employees please contact the Trust here.