This page provides comprehensive help to all types of organisations (private & public) for improving energy, environmental and sustainability performance.
environmental business support organisations
and schemes - links page of this website.
Local help in the South West
Adapting to climate change impacts. Climate SouthWest provides
access to a wide range of events, tools and case studies to help businesses and other organisations adapt to climate change impacts.
Business Link in the South West: Environment & Efficiency - the gateway to environmental business advice in the South West (external site) - or telephone 0845 600 9966.
SW Energy & Environmental Management Groups - independent forums exchanging ideas and professional advice for
managers in industry, commerce and the public sector.
Training in environmental management - The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA)'s training website is a useful source of information and guidance.
Future Foundations - the sustainable construction knowledge network for the South West. Includes advice on sustainable construction.
South West Rural Enterprise Solutions - help for rural businesses to improve competitiveness, profitability and sustainability through the provision of knowledge and information.
Waste Recycling Directory for Business - NetRegs waste directory from the Environment Agency: an easy way to find out where you can recycle or dispose of your business waste.
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Tools
Managing Change - Resource Efficiency & Corporate Responsibility - a popular guide to help managers to think creatively about how they manage change. It incorporates worst practice guidance - to help you identify where your own organisation might be getting it wrong(!)
Effective Energy Management Guide - including quick start guide to energy
monitoring & targeting.
Adapting to the impacts of climate change - Climate SouthWest (previously known as the South West Climate Change Impacts Partnership) recommends and/or has produced an extensive range of tools and case studies that can help businesses in the South West adapt to the changing climate.
Environmental Policy - How to write one - guidance from WRAP - Envirowise (external site).
Environmental Reporting - guidelines (on Defra's website) including key performance indicators (KPIs) and specific guidelines on reporting on emissions conversion factors for company reporting of greenhouse gases (GHGs).
Greener Events Guide - a practical guide (pdf) for reducing the environmental impacts of conferences and seminars. Includes a "Greener Events Checklist" to aid discussions between event managers and venue management.
Envirowise Indicator - free, online 'Indicator' from Envirowise helps businesses & organisations to understand where they can act to reduce their environmental impact and the financial savings that can be made by addressing it.
"NetRegs"
- Environment Agency website designed to help small businesses navigate through the maze of environmental legislation. It could save you time, money and hassle ...without drawing attention to your business.
Biodiversity Benchmark (from the Wildlife Trusts) - enables your organisation to assess its impact on the natural world and improve its contribution to the environment, whilst demonstrating commitment to biodiversity.
Note: There are on-line energy efficiency tools and guides on the Carbon Trust's
website. Also you can download from the WRAP-Envirowise
website environmental management guides and/or case studies on benchmarking, waste minimisation, clean technology, examples of best practice etc.
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Government support programmes to help your business/organisation
There is a lot of help available for your business. Visit:-
Business Link in the South West: Environment & Efficiency
- the gateway to environmental business advice in the South West (external site) or telephone 0845 600 9966. See also the Business Link/Energy Saving
Trust Greener Home Working online videos & advice.
Alternatively, here are links to some of the key Goverment Programmes that can help your business/organisation:-
The Carbon Trust - advice, site visits, interest free loans, technologies and techniques (or call helpline on 0800 085 2005). See
also Carbon Trust Energy Efficiency Loans;
and Carbon Trust - Building Design Advice - for best practice in green design of new & refurbished buildings.
Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECAs) for capital expenditure that reduces the environmental impact of your business:-
• ECAs - Energy Scheme - enhanced tax relief for investments in equipment that meets published energy-saving criteria;
• ECAs - Water Efficient Technologies (on Business Link website).
Constructing Excellence - (was Construction Best Practice Programme) Government supported programme in innovation, best practice knowledge, productivity and engagement for UK construction and client organisations.
EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) - in greenhouse gases - on the EA's website.
The Environment Agency (tel: 08708 506 506) can advise your business on lawful waste carriers and environmental regulations. The EA's special "NetRegs" website
is designed to help small businesses navigate through the maze of environmental legislation.
Environmental Transformation Fund (ETF) - encouraging the development of low-carbon energy and energy efficient technologies from Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
Local Government - Environment Advisory Service provided by the Local Government Association.
Low Carbon Buildings Programme CLOSED TO NEW APPLICANTS FROM 24 MAY 2010 - Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)'s scheme managed by the Energy Saving Trust supporting microgeneration technologies in the private & public sectors. Helpline 0800 915 0990.
Innovation - Investing in our Future - Government programme - find out about R&D Tax Credits, The Technology Programme and other R&D support products.
Market Transformation Programme - Defra's programme encouraging environmentaly friendly products using less resources (reference knowledge database - enquiries to 01235 432285.
Transport Advice from The Energy Saving Trust, mainly funded by the Government. Visit
also Freight Best Practice - (on Business Link website) to promote operational efficiency within freight operations in England.
Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) - the new material resource efficiency programme from HM Government. The WRAP helpline number is 0808 100 2040.
This enhanced single programme of work (from April 2010) provides a focus on the following areas:
· Resource efficient design & Waste Minimisation
· Business Resource Efficiency
· Developing & sustaining markets for recycled & reusable materials & products
· Diverting waste from Landfill
WRAP brings together under one programme several resource efficiency programmes including Envirowise and the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP). All existing websites, helpline numbers and direct support will become merged into one support programme.
Waterwise - information and assistance to businesses and others (including householders) on the efficient use of water.
FOOTNOTES
1. There is also a comprehensive list of useful web links on the Environmental Business Support Organisations and Schemes links page of this website.
2. Biowise - the former DTI's programme promoting and supporting biotechnology. NOTE: Although the programme has now closed, you can read the achievements, technical reports etc.
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"Leaders look to the future, not just the bottom line"
philharding.net/quotes-corner
Special Topics
• Sustainability Challenge for Business
• Climate Change Levy (on DECC's website)
• Energy Performance of Buildings (on Communities & Local Gov't website) - see also Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) - & Energy Performance Certificates - Directive Implementation Advisory Group
• Environmental Management Systems (on Environment Agency's NetRegs website) - see also EMAS - the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (IEMA)
• Hazardous Waste (Environment Agency)
• Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH - on Defra's website)
• RoHS (Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations)
• Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE - on NetRegs website)
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