Small and medium sized businesses are being encouraged to attend a free business breakfast next month to learn how they could reduce their energy consumption and save money. There will also be information about how businesses can apply for energy grants.

Ealing Council, in partnership with The Carbon Trust, will be holding the session on Thursday, 28 November at Ealing Town Hall.

The session will share with businesses how to reduce energy bills by simple changes in behaviour, reviewing major areas of energy consumption, providing opportunities to save energy by using different technologies and various low cost measures, including heating controls and timers.

A number of small business grants have been delivered, successfully lowering energy costs.

‘This calculates to real cost savings’

One of those grants was awarded to VMI, which specialises in digital equipment. The Acton-based business was awarded a £2,000 grant to upgrade its five existing computer servers to a single, more energy-efficient one.

Barry Bassett, managing director of VMI, said: “Once the project completed at the end of spring this year, I was really pleased to discover that the energy savings created by retiring several servers are actually measurable and, comparing this June with the same month last year, saw us using around 14% less power at our HQ.

“This calculates to real cost savings and the generous grant awarded by Ealing Council made the full IT upgrade much easier to justify.”

The good news is there are a host of grants still available for small businesses who want to reduce their energy output just like VMI. Read more about VMI’s transition in the October 2017 edition of Around Ealing.

‘Good for reputation and for our borough’

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, said: “It is very beneficial for small businesses to have the opportunity to be able to reduce energy expenditure and learn about the processes. By reducing their energy consumption businesses are not only reducing their costs, they’re reducing their impact on the environment. That’s good for their reputation and it’s good for our borough, making it cleaner and healthier place for us all to live and work.

“This free seminar allows businesses to see if they’re eligible for the smart business grants and also learn from leading energy experts.”

Register for the event

Make sure you secure your place at the Business Energy Breakfast by registering online because spaces are limited.