So this is it, 2012 is ‘the big year’ where real energy reduction success will be revealed in the CRC League Tables and energy price rises bite further into profit margins. There’s no better time to drive that initiative forward and make those reductions.

To get you started here are two tips to consider.

1. Create a clear strategy that others can follow:

As with any ‘journey’, a sustainability strategy must be well planned, thought out and easy to explain. After all you don’t want programmes to conflict, duplicate or baffle the audience.  The GAIA Path is one such simple methodology to help decide what to do and when. It works on the premise that actions need to be placed in the right order and scheduled at the right time to maximise impact. For example employee engagement sits in the ‘Manage’ step at the front with carbon trading at the end in the ‘Offset’ step.  Learn more about it here:  GAIA Path.

2: Recognise your role is to influence others:

Once you’re clear on what your plans are you need to engage others.  An Energy Managers success greatly depends upon their ability to influence others from the Chief Executive to the Cleaner. To do this we advocate starting with a compelling message. It has to be more than just ’saving money’ or ‘reducing carbon’ which will have little appeal and make everyone feel guilty. Consider something aspirational like a commitment to ISO 14001 or a Green Policy commitment to your customers.

To understand how to do this and obtain 19 more ideas on how to enable a sustainable culture in your business, request a Free copy of our Sustainability Handbook Click here to request booklet.

Good Luck!

Haydn

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It was great to meet up yesterday with the attendees at the inaugural Leicestershire High Energy Users’ group.

A wide range of issues were discussed ranging from the impact of carbon-reduction legislation and carbon planning to the adoption of energy-saving technologies including lighting upgrades, voltage optimisation, photovoltaics and variable speed drives. A common thread was the need for impartial advice about the new available technologies rather than relying on manufacturers’ ‘spin’ which can cause confusion and which ultimately lengthens the decision-making process.

Forthcoming meetings will seek to invite such impartial providers of advice on a range of technologies. We look forward to the next meeting to be held on 19^th January hosted by Oadby & Wigston Borough Council.

If you’re a Leicestershire business and would like to join our self help group. Just email myself at teresa.morton@gaiaactive.com. The group is free to join.

Teresa Morton GAIA

Posted in Behaviour Change, CRC Carbon Reduction Commitment, Customer Questions & Answers, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work - Manufacturers, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work - Offices, GAIA | No Comments »

Many thanks to all those organisations who attended the  Workshop at the ‘Innovation & Investment for a Low Carbon Future’ Conference at the NEC on 3rd December.

GAIA conducted a session on how to promote Behaviour Change in the Workplace.

As promised we have uploaded the presentation for you to revisit again.

Click here for: Innovation & Investment Conference Slides

Haydn – GAIA Dec 2010

Posted in CRC Carbon Reduction Commitment, Energy Saving and Efficiency at School or College, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work - Manufacturers, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work - Offices, FREE DOWNLOADS, Forum - HAVE YOUR SAY! | No Comments »

One of the greatest challenges for businesses is engaging their staff within the energy saving program. When achieved the next challenge is to sustain these messages.

Our 5 top tips to create a sustainable energy saving message:

1) Create a team to lead the initiative from diverse parts of your business.

2) Identify good ‘connectors’ people who are good at selling messages within a business.

3) Ensure energy consumption is part of the regular management meeting agenda.

4) Use the energy data visually – print of weekly reports and display on a notice board.

5) Broaden the project within a wider Corporate Social Responsibility project or within ISO14001. This increases the likelihood of longevity.

GAIA

www.gaiaactive.com

See how you can save with GAIA: Get a FREE energy evaluation.

Posted in Energy Saving Tips, Energy Saving and Efficiency at School or College, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work - Hotels, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work - Manufacturers, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work - Offices | No Comments »

One common misconception in energy efficiency is that a modern factory with modern machinery is energy efficient. Overall it will be much better then an old factory with old kit, but that does not mean it is as efficient as it could be.

Why is this? Well the key missing ingredient is staff behaviour.

Many companies run energy saving campaigns in small groups rarely interacting with the staff around them. If they do communicate their plans they often fail to achieve employee buy in.

It is important to get staff buy in as they are the ones interacting with your machinery on a daily basis. So if they leave machinery on idle or heating to early this all contributes to energy wastage.

GAIA

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Following on from the Isles of Scilly earlier this month it is now the turn of Leicestershire to take on the Big Switch Off.

The initiative, which lasts for one week, aims to reduce energy consumption by turning off lights and unused appliances.

Homes, businesses, schools and community groups are involved and the results will be monitored by the local energy network.

If you are taking part and need some advice on how to save energy call GAIA on 02476 236446. We have a range of FREE resources that may help.

Posted in Energy Saving Tips, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work - Manufacturers, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work - Offices, FREE DOWNLOADS | 6 Comments »

One of the great challenges with energy efficiency is maintaining your savings.

If you insulate your home or office this type of saving is secured as long as you leave the walls alone, but most energy saving activities requires human involvement/engagement so when you have the team on side you need to maintain this behaviour. Staff turnover, new business initiatives all pull staff attention quickly away from energy efficiency.

The challenge for any business is to keep energy efficiency firmly on the business agenda. Energy efficiency must become a constant business process, if you see it as a quick fix the savings will be lost quicker than you achieve them.

GAIA 5 Tips to Maintaining Savings.

1) Create an Energy Saving Team – involving a wide range of members from within your business.

2) Set a Business Goal to save energy that the team can work to and ensure they read your energy consumption data frequently to feedback progress.

3) For users of the GAIA platform set an energy consumption alert to monitor your consumption peaks. This will ensure you are informed should you reach capacity limits.

4) Create and Energy charter/statement of intent connected to the company culture or brand.

5) For users of the GAIA platform set an energy consumption alert to monitor your weekend/out of hours.

GAIA

Posted in Energy Saving Tips, Energy Saving and Efficiency at School or College, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work - Hotels, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work - Manufacturers, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work - Offices, GAIA | No Comments »

UK businesses could save at least £1 million a day through energy efficiency measures, according to  the Carbon Trust.

The Trust’s latest campaign, ‘One Million a Day’, hopes to help businesses of all sizes through the recession by cutting energy usage to save money and do thier bit for the environment.

Businesses could save up to 20% on energy bills by implementing energy efficiency measures that cost little or nothing, says the Trust.

“By taking action now to reduce energy use and cut carbon from our goods and services, British business has the opportunity to not only save money and create jobs, but set us on the path to becoming an innovative low carbon economy,” says Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband.

The campaign is focusing on three key areas – improving energy management through the use of smart metering and monitoring, switching to energy efficient lighting (changing your bulbs!) and upgrading inefficient boilers.

“All businesses – whether big or small – should realise easy cost savings by taking sensible energy efficiency measures,” says Tom Delay, chief executive of the Carbon Trust.

GAIA Comment:

We fully support the Carbon Trusts initiatives to remind businesses of the money they can save from simple energy saving activities. In our experience the key to success is to achieve maximum support of your workforce and to communicate fully on progress to all staff  , so to retain engagement. This way financial savings can be sustainable.

Not sure how to do this?: Give GAIA a call on 024 76236 446.

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Energy Efficiency & Conservation – Backing the Car Industry in troubled times

Last week struggling US carmakers asked their Government for a $34bn (£23bn) rescue plan to help them ride the economic storm. Congress and the White House have been holding weekend talks to find a solution which may involve diverting funds originally set up to promote fuel-efficient technologies.

Here in the UK 850,000 work directly or indirectly within the Automotive Sector. Unlike the US the UK is more adaptable and nimble than the larger US makers yet they trade in the same tough global market. As yet Gordon Brown has not indicated any support for the industry beyond general fiscal measures so it is up to the industry to do whatever it can to ride the storm alone.

Some of GAIA greatest energy efficiency successes have come form the Automotive Market and we see huge opportunities for the market to make cost reductions. Energy efficiency can cost very little and make returns very fast so its a no brainer in this economic climate. 

Don’t assume you are managing efficiency well or you can make no savings, you may be surprised how much you do waste. Call GAIA 02476 236446 and take a trial of our energy efficiency programme.

GAIA

For every £1 you save you put £1 back into your business. 

Energy Efficiency & Conservation – Backing the Car Industry in troubled times Dec 08

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Posted in Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work - Manufacturers | No Comments »

Energy Efficiency & Conservation at Work – Utliize your greatest resource!

Research from the Carbon Trust (September 08) points to UK industry wasting £7 million a day due to poor energy efficiency. The problem is not large scale industrial process but encouraging staff to turn off computers and lights, turning down the heating, or maintaining equipment properly.

Galvanise staff actions and raise spirits

For businesses eager to cut costs, running an Energy Saving Campaign is one of those few initiatives in a business where every employee from the cleaner to the CEO can make a direct influence on the prosperity of their business. Energy Saving Campaigns galvanise positive actions, making all feel inclusive in the long term prosperity of their business. 

GAIA offers a free Energy Saving Starter Pack for business keen to embrace energy savings. The FREE campaign pack provides the basic tools, steps and material to have your campaign up and running in minutes. Call us on 02476 236446 to request your free pack.

GAIA

Energy Efficiency & Conservation at Work – Utilise your greatest resource (Nov 08)

Posted in Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work - Hotels, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work - Manufacturers, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work - Offices | 1 Comment »