Shropshire goes green

A project which aims to help Shropshire businesses save almost 4,000 tonnes of CO2 over three years has received funding of £67,000 from the Low Carbon Communities for Business initiative.

Project Carbon will conduct low energy audits of businesses in Bishops Castle, Ellesmere, Cleobury Mortimer and South Oswestry with a view to cutting their energy costs.

Companies that sign up for the audits will be visited by a consultant in the Project Carbon van; which is powered by bio-diesel made from oil sourced from Shropshire school kitchens. The consultant will carry out a full sustainable energy and lighting audit of the premises and fit new bulbs. All light bulbs removed will be recycled and the carbon dioxide that is saved will be ‘sold’ to other organisations wanting to offset their own carbon emissions.

It is estimated that an average business swapping from conventional inefficient incandescent to low energy versions will save over £750 in electricity bills per year as well as around five tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Project Carbon is the first activity to be funded by the Low Carbon Communities for Business initiative, which was launched last autumn. Funded by the Rural Regeneration Zone and managed by

in partnership with

, the project will fund grants for companies who wish to reduce their carbon emissions as well as assisting businesses to diversify into the low carbon market.