Business action

TechNExt

We hosted a session showcasing the potential of heat networks in Northumberland at the TechNExt Sustainability Hub event on 17 June at the Energy Central Learning Hub in Blyth. These systems distribute heat from a central source through insulated pipes to multiple buildings, offering efficient, flexible, and stable low-carbon energy. With successful schemes already operating in the North East, heat networks are a proven and scalable solution for a more sustainable future.

Download the presentation.

Did you know..

Business and industry within Northumberland contributes around 20% of the county’s total emissions?

Embracing sustainability is a smart business move that can help ensure a better future for your staff, your customers and the wider community.

Why should businesses care?

Cutting your business’ carbon footprint can have many additional benefits. As well as reducing harmful emissions, energy-efficient practices can lead to cost savings, making it a wise and responsible choice for your business. Use the drop-down menus for ideas on smart eco business actions.

01
Haulage or fleet (Scope 1):
Introduce electric vans into your fleet.
Consider alternative low-carbon fuel options for larger vehicles, such as HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil).
Business transport (Scope 1):
Encourage business travel by train instead of car where possible.
Favour Skype or Zoom meetings over in-person meetings if this requires long car journeys.

Transport to work (Scope 3):
Support hybrid working for employees to reduce travel into the office.
Raise awareness of the associated carbon emissions from transport and how they can be reduced within your workforce.
Promote low-carbon ways of travelling, such as cycle to work scheme, public transport options, or walking to work.
Install EV chargers
Raise awareness among your employees of the government funded Electric Vehicle (EV) homecharge scheme. This supports residents to install EV chargers with up to 75% of the costs covered.
Your business may be eligible for a government grant for workplace EV chargers. The Workplace Charging Scheme is a voucher-based scheme designed to provide eligible applicants with support towards the upfront costs of the purchase and installation of EV charge points. The contribution is limited to 75% of the purchase and installation costs, up to a maximum of £350 for each socket, up to a maximum of 40 across all sites for each applicant. Find out more here.

Develop and promote lift-sharing scheme
These can be particularly effective for commuting journeys. Setting up a facebook page or a Liftshare group for your business can allow employees to travel to work together.

Supply chain Logistics (Scope 3)
Audit your business' supply chain logistics (scope 3 emissions). Consider how your raw products are getting to you. Speak to your suppliers about alternative transport options, look at improving the efficiency of routes taken or consider alternative suppliers closer to your operations.

Onwards chain logistics (Scope 3)
Audit your business' onward logistics. How many stops are there between yourself and the customer? Could this be made more efficient? Could you consider alternative transportation?
02
Energy Saving Measures (Scope 2: emissions from purchased energy):

Save energy in business-owned buildings
Retrofit buildings to improve insulation – this can also help reduce overall energy bills.
Install energy-efficient LED bulbs
Install smart meters to keep track of your energy usage
Support a work culture that switches off instead of leaving on stand-by.
Reduce dwell time on company phones or computers.
Boiler upgrades can help improve efficiency in heating

Low carbon energy options (Tackling Scope 2 emissions):

Generate green energy
Installing renewable energy generation like solar PV or wind turbines can save you money in the long-term.
Several energy companies provide smart export tariffs which pay for electricity generated and not used in the building – see Octopus Energy for an example.
Consider alternatives such a biomass boilers.

District heat networks
The Council is investigating the potential for 8 low carbon district heat networks in Alnwick, Ashington, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Hexham, Morpeth, Prudhoe, Blyth and Cramlington. Contact the climate change team via email climate@northumberland.gov.uk to see whether your business is within the scope of the project.
03
Find out how you can move towards a zero-waste business model (Scope 1: emissions resulting from the processing of waste by company, or Scope 3: emissions generated from waste disposal).

Qualify and evaluate your environmental impacts by carrying out a life cycle assessment of your products and processes.
Think about how you design your products and processes to reduce waste where possible.
Reduce, reuse and recycle any waste you can.
Shift your perspective on waste and see it as a resource waiting to be utilised.

Help your staff consider their office waste:

Ensure waste is recycled or composted where possible.
Could your company host a non-NCC waste management solution? For example, introduce a soft plastic recycling or battery recycling point for your employees.
04
05
Manage land for nature
If you own land, consider using it to enhance nature
Something as simple as a change to the mowing regime can help.

Plant trees
Purchase and plant trees on suitable land you own. You can access support and expertise from the Council’s Great Northumberland Forest Team.

Reduce pesticide use and other harmful activities
Reducing activities, such as pesticide use, which harm wildlife will help nature recover.
Consider using peat-free compost as when peat is dug up, carbon is released into the atmosphere.

Quick wins for any business >

Investigate the suitability of solar panels

Replace lighting with energy efficient LEDs

Audit water usage and look to reduce flush capacity
(install dual flush systems or water displacement devices)

Install smart meters to track energy use

Reduce dwell time on company phones or computers

Install instant hot water taps to reduce kettle use for employees

Phase electric vehicles into your company fleet

Understand your carbon footprint >

Understanding your business' carbon footprint is the first step in taking action to reduce your biggest source of emissions >

Identify your biggest source of emissions.
What does your business’ carbon footprint tell you about the lifestyles, habits and behaviours of your customers?
Is there anything which surprises you about your carbon footprint?
Create a plan of action. Look at our suggested actions for each category of emissions, this will help you to start formulating your plan.

Getting ready for changes in legislation >

It is important to be aware of changing legislation and how it could affect your business.

The UK Government has made a number of changes to UK Law that will impact businesses in Northumberland. For example, the Climate Change Levy on business’ energy bills. Policies such as the New Oil Boiler Ban 2035 have also been announced, with legislation to follow.

Check that your business policies and procedures align with national changes in climate change and net zero legislation including internal and external corporate governance and reporting responsibilities.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)>

Fostering sustainability and supporting green initiatives can boost your organisation's operations, reputation, and profitability, while benefiting the environment and local communities. As an organisation, you could consider:

01
To ensure you have the backing and momentum to see your plans through to fruition you may wish to consider the following:

Make a public commitment – A tangible goal keeps you accountable and helps you move forward with your plans.
Nominate a member of staff to spearhead these changes and keep you on track.
Allocate funding or other resources to your climate change action. For example, patches of land for tree planting.
Make sustainability and reducing emissions part of everyday decision-making within your business.
Create a carbon impact assessment for each new project or business venture.
02
The UK government has created a SME Climate Commitment. You can sign up your business up and commit to becoming net zero by:

2030 (aligning with NCC and Bcorp Climate Collective),
2040 (aligning with The Climate Pledge companies), or
2050 (aligning with the Business Ambition for 1.5⁰C pledge and UK government commitments).

If your business has made a commitment let the Council know. NCC will map all companies and businesses big or small which have publicly made a commitment to reduce emission
03
You can support local communities by...

Creating funding for local groups to tap into to support climate action
Supporting community energy groups. If you have new national grid connections for a project you are undertaking, you could include additional grid capacity for community energy groups to utilise (this is often a key barrier for these groups). Alternatively, a community energy group may be able to use your building’s roof space to set up a community solar energy project. Purchasing energy from this community project could help you decarbonise your buildings and also benefit the community. If you have a community energy idea and would like support, please contact climate@northumberland.gov.uk
Working with community groups to plant trees or improve biodiversity on company-owned land.
Setting up a meeting with local community groups to best understand their needs and where you might be able to support each other. This could include providing a space for meetings or events.

Find community groups in your area here.
04
Shout about what you are doing - by making your customers and other businesses aware of your climate change actions you may engage a new customer base.

Are you a customer facing services? You might not think it, but you have influence over your customers. Let them know about what you are doing to play your role in reducing climate change, share tips about how they as customers might be able to play their part as well.

Think about your influence

Engage with your supply chain to understand their carbon emissions (which are your Scope 3 emissions).

Either looking for alternative lower carbon inputs, or engage with your suppliers about how they could begin reducing their emissions.