The UK Government committed to an ambitious plan in 2020 to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by 2030.

These legally binding targets will require all energy users to think about their energy use. Are they being as efficient as they can be? Is the energy source that they are using most carbon efficient? Are they using energy at the best time? Essentially, we are all going to have to change the way that we think about the energy that we use, when we use it, and the choices that we make.

These choices often have long-term implications; for example, a new heat or hot water source such as a boiler, would be expected to last more than ten years (the boilers that were removed from our Capenhurst site as part of the energy upgrades described in this website had been installed more than 20 years earlier). They can require considerable up-front investment however, and making a suboptimal technology choice can potentially in long-term financial implications, as well as increased carbon emissions, so it is important to be informed of all the options.

Actively moving towards net zero emissions can be very advantageous for a company’s reputation, increasing a business’s prestige in the local community. It can attract customers looking for a modern, responsible, supplier and may be useful helping to attract employees looking for a dynamic, forward-looking employer. But the most important reason to consider investing in decarbonisation is that it is the right thing to do for our community, our planet and for our children.