Despite public concern over climate change, businesses are still primarily focussed on saving energy costs, a new poll has shown.
The survey, commissioned by Npower, showed only 18 per cent of energy managers say reaching sustainability goals is their top business priority. Meanwhile, 48 per cent cited saving business energy costs as their primary business concern.
The survey also shows that three quarters are concerned about potential future increases in business energy prices, with Brexit fuelling concerns. Two in five firms polled said they thought a no-deal Brexit would lead to consistently higher energy prices in the medium-term, with 28 per cent saying they did not feel prepared for these increases.
When it comes to a potential change in government, respondents believe that this is likely to lead to increased price instability (60 per cent), greater regulation (50 per cent) and the continued rollout of new energy-related policies to meet net-zero targets (56 per cent).
However, energy managers are already implementing a number of strategies and tools to help manage energy efficiency and better prepare their business for continued uncertainty. Some 52 per cent have employed employee behaviour change programmes and 41 per cent are focused on engaging in a long-term (5-10 year) energy management plan.
Ben Spry, head of flexibility services at Npower Business Solutions, Energy HQ said: “It’s great to see UK business energy managers already taking positive steps to plan for the sector’s uncertain future. We’re encouraging energy decision makers to engage in long-term, strategic planning to help reduce risk and improve resilience. By incorporating demand-side response (DSR) schemes and other energy efficiency tools at their disposal into their longer-term plans, businesses won’t be forced to choose between cutting energy costs and hitting sustainability and decarbonisation targets.”
Employee behaviour change programmes they have led to the greatest reduction in energy use, according to 42.8 per cent of energy managers. Other energy-saving business tools include LED lighting (30% per cent) and implementing energy monitoring tools/software (21 per cent).