Over the last three decades the UK has already reduced emissions by 44 percent while growing the economy by over 75 per cent – and this strategy sets out the Governments plan for going the rest of the way. We will meet the global climate emergency but not with panicked, short-term or self-destructive measures as some have urged. Instead we will unleash the unique creative power of capitalism to drive the innovation that will bring down the costs of going green, so we make net zero a net win for people, for industry, for the UK and for the planet. This strategy sets out how we will make historic transitions to remove carbon from our power, retire the internal combustion engine from our vehicles and start to phase out gas boilers from our homes. But it also shows how we will do this fairly by making carbon-free alternatives cheaper.

Solar energy is one of the most well know forms of renewable energy, and accounting for more than half of all renewable power expansion in 2021, it is quickly becoming the “way forward” for households and businesses alike. Once installed, solar panels require very little maintenance. By being installed at an angle which allows rain to run off freely (washing dirt and dust away) they are kept from being blocked by dirt and as a result, could last for over 25 years with little loss in efficiency. Given the certainty around when your site enjoys daylight conditions, and backed by a 25-year warranty, a solar energy system delivers a highly dependable long-term performance, providing no electricity cost for your business and a substantial cost saving to your company as a result. If your business spends more than £1,000 a month on electricity bills, then a solar energy system will work for you.

Installing LED lamps as your primary source of lighting is one of the easiest and most effective methods to reduce your impact on the environment. LEDs have a 90% reduction in energy consumption when compared to incandescent bulbs. A shift to LED bulbs will cut 1.26 million tonnes of CO2 – the equivalent of removing over half a million cars from UK roads. Lighting accounts for nearly 5% of global CO2 emissions. A global switch to energy efficient light emitting diode technology could save over 1,400 million tons of CO2 and avoid the construction of 1,250 power stations. Following the historic global Paris Agreement, effective climate actions are needed. With savings of up to 50-70%, LED lighting has been recognized as one of the most actionable and ready-to-implement technologies for cities to transition to a low carbon economy and peak emissions in the next decade.

An often overlooked but effective way to help your business become more energy efficient, save money, and enhance your corporate reputation is to look at power factor correction. Poor power factor is often caused by equipment that requires large amounts of reactive power, typically including transformers and motors. It therefore is particularly problematic for industrials and manufacturing sites. The power factor can deteriorate further if the equipment is not fit for purpose or not used efficiently. An example could be part loaded motors which will operate at worse power factor than fully loaded motors.

In 2021, there were almost 200,000 electric vehicles sold, almost doubling when you compare this to 2020’s statistic of just over 100,000, whereas 2019 there were only 38,000. It is clear to see that the electric vehicle market is only growing, and with this comes a need for a place to charge the vehicle! At QUEST, we can supply and install EV Charge Points, either wall-mounted or a separate station. We have a range of points with different levels of power, so we can be sure to match your requirements. Installing EV Charge Points at your business provides a place for your employees to charge their vehicles, and with the commute to work accounting for 25% of transport emissions and 5% of total emissions, this is a great way to encourage those who can reduce that statistic.