Leeds City Region businesses save enough energy to make 138 million cups of tea

15 May 2019

Businesses across the region are being encouraged to take up support from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Resource Efficiency Fund (REF) to reduce their energy bills and carbon emissions. 

Funded through the European Regional Development Fund and the Local Growth Fund, the REF can provide eligible businesses with a free resource efficiency assessment and access to grant funding.

With the project in its final stage, there is only £75,000 of funding left and businesses are being urged to take advantage of the support while it is still available.

So far, the LEP has supported 554 businesses, provided 294 free assessments and approved 130 grants.  
Halifax-based business, Azo reduced their gas bills by a third and halved their energy costs thanks to support from the LEP’s Resource Efficiency Fund.

Julian Plant, Managing Director at Azo Ltd said:

“Getting in touch with the LEP and Resource Efficiency Fund is an easy way to save a lot of money very quickly. We’re a company that has been here for 25 years and we want to be here for another 25 years, so this is save guarding our future.”

Businesses who have already benefited from the project have saved over 2,118 tonnes of CO2, the equivalent emissions saving of taking over 1,133 cars off the road, electricity savings amount to the equivalent energy required to make 138 million cups of tea and gas savings equivalent to the annual gas used by 283 average households. 

Assessments show however that these businesses could save 17,868 tonnes of carbon overall through more efficient use of energy, water and waste. 

Roger Marsh OBE, Chairman of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership said:
“I am delighted that the REF project has helped so many businesses to reduce energy, water and waste costs and minimise their impact on the environment.  

This is a brilliant opportunity to benefit from expert advice and I encourage businesses to get in touch and apply for a free resource efficiency assessment and gain access to grant funding.”