How Do I Cut Energy Costs And Go Green?

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London's small business owners have faced a series of challenges: Brexit, skills and labour shortages, soaring inflation, a global pandemic… but rising energy costs are proving to be the final straw for many, pushing thousands of businesses to breaking point.

My team regularly speaks with hundreds of small business owners and it's clear that many are seeking ways to cut costs. Interestingly, many of them are also prioritising sustainability to meet customer expectations.

Last week, we met Michelle Michelon, co-founder of Hackney Cowlick Collective , an eco-conscious group of stylists on a mission to reach net zero. They already recycle their hair, metal, foils, and colour waste.

For Michelle and her co-founder Anita Papai, sustainability is at the heart of everything they do. But for other small business owners, transitioning to more sustainable activities can be a daunting task, not least because of the perceived costs and time needed to get started.

It's a perfect storm: small businesses looking to save money on their energy bills and make a positive impact on the environment at the same time.

I caught up with Gemma George, Environmental Sustainability Business Support Manager for Green Business Action ( which provides London's small and medium-sized businesses free sustainability support funded by the government in areas such as energy and supply chain emissions ). We discussed some easy, inexpensive steps business owners can take to reduce their carbon footprint and energy costs. Here are Gemma's top tips:

Understanding your energy use is the first step to being able to reduce it. Energy suppliers will often install smart meters at no cost and this data will help you to understand when you're using the most energy — and identify potential energy wasters. An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) will also help you to understand more about the efficiency of your business premises. You can find the EPC for your property here.