As we approach 2012, businesses will be looking at new opportunities, especially when it comes to saving money and growing their customers. The Carbon Tax, due to kick off in July, will also be at the top of people’s minds as it hopefully makes way for more environmentally conscious practices and technologies.

Most small to medium sized businesses won’t be directly affected by the new tax as only the top 500 polluting companies will be liable to pay for it. Of course, the costs of energy and electricity use are expected to rise as major companies are expected to pass on the new costs to its consumers.

This means that new green technology will be more important than ever if small businesses are looking to survive and grow their operations. For many businesses investing in new and more energy efficient technology will be a smart way to reduce energy bills and operational expenditure. By improving fixtures and upgrading equipment some businesses could reduce their energy use by as much as 50%.

Consider these green technology upgrades for your business in 2012:

• Hot water systems – if your business uses an electrical hot water heating system, consider switching to an instantaneous gas or a solar alternative. A solar hot water system will require mounting the panels on your roof and the correct orientation to the sun, while an instantaneous gas system is suitable for practically everyone.
• Heating and cooling – upgrading to energy efficient heating and cooling systems will keep your staff and customers comfortable while saving you money. You should also consider the design and structure of your premises. Minimising draughts and installing energy efficient and double glazed windows can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling.
• Energy efficient lighting – it may not seem like much, but little changes can add up to make a substantial difference. Consider an industrial sized 400W bulb may cost around $8 a day to run. Tally that up for a year and it can be as much as $1760 in energy expenses for that single bulb alone! Consider energy efficient LED down lights for the office or even making improvements to let in more natural light to reduce the need to use lighting altogether.

Of course, for many small businesses, finding the capital outlay to make these upgrades can put a substantial strain on your cash flow. Green finance programs are available that have been specifically tailored for small businesses. There are also a number of government initiatives that have been designed to assist small businesses with upgrading their facilities.

NSW Energy Efficiency for Small Businesses

In NSW, businesses can make many of their environmental improvements with the help of the government. By signing up to the Energy Efficiency for Small Business program, NSW will pay for 50% of the recommended environmental improvements, to a maximum of $5000.

Improving your operations

The Federal Government is funding and spearheading a number of assistance programs for small and medium businesses to help them stay competitive by improving their understanding of energy efficiency and cost-effective carbon reductions.

• Low Carbon Australia - provides financial solutions and advice to encourage action on energy efficiency, cost-effective carbon reductions and accreditation for carbon neutral products and organisations.
• Clean Energy Skills - provides training to workers that develop key skills for facility managers, engineers or financial managers to help improve energy efficiency in their fields.
• Clean Technology Innovation - meanwhile, if you’ve got an idea for a great green tech product you can get the funding to help bring it to life. The Federal Government has committed $200 million over five years for eligible products, activities and initiatives from July 2012.

How will you improve your energy efficiency in 2012?

Robbo
robbo@flexigroup.com.au