News and Blogs

Read our articles on energy efficiency and reducing energy use in the workplace.

How to find financial support for energy efficiency upgrades

Please note: If you decide to apply to a funder for a grant or loan always check with the specific website regularly for any changes to criteria, deadlines or for any additional advice or information that has been posted. This page was last updated in February 2023. Embarking on an energy efficiency project can be costly,…

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Energy Efficiency Quick Tips for GP Practices

Understanding your heating controls Heating controls are essential for achieving energy efficiency in buildings. By understanding how these controls work, you can avoid wasting energy in unoccupied spaces or having competing heating and cooling running at the same time. Manuals for heating controls can be found on a manufacturer’s website. Ensure staff know which of…

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Support for businesses and organisations in Oxford City – Build Back Better (Ended December 2022)

This support offer has come to end as of December 2022. As energy prices skyrocket for businesses, we’ve gained new funding to support organisations in Oxford City. If you have a building in Oxford City and want fully funded energy efficiency support, you should get in touch. Our experienced team can provide energy assessments and…

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NatWest boss to co-chair new energy efficiency taskforce

The Government will today formally launch its new energy efficiency taskforce and name NatWest boss Alison Rose as its co-chair alongside energy security and net zero minister Lord Callanan. The task force will devise a plan to cut energy consumption by 15% by 2030 compared to 2021 levels across domestic and commercial buildings and industrial…

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Energy intensive industries given £12 million boost to cut emissions and costs

UK government announces further funding to help businesses clean up industrial processes and improve energy efficiency. You might also like…

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Article topics

86 businesses sign up to The Climate Pledge to cut emissions by 2040 at the latest

Amazon co-created the Climate Pledge with Global Optimism in 2019, following pressure to do more for the environment. The Pledge requires signatories to reach net-zero emissions by 2040 at the latest. It also wants to ensure that organisations don’t over rely on offsetting. Instead, there is a requirement for businesses to prioritise energy efficiency, renewable…

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Dispelling heat pump myths: what to expect when you install a heat pump for your workplace

Heat pumps are growing in popularity as an efficient and low carbon way to heat buildings, a viable alternative to fossil fuel boilers. However, they’re still fairly new technology, and there are several myths out there about what it’s like to have a heat pump as the heating system for a workplace. In this post,…

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Should your business switch to electric cars or vans?

If your business uses cars or vans, one way to reduce your environmental impact could be to swap to electric vehicles. As well as the reduced carbon emissions, your business may also be able to access grant funding to do this. Simply Business have published an article covering everything you need to know about moving…

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9 out of 10 small businesses have no idea of their environmental impact

Research published this week by the British Chambers of Commerce based on a survey of 1,000 UK small businesses reveals that only one in ten (11%) are measuring their carbon footprint. Furthermore, only one in seven (13%) have set targets to reduce their emissions. Almost two thirds (64%) of businesses surveyed say they don’t see net zero targets as a high priority after the…

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UK’s green economy is four times larger than the manufacturing sector

According to newly released report ‘Where we were, where we are, and where we’re going’ published by kMatrix the UK’s low carbon economy is worth more than £200bn, four times the size of the manufacturing sector (worth £55.6bn), with growth expected to accelerate in the coming years. Stay up-to-date with the latest news The Sparks…

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More from our Sparks file

Upcoming event: school energy improvements – measures & funding options (inc. Salix)

The event in brief Topic: Energy improvements for schools: typical measures, funding options (inc. Salix), and sharing Windmill Primary School’s experienceDate: Wednesday 26 May 2021Time: 8.30-9.30amLink to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkd-itqzMrE9BY8cQqsHf4z4GvFNX1FRcH More details Oxfordshire’s buildings are old, inefficient, and constantly wasting energy. In fact, in the UK buildings are responsible for 29% of total carbon emissions– and…

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Energy improvements and funding for UK schools [webinar recording]

Oxfordshire’s buildings are old, inefficient, and constantly wasting energy. In fact, in the UK buildings are responsible for 29% of total carbon emissions – and that includes our school buildings. Not only is this a disaster for the environment, it’s also leaving schools like yours with high energy bills that leave you cutting costs elsewhere,…

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Energy improvements are helping The Granite House become the first carbon-neutral stone shop

The Granite House – Business type: manufacturing– Building age: 1970s– Primary goal: to reduce the environmental impact of the business– Measures: LED lighting, absence detectors, installing radiant heaters in workshop, replacing front door. The Granite House is a stone shop specialising in granite, based in Bicester, where they rent a premises containing a workshop, office,…

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How to Save Energy and Carbon – 8 November – St Hilda’s College

Join us for a networking event on saving energy and carbon in commercial and public sector buildings. Gain practical insight from the people who’ve already cut their energy bills and carbon in a mix of heritage and modern buildings Take the opportunity to speak to energy efficiency experts from Oxford Brookes University’s EiE team and…

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