More than a third of UK businesses (35 per cent) are still without an energy management policy, according to new research by business-to-business energy consultancy energyTEAM.
This is despite 88 per cent agreeing that such a policy would positively impact their bottom line and CSR efforts.
According to the survey, businesses with an energy management policy rose by 14 per cent from 2007 and awareness of the cost benefits of doing so also increased from 80 to 88 per cent.
However, just one per cent per cent of those interviewed have employed a dedicated energy manager, and just three per cent per cent have a procurement manager to oversee energy purchasing.
With 33 per cent of respondents admitting to confusion over how the Government’s piecemeal legislation on energy use in businesses impacts their organisations, the research shows that nationally, a significant number of UK business leaders are adopting a “head in the sand” approach rather than investing in the necessary resource and knowledge that would ultimately see them more than recoup these costs.
Across the sectors interviewed, radical discrepancies are evident - pointing once more to significant knowledge gaps.
Over half (54 per cent) of those questioned in retail admitted to not having an energy management policy in place. This is opposed to the manufacturing industry, where 67 per cent are proactively employing positive energy management practices and investing in appropriate resources.
EnergyTEAM’s research shows that if Government targets on energy use in business are to be met, then increased educational efforts are required in certain sectors of the economy.
Joint managing director of energyTEAM, Brian Rickerby, said: “It’s sad to see that despite the huge increases in the cost of energy, business leaders are still not making the vital link between purchasing energy and reducing the consumption of energy.
“It is possible that they are torn between being cautious in a challenging economic climate and acknowledging the need for practicing good corporate responsibility on energy reduction. However, we believe a clearly defined strategy linking the way energy is consumed with the structure of the energy contract will provide positive impact on both on a company’s bottom line and the environment.
“The fact that there is a slight year-on-year percentage increase of those with a policy in place, leads me to think that we are making small but steady steps in the right direction.”
