Businesses can take simple but meaningful steps towards reducing their environmental impact when it comes to heating and hot water, says Lord Combustion Services MD Stuart Smith.
With more companies expected to cut their footprint, Stuart has recommended business leaders be kind to themselves when looking at the challenge ahead and implement practical measures which can make a big difference.
With companies in supply chains across all sectors now expected to show progress on reducing their carbon emissions, the Black Country Chamber of Commerce brought together leading voices including Stuart at a recent Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) Data Reveal event.
Giving context to the event were the results from questions in the most recent survey on net zero, the cutting of carbon emissions to a small amount of residual emissions that can be absorbed and durably stored by nature.
According to data gathered 68 per cent of respondents in Black Country businesses believe their business can achieve the government objective of net zero by 2050.
However, half of respondents say they would not be able to or are not currently measuring their carbon emissions.
Award winners
Lord Combustion Services has won awards for its work on sustainability, including introducing modern heating systems to landmark buildings such as Edgbaston cricket stadium. MD Stuart said: “Yes, we have to decarbonise, but at the moment do not overthink it.
“Do not be blinded by efficiency figures and thinking that you necessarily have to spend thousands on new energy-efficient boilers and heat pumps.
“Look at the simple things you can do to reduce energy costs such as energy efficient control strategies and reviewing your usage.”
Lord Combustion Services has reviewed its own working practices, explained Stuart.
“Transport is a major part of our energy use. We have changed our fleet to hybrid vehicles.
“We are managing our fleet milage, utilising GPD tracking we can despatch the closest suitable engineer to each site, reducing our carbon footprint and optimising response times.”
“We reduce our energy consumption by clever usage and application of technology that way.”
Future direction
With Labour now in power, the experts were asked what they wanted to see Sir Keir Starmer’s government introduce.
Stuart said: “Within our sector, the focus is too much on moving everybody onto electricity. This is not practicable in every application. At the moment we have a range of options with electricity, natural gas, LPG or oil if you are off-grid.”
“Going forward, if you are retrofitting existing buildings and trying to improve your business, you need a toolbox of solutions, so the government needs to not just focus on electricity but look at hydrogen and other options and emerging technologies.”
As a company specialising in the installation and maintenance of commercial heating, ventilation and hot water systems, Lord Combustion Services is committed to helping its clients reduce their environmental impact.
Earlier this year Lord featured in a new video from ELCO Heating Solutions promoting energy-efficient heating systems having partnered with the heating equipment manufacturer to deliver a project that helped an academy secondary school in the West Midlands to reduce its carbon footprint by enhancing its heating and hot water systems.
Energy efficiency
Lord was enlisted to undertake the design and installation of an energy efficient system, in order to assist the academy trust to work towards their decarbonisation targets
In 2021, the company was recognised for its achievements in reducing clients’ environmental impact when it won the sustainability trophy at the West Midlands Business Masters Awards, organised by regional news website Business Desk.
In April 2022, during a visit from then West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, Lord signed the West Midlands Net Zero Pledge, which is undertaken by businesses wanting to be part of the region’s drive to “become a net zero carbon economy by 2041”.
- You can read more about the net zero event on page 26 of the latest issue of the Chamber of Commerce’s Prosper magazine: www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/68801405/prosper-autumn