Network Update – August 2014

This month: Calculating carbon; Upcoming breakfast event; Industry Insight Tours; New renewable energy toolkit; Energy from waste plant for West Sussex; Grant funding round-up.

Breakfast: 18th September – Sustainable Business Case Studies

Don’t miss September’s breakfast in Horsham where we will hear from CD and DVD manufacturer Sony DADC and the Old Tollgate Hotel and Restaurant who have both successfully implemented a range of resource and cost saving initiatives at their premises. Experts Bloom will also discuss environmental reporting for businesses; looking at the time and resources it requires and the potential benefits it can bring. Full details and bookings.

Sustainable Business Breakfast events are held in partnership with the Green Growth Platform.

News Flush! Sewer Tour Now Booking

Working in partnership with the Green Growth Platform we are pleased to launch ‘Industry Insight Tours’, a series of site visits taking you behind the scenes at energy, waste and water plants across Sussex.

We are starting with a trip down Brighton sewers on the 3rd September followed by tours of the recycling sorting facility in Hollingdean on the 21st and 22nd October. The visits are free of charge though places are limited. Full details and bookings.

New: Renewable Energy Toolkit

The Institute for Sustainability have published a free toolkit for businesses that provides; an introduction to the different renewable energy technologies available; information on government policies and incentives; analysis on the challenges and opportunities for the growth for the renewable energy sector in the South East; an introduction to financing models; a selection of case studies including project costs and payback periods. The toolkit is available on-line.

Calculating Carbon – A Lot of Hot Air?

Is there much benefit in knowing how many hot air balloons of CO2 you have saved this year? If just filed away then probably not. If used to demonstrate to customers your environmental commitment then more so. If it prompts you to find out exactly how much energy you are using or miles you are driving, helping identify cost saving opportunities, it could be very worthwhile. It doesn’t have to be complicated, a simple sum using conversion factors published each year by government quickly turns kWh’s into kg’s of carbon. We’ll be discussing in more detail at breakfast in Horsham in September.

West Sussex Energy-from-Waste Facility Approved

In late July West Sussex County Council approved plans by Grundon, the UK’s largest privately owned waste management company, to build an energy-from-waste plant on the former airfield in Ford, near Arundel. The plant would accept 200,000 tonnes of commercial and industrial waste each year and use gasification technology to generate 14 MW of electricity, 12 MW of which would be exported to the local grid. A materials recycling facility is also planned for the site, capable of segregating 60,000 tonnes of paper, card, plastic, glass and metal each year. Source: letsrecycle.com article and Grundon website.

Funding round up… 

Growth is the word! If you are a business looking to expand there are a number of local and national grant schemes you could apply for. Funding is also available for energy efficiency projects as well as towards marketing costs of environmental products and services.

West Sussex Be the Business Start-up & Grow Grants – Full details
Up to 50% funding for projects that will create or safeguard jobs. Deadline 15th September.

East Sussex grants for growing companies – More information
Business Growth Funding Scheme and Small Business Grants Scheme currently open. 50% match funding required.

Coast to Capital Business Growth Grants – Criteria and applications
Up to 25% funding available to businesses planning expansion and growth but that are unable to find finance. See website for Coast to Capital area.

Energy Efficient East Sussex: £1,000 grants and free Energy Audits – Full details 
For small and medium sized businesses in the East Sussex County Council local authority area. No match funding required!

Low Carbon Workspaces – Details and applications
Grants of roughly 40% available to South East based small and medium sized businesses for energy saving projects. Minimum total project cost of £2,600 required.

New! Chichester and Horsham Sustainable Travel Grants
Up to £5,000 match funded grants available to businesses in Chichester and Horsham for sustainable travel projects. Email Tom Beasley.

Sustainable Routes: Grants for projects that will reduce transport emissions – Website
Possible projects include bike racks or videoconferencing equipment. £1,000 available, towards projects costing at least £2,000.

Grants for Eco-Innovation – Website
Grants of around 30% towards the cost of marketing an environmental product or service. Eligible spend may include trade shows, sales agents or web development. Up to £3,000 available.

Growth Vouchers – Details and eligibility checker
Funding from BIS for businesses with fewer than 50 staff to cover half the cost of getting professional advice for your business. Up to £2,000 available.