Yeo Valley saves cash through energy-saving initiatives
The firm has also made savings through launching an energy efficiency staff awareness scheme and running a carbon-neutral training centre (Wills Barn) powered by photovoltaic panels and waste sawdust.
Rainwater harvested from the roof is even used to flush the toilets, said director Graham Keating, who was speaking at the launch of a campaign by the Carbon Trust to encourage firms to stop wasting energy.
“We’ve been buying renewable electricity for years, we heat our offices using home-grown, Miscanthus biofuel and even generate our own electricity at Wills Barn," said Keating.
“Even so, the Carbon Trust experts identified significant additional cost and carbon savings at our operational sites and have provided a hugely valuable service to us. Our annual electricity and gas/oil bill is over £2.5m so any savings are financially important and ecologically vital.”
He also urged other food manufacturers to get a carbon survey done: "Why wouldn’t you take up the offer of a consultant who will give you expert advice for free, when you’d normally pay £500+ per day for their skills?”
Carbon surveys, which are available free-of-charge to firms spending £50,000 to £3m on energy a year, offer the services of an energy expert who will visit the firm in question and produce a tailored energy-saving action plan.
They typically identify potential savings on energy costs of 20-30%, according to the Carbon Trust.
