Camden supporting local businesses to save energy and money
Camden council, through The Camden Climate Alliance, has launched a programme with Brent Council and The Fitzrovia Partnership that will enable local businesses to reduce their energy consumption, save on energy costs and cut their carbon emissions.
More than 60 per cent of carbon emissions in Camden result from the way that businesses heat and power their buildings.
Rising energy prices and the continued recovery from the pandemic has impacted the cost of doing business – therefore, providing businesses with support so they can tackle these issues is vital.
In 2019 we declared a climate emergency, and held the UK’s first Citizens’ Assembly UK’s on the climate crisis, as part of an unprecedented community engagement process around Climate Action that informed our Climate Action Plan, and committed to doing everything we can to make Camden a zero-carbon borough by 2030.
If Camden is to play its part in tackling the climate crisis, everyone living and working in the borough will need to become increasingly aware of the impact they are having and reorientate their activities to cut carbon wherever possible.
The launch of the Camden and Brent Business Climate Challenge is an exciting follow on programme from the successful Mayor of London’s Business Climate Challenge 2022-23, which has already provided support to 46 Camden Climate Alliance Businesses and 20 businesses based in the Fitzrovia Partnership to understand how they can improve the energy efficiency of their buildings.
Of the 46 participating businesses, 10 have already reported reductions in their energy consumption and five have exceeded their 10 percent energy reduction target - all upwards of a 19 per cent energy reduction within just six to nine months of the programme starting.
Talking about the Business Climate Challenge 2022-23, Ruth Marsh of Sheppard Robson architects said:
“The conversations we had during the site audit helped us understand quick wins which we were able to action immediately. The final report encouraged us to pursue or accelerate certain ideas we had already been discussing and helped hone our thinking to create a long term and ambitious strategy.
“People involved in Business Climate Challenge and at the Camden Climate Alliance, have been great to work with, responsive and very helpful. Information provided has been useful and thorough.”
Councillor Harrison continued:
“With further funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, in partnership with Brent Council and The Fitzrovia Partnership we are now able to expand this important work and support a further 125 businesses free of charge.
“Businesses can expect to receive £6,000 of free technical energy support from consultants WSP and Turner & Townsend including an energy audit of their building and recommendation report, plus training and support sessions along with the other businesses on the programme. Businesses will also gain access to their own personalised energy management dashboard to track and monitor their progress.
“Local businesses can find out more and express and interest in the programme through the Camden & Brent Business Climate Challenge website.”
- The Camden Climate Alliance (CCA) is a not-for-profit organisation that was set up by Camden Council in 2008. The Alliance drives change on sustainability with the help of more than 400 businesses, community organisations and schools, to tackle global issues and local priorities in Camden.
- You can read the council’s Climate Action Plan and 2022- 2023 review on our website.