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Red tape is 'stopping SMEs' green initiatives'

Published On 16 May 2007 at 11:50:52

Official red tape is preventing many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK from investing in renewable energy sources to reduce their carbon footprint.

That's the opinion of Co-operative Insurance, which said many of the businesses it questioned were keen to install energy efficient systems - such as solar panels and wind turbines - but that bureaucracy prevented them.

Common problems eco-minded businesses face include poor planning guidance from local councils, local bureaucracy and a lack of planning and infrastructure to facilitate green projects.

Co-operative Insurance warned the government that it must address these issues or risk missing 2010's renewable energy targets.

"Climate change is making UK businesses look at their environmental impact and explore ways to lower their carbon emissions," explained David Anderson, chief executive at Co-operative Financial Services.

"Switching their energy supply to green electricity is an important step but there is currently too much red tape putting companies off."

Recently, the Carbon Trust said that advanced energy meters could be effectively used by SMEs to identify how they could cut emissions.

 

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