Businesses are significant contributors of carbon emissions and they can all take action to reduce emissions.

The council sponsors the Surrey Programme for Responsible Businesses (SUPERB) which has been set up to provide businesses with support and advice. It can help with, putting in place an environmental policy, training courses, grants, loans and waste, energy and water audits. You can contact them on 08457 494949 or email superb@businesslinksurrey.org.uk.

Case study 1 – GTA Taxis
GTA Taxis is a small firm of self employed drivers. A large proportion of the running costs relate to the car fleet, and a significant portion of this is related to fuel use. Three of the drivers now share two hybrid Toyota Prius cars. These are the most fuel efficient cars on UK roads and mean that fuel costs have dropped. The cars are part electric, and at low speeds or when stopped, the petrol engine switches off. Most passengers notice this, and when informed why, are interested in knowing more about the cars.

Case study 2 – Holy Trinity School

Holy Trinity School, Guildford have built a new extension to the school, to cater for their growing intake. From the outset they committed to making this sustainable, and have invested £2M in a photovoltaic roof, a greywater recycling system which flushes the toilets and lighting that switches off when the room is not in use.

Funding has been obtained from a variety of sources, and while the cost will take sometime to payback the school is projecting savings in its annual running costs which it can put towards academic needs such as books and equipment. Pupils, staff, governors and parents are all made aware of the benefits of these sustainable features and where possible, they will be used in the schools curriculum.

Head Teacher Richard Row says, “This will help teach 400 children a year about the importance of renewable energy”.

Case study 3 – Guildford Borough Council
We do a lot of work to ensure we are limiting the impact that we have on the environment.  We have introduced green champions who are staff volunteers from various departments working to ensure that we are doing everything possible to reduce waste and energy use and maximise recycling!

We run an internal recycling scheme which has gone from strength to strength:

• 2004
  Waste separated out for recycling rose to 60%
• 2002
  Office paper recovered in the waste rose to 40%
• 2000
  Office paper recovered was 6%

Sensory lights have begun to be introduced in meeting rooms to reduce energy wastage. Staff are encouraged to turn off all IT and electrical equipment when not in use.

We are also pursuing energy efficiency by managing our energy, gas and water bills more effectively to reduce cost and consumption. We have recently signed up to a contract for 64% of our electricity to be from a green or renewable source.