Guides and tools to support your business
From planning to procurement we have a range of downloadable guides, easy-to-use excel spreadsheets and more to help you run a more energy efficient business.
Reduce your carbon impact. Increase your profit margins.
Filter by support type
Guides
Identifying savings
View guides: How to buy resource efficiency equipment
How to buy resource efficiency equipment
Whether you’re upgrading or replacing equipment, it makes good business sense to choose the most energy and resource efficient option. This guide will take you through the process.
Identifying savings
View guides: How to save money and energy on space heating
How to save money and energy on space heating
For many Scottish organisations, space heating can account for as much as half of total energy costs. Simple low-cost improvements to your heating controls and distribution system could deliver substantial savings.
How to save money and energy on lighting systems
As well as reducing your costs, making lighting improvements will result in a healthier and more productive working environment for your staff as well as a better environment for your customers.
How to run a more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable office
Save money, improve environmental performance, comply with legislation and respond to the increasing environmental demands of your customers.
Planning and Policy
View guides: How to carry out a successful biomass heating project
How to carry out a successful biomass heating project
Biomass produces low carbon heat at a lower than conventional forms of heating, meaning it’s a good way to reduce your organisation’s energy costs and carbon footprint, and protect against fluctuations in fossil fuel costs.
Identifying savings
View guides: How to procure resource efficient equipment
How to procure resource efficient equipment
Rising energy, water and raw material costs, and increasing customer pressure on businesses to be ‘green’ continue to challenge the way that businesses across Scotland manage their resource use and environmental performance.
Identifying savings
View guides: 40 quick and easy ways to cut your energy bills and carbon footprint
40 quick and easy ways to cut your energy bills and carbon footprint
There are lots of quick, simple and straightforward ways to take action and reduce your energy bills and environmental impact. Here are 40 no- and low-cost, quick and easy ways to cut the amount of energy you are using and make those bills a little easier to bear.
Tips and Training
View guides: Easy ways to show off your prized green credentials
Easy ways to show off your prized green credentials
52% of UK adults are influenced by the green credentials of a business and 21% of consumers have even stopped using a particular brand if they have environmental concerns. It’s becoming more and more important that you let your customers know what you are doing to be environmentally friendly.
Staff engagement
View guides: How to answer your colleagues’ questions about climate change
How to answer your colleagues’ questions about climate change
Having the facts at your fingertips will ensure you have the right answers when Bill or his friend Ben, who leaves the lights burning from dawn until dusk in the meeting room even though it is only used for an hour a day, question you.
Identifying savings
View guides: How to calculate your business’s carbon footprint
How to calculate your business’s carbon footprint
The climate challenge is a hot topic right now. Scotland has set the ambitious target of becoming net zero by 2045, five years ahead of the rest of the UK. If, collectively, we are going to succeed in that ambition, the onus falls on every business to do its bit.
Tips and Training
View guides: Insulation – a quick guide
Insulation – a quick guide
Is your building insulation up to standard?
Tips and Training
View guides: Heat pumps – a quick guide
Heat pumps – a quick guide
Traditional gas and oil boilers are not the only way to heat your premises. If you are looking for a system that will help you save money and cut your carbon emissions, a heat pump could be the solution. This guide will go through the basics and help you to decide if one would be right for you.
Tips and Training
View guides: Radiant heating – a quick guide
Radiant heating – a quick guide
Is radiant heating right for your business?
Tips and Training
View guides: Solar PV – a quick guide
Solar PV – a quick guide
Is solar PV right for your business?
Tips and Training
View guides: Biomass heating – a quick guide
Biomass heating – a quick guide
Is biomass heating right for your business?
Staff engagement
View guides: 10 ways to save energy and reduce your carbon footprint while working from home
10 ways to save energy and reduce your carbon footprint while working from home
We asked our energy efficiency experts how you can save energy and reduce your carbon footprint (and energy bills) while working from home. Here’s what they said.
Staff engagement
View guides: Encourage staff to recycle
Encourage staff to recycle
Since 2014 all Scottish organisations have to recycle key recyclates – it’s the law.
Identifying savings
View guides: Save money on your heating bill
Save money on your heating bill
In a climate like Scotland’s, is a hefty heating bill inevitable? We are confident that, with our experience and expertise, we can cut your costs.
Identifying savings
View guides: How to audit your business energy consumption
How to audit your business energy consumption
Improving energy efficiency can lead to substantial cost savings and new opportunities to improve competitiveness, increase profits and secure growth.
Tips and Training
View guides: Resource efficiency at work
Resource efficiency at work
To help you train your staff.
Identifying savings
View guides: Measure and monitor energy use
Measure and monitor energy use
Measure and monitor your energy usage to start reducing your bills and save money
Staff engagement
View guides: Switch on your very own switch off campaign
Switch on your very own switch off campaign
Enlisting the help of your staff to save energy, through flicking off lights and de-cluttering areas around heaters, is easier than you might think.
Identifying savings
View guides: 5 Simple steps to start saving
5 Simple steps to start saving
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when it comes to thinking about saving energy. We’ve broken it down into 5 simple steps to get you started.
Identifying savings
View guides: Food and Drink energy savings
Food and Drink energy savings
From identifying new energy saving opportunities, to providing financial support and technical expertise, we’re here to help you slash your energy costs and grow a greener business.
Identifying savings
View guides: Calculate the cost of lighting up your business
Calculate the cost of lighting up your business
Our easy-to-use calculator will work out your lighting cost
Staff engagement
View guides: Write a meaningful environmental policy
Write a meaningful environmental policy
A well-articulated and up-to-date environmental policy will keep your business on track and communicate your environmental credentials
Identifying savings
View guides: How to save money on heating workplaces
How to save money on heating workplaces
Heating costs can burn up more than half your energy bill. Our free guide is packed with expert tips and advice on how to cut costs – and carbon – without compromising comfort or productivity.
Staff engagement
View guides: Show staff how to save at home
Show staff how to save at home
Demonstrate how resource efficient habits at home save money to encourage change at work
Tips and Training
View guides: Support for Scottish businesses
Support for Scottish businesses
From 1 April the service will be known as Business Energy Scotland and delivered by Energy Saving Trust. Scottish organisations will continue to receive the same free, impartial and expert advice and support.
Identifying savings
View guides: Calculate the costs of improving lighting in your business
Calculate the costs of improving lighting in your business
An energy efficient lighting upgrade could save you cash. Discover how much based on your number of light fittings and estimated running hours per year.
Staff engagement
View guides: Set up a Green Team
Set up a Green Team
Create real change within your organisation with a dedicated task force to channel ideas and energy into delivering energy efficiency and waste reduction.
Planning and Policy
View guides: How to plan and deliver environmentally sustainable events
How to plan and deliver environmentally sustainable events
This helpful how-to guide provides you with simple, practical steps to support your planning and delivery of sustainable events and help to minimise your use of resources.
Tools
Identifying savings
View tool: Lighting improvements calculator tool
Lighting improvements calculator tool
Before you spend your hard-earned cash on new lighting, do make use of the calculator that will help you work out your initial costs and potential savings.
Tips and Training
View tool: Optimise your heating controls
Optimise your heating controls
Record your building’s temperature on a simple, yet comprehensive spreadsheet. The spreadsheet enables you to recalibrate your controls to achieve maximum results at minimal cost. And help you towards a sustainable, low-carbon future.