https://www.smart-energy.com/regional-news/europe-uk/price-trumps-climate-18-of-uk-energy-managers-prioritise-sustainability/
[No surprise here. This is why a tax on greenhouse gas emissions is the
key way to combat climate change - people understand price signals. We
know this; it's why we tax alcohol and cigarettes to discourage their
consumption. It's a no-brainer to do the same with GHG emissions.]
Price trumps climate – 18% of UK energy managers prioritise sustainability
October 9, 2019
Price is more of a consideration that climate concerns... That’s
according to a survey of 500 executives commissioned by npower Business
Solutions, Energy HQ, which found that 50% of energy managers consider
cost-savings to be their biggest concern.
This is a result which npower believes indicates a focus on protecting
their organisations against political and economic uncertainty.
75% of respondents expressed concern over potential energy price hikes,
with 32% noting Brexit as likely being a risk to stable pricing going
forward.
40% of those surveyed are of the opinion that a no-deal Brexit would
lead to “consistently higher” energy prices over the medium-term.
Furthermore, 28% of businesses suggested that they are not ready for
costs to increase in this way.
A further cause of price increases and instability would be a change in
government, said 60% of the energy managers surveyed.
Sentiment on the UK’s climate change position took a knock relative to
price as 56% stated they believed the continued rollout of new policies
to meet net-zero targets would drive up costs.
More than 41% have engaged in long-term energy management plans to help
mitigate financial risks and more than half of the firms questioned said
they have already implemented employee behaviour programmes.
"It is great to see UK business energy managers already taking positive
steps to plan for the sector’s uncertain future," says Ben Spry, head of
flexibility services at Npower Business Solutions.
"We are encouraging energy decision-makers to engage in long-term,
strategic planning to help reduce risk and improve resilience.
"By incorporating demand-side response (DSR) schemes and other energy
efficiency tools at their disposal into their longer-term plans,
businesses won’t be forced to choose between cutting energy costs and
hitting sustainability and decarbonisation targets."
--
Darryl McMahon
Freelance Project Manager (sustainable systems)
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