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Business Carbon Calculator launched in Milton Keynes
25/03/2010

The National Energy Foundation has designed a new carbon calculator for small businesses as part of its support for the Milton Keynes Low Carbon Living initiative. The calculator will allow businesses in the area to estimate savings that they might make by taking up energy saving measures.

The National Energy Foundation has worked closely with Milton Keynes Council since 2008 on the Council's Carbon Reduction Programme. This has culminated with the launch of the Small Business Carbon Calculator on Milton Keynes' first ever Energy Day, timed to coincide with the EU Sustainable Energy Week.

The carbon calculator allows businesses to record theur use of energy by fuel for up to 10 years' data and uses this to show an estimate of the energy used by function, such as heating, lighting or office equipment. It then allows users to set a reduction target, and offers recommendations - divided into quick wins, low cost and capital projects - from an extensive database of measures. The calculator is designed for use by organisations in shops, offices, hotels and catering, and does not cover manufacturing industry.

The Milton Keynes calculator is a key step in cutting carbon emissions in the new city. It was launched alongside a programme of free seminars for small businesses called "Energy in Your Organisation", which were run by the Foundation in its low-energy headquarters building. Other elements of Phase Two of the campaign involved:

1. Enhancing the format and content of the website and renaming it MK Low Carbon Living - in line with the Council's revised carbon reduction policy development;
2. Updating and enhancing the domestic carbon calculator, including a pledging facility from which proposed and actual carbon savings can be verified and published;
3. Developing and marketing 'MK Energy Day', as a key part of the Council's commitment to the EU Covenant of Mayors initiative, as a means of profiling the work of phase two and maintaining public interest in the campaign and momentum in CO₂ reduction.

For more information about how NEF might be able to help you with a bespoke carbon calculator or work with you on a local or regional climate change initiative, please contact Ian Byrne (calculators) or Tom Kitchen (campaigns) on 01908-665555.