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Real help now: saving money - It's your business

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (News Release ref 27:/09) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 11 February 2009

Small businesses can save cash, carbon and water by adopting the advice in ten simple tips from Defra and DECC, launched today.

As part of the 'Real Help for Businesses Now' campaign, the Government has collated easy guidance for small businesses, helping them to save money. The top ten tips include:

* switching off computers and monitors - a single computer and monitor left on 24 hours a day will cost over £50 a year. For a typical small office with 10 computers this could save over £300 per year;

* heating costs can go up by eight percent each time you increase the temperature by just one degree - keep heating at a constant level and ensure doors and windows are shut when using heating or air-conditioning; and

* using refillable printer, fax and photocopier cartridges - a refillable cartridge costs about half the price of a new one.

Lord Hunt, Minister for Sustainability, said:

"By making a few simple changes, businesses can make a big difference to their bottom line. These are good, practical tips that businesses can follow easily to cut their costs as well as do their bit for the environment - a bonus in both the current economic and environmental climate."

The tips will be launched as a radio, online and print information campaign and supplement the cross-government Real Help campaign, aimed at helping businesses through the economic downturn which was launched at the beginning of February.

Notes to editors:

1. For the full list of top ten tips go to http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/savingmoney

2. These top ten tips are just one of a range of initiatives from the Real Help for Businesses Now campaign. For more information go to http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/realhelp

3. Act on CO2 also provides information for saving money and saving energy in the home which also affects people who work from home. See http://campaigns.direct.gov.uk/actonco2/home.html

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