AUGUST 2019 BusIness 15
Spotlight
F
AST moving and
confident in its ability to
disrupt, the tech sector
is leaving myriad
outdated businesses in
its wake. But how does
this silent - yet
accelerating - revolution fit with the
global green agenda?
With Manchester now committed to
becoming carbon-neutral by 2038 and
the wider UK moving towards a
net-zero carbon goal, businesses must
be proactive in improving
sustainability.
And the tech sector - both in Greater
Manchester and nationally - has an
essential role to play.
Claire Scott, who works as
environmental business advisor at the
Manchester-headquartered GC
Business Growth Hub, explained: “In
my opinion, there is a growing
awareness among businesses that there
are more efficient alternatives out
there, but there is a lower awareness of
the technologies themselves, the
potential investment costs and the
energy efficiency rewards available.
“For instance, companies we adviseat GC Business Growth Hub are often
keen to consider LED lighting
upgrades.
“But - without our support – they’re
generally less aware of the
opportunities to make resource
efficiency savings in relation to their
heating, compressed air and extraction
systems, or other areas such as the use
of controls and process efficiencies to
maximise manufacturing throughput.”
Ian Hopkins, is director of the
Salford-based Centrica Business
Solutions, which was established
specifically to “power businessadvantage with energy efficient
technologies and end-to-end energy
solutions”.
Centrica Business Solutions partners
with businesses and other large
organisations to reduce emissions and
provide them with a “competitive
advantage from sustainability”.
It achieves this by using advanced
technologies that enable organisations
to unlock more value from their energy
resources and improve efficiency.
When asked whether there’s a
growing appreciation among
Continued overleafHow green is your tech?
The tech sector is driving the success of the business world in the 21st century
- but what are its ‘green’ credentials? Ben Rooth discovers more...