£100m to help slash pub energy costs

The Carbon Trust has made £100m available in interest free loans to help pubs slash energy costs.

The loans are available under the Big Business Refit scheme to help pubs scrap and replace inefficient equipment costing between £3,000 and £400,000. The Carbon Trust believes the hospitality sector could save up to £37m a year on energy costs.

In the first six months, pubs taking part in the scheme have saved an average of £9,000 a year — a collective total of £490,000 a year.

The loans are designed to pay for themselves through direct energy savings, so that once the loan is repaid, savings go straight to bottom line. Licensees can also get a free energy saving assessment from the Carbon Trust.

"Hospitality business owners are realising that for every month they 'make do and mend' with old inefficient equipment, they are wasting more cash on unnecessarily high energy bills," said Carbon Trust chief executive Tom Daley.

"With credit all but dried up elsewhere, the Big Business Refit breaks the deadlock by helping hospitality firms buy the equipment that will both slash their costs and often transform their businesses."

David Caro, Federation of Small Businesses energy and environment chairman, said: "These loans will help small businesses significantly cut their costs over the long term as well as helping them to play their part in moving towards a low carbon economy."

Pubs that want to take part in the Big Business Refit can get expert advice from the Carbon Trust by calling 01865 885879 or visiting www.carbontrust.co.uk​.