30 September 2017

In its recent Programme for Government, the Scottish Government outlined its ambitions to create a cleaner, greener Scotland.

The proposals contained within the document include actions to mitigate climate change, through a Climate Change Bill. This is aimed at creating a growing, sustainable and inclusive economy. Within the Scottish Government's overall climate change agenda there is also a welcome recognition that taking action to tackle climate change can provide wide economic and social benefits, such as delivering new jobs, improved air quality, and positive health outcomes.

For private businesses and the public sector, who will play a vital role in the delivery of a low carbon economy, this worthy ambition is set against the challenges of a background of continuing budgetary pressures and a continuing demand for high-quality service.

There are many superb examples of businesses and organisations in Scotland taking significant steps to improve or reduce their impact on the environment, often saving money in the process. As an example, our Active Water Management® (AWM) service helps to reduce the amount of water used, achieving substantial savings. Indeed, since AWM was launched in 2014 we have achieved over £1.7 million in annual savings for our customers.

Such activity will be rewarded and acknowledged at the VIBES - Scottish Environment Business Awards. Supplying more than 160,000 businesses and public sector organisations across the UK, we were delighted to be a sponsor of these awards, recognising other companies’ efforts to create a sustainable future for themselves and the communities they serve.

Our mission is to understand exactly how much water our customers use and to find ways to help them reduce their consumption and save money – quickly and sustainably. Water and energy use is generally a significant operational cost, and reducing thesecan directly benefit the bottom line, saving vital resources in a cash constrained environment.

Saving water will reduce not only your water bill, but also your energy bill, as heating less water reduces energy consumption. In addition, the water industry is the fourth most energy intensive sector in the UK, requiring large amounts of energy for pumping, water treatment and waste management. By consuming less water, thereby requires less energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and assisting in tackling climate change.

Such measures are clearly related to sustainability due to the world’s continued reliance on finite fossil fuel resources and increased pressure on water supplies, as well as potential threats from environmental change and an expanding population. The more we can do to protect these increasingly scarce resources, the better the future for our planet.

Many different forces are at play which are compelling businesses and other organisations to become more sustainable. This is not only good for the planet, but also serves to positively impact on the bottom line, a win-win for both the planet and business.

- Tony March, Head of Public Sector at Anglian Water Business -

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