Achieving Net Zero

Durham County Council is committed to working in partnership with organisations across the county through the climate agreement to ensure that County Durham is a great place to live and work.

Measuring your energy use

Knowledge is power – it provides the understanding so your business can make informed decisions to manage and reduce your energy use.

Measuring your energy use

Calculate your carbon footprint

Focus on energy use which the business has control and influence – namely onsite energy use from scope one and two emissions.

Calculate your carbon footprint

Identify savings

On average the in the UK it is estimated that 20% of the energy consumed is wasted by businesses.

Click to identify savings

Installing renewable energy options on-site

Generating renewable energy can help protect your business from sharp increases in energy costs, reinforce your green credentials.

Click to find out more

Home How we can help Achieving Net Zero

Where we are now

Business Durham, as a member of the County Durham Economic Partnership, is working with the Business Energy Efficiency Project supporting energy efficiency work across businesses in the County. Some businesses are already leading the way.

Laying the foundations for 2030

Businesses have developed plans to decarbonise and are actively sharing learning and putting measures in place to reduce energy consumption and increase locally generated power. A partnership approach enables growth in local green technologies and skills.

County Durham’s Vision for 2045

All businesses and industries will have implemented a decarbonisation plan, and most will have achieved net zero emissions, offsetting where emissions are unavoidable.

Support for businesses to reduce carbon emissions

Durham County Council is committed to working in partnership with organisations across the county through the climate agreement to ensure that County Durham is a great place to live and work. More information about the council’s support can be found in the Climate Emergency Response Plan or to see the progress the council and businesses are making, contact climatecountydurham@durham.gov.uk or visit the Climate County Durham website.

To support inward investors in County Durham, the council provides advice and general support to businesses on their net zero plans and ambitions. Companies can get direct 1-2-1 support from a Low Carbon Economy Officer or attend the council’s regular meetings and workshops.

Highlights

The council is exploring carbon-based emission ‘offsetting’ and capture in partnership with Forest Carbon to generate and sell carbon credits from woodlands planted on Council-owned land.

The Low Carbon Economy Team has supported over 400 SMEs with energy efficiency advice and grants since 2016 and continues to do so through our Business Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP). The team is also able to give impartial advice on how to respond to procurement questions on carbon emissions and sustainability.