Norfran
North Tyneside business cuts £300,000 from its energy bills
The North Tyneside based manufacturer Norfran has saved over £300,000 thanks to support from the Business Energy Saving Team (BEST).
The BEST project, which is delivered jointly by local authorities in the region including Newcastle City Council, offers advice and support to help businesses reduce their carbon footprint and save money on their energy bills.
Norfran Limited, based in North Shields, received a comprehensive energy audit which helped to identify potential energy and cost savings. This resulted in the replacement of existing electric furnaces with more efficient models.
Norfran Ltd successfully secured funding of £16,640 towards the cost of installing the two electric furnaces, which is predicted to save the business over £130,000 in energy costs per year. They have also invested in three new furnaces to help reduce energy costs and lower the company’s carbon footprint. Overall, these new measures will see the investment paid back within 12 months and will reduce the company’s carbon emissions by and impressive 361 tonnes per year.
North Tyneside Council’s Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency, Councillor Sandra Graham, said: “With rising energy costs continuing to be a real challenge for local businesses, it’s great to see companies like Norfran taking action to seek alternative operating processes, cutting costs and hugely reducing their environmental impact. The BEST programme has started them on their journey to becoming more sustainable with the added bonus of significant savings for years to come. I would urge any business with a commercial property to get involved in the programme to start making savings, reduce emissions and help with our ambitious aim of making North Tyneside Carbon net zero by 2030”
Cllr Marion Williams, Cabinet Member for a Sustainable City, Newcastle City Council said: “It is great to hear that businesses are continuing to benefit from this fantastic scheme. “Projects like this not only help businesses to reduce their energy costs but they also play an important role in helping our region achieve its net zero targets. “I encourage all businesses to find out how this valuable advice and funding could benefit them too.”
Norfran Ltd is ISO9001 and ISO14001 certified and had a real desire to focus on its energy and sustainability priorities. Faced with rising energy prices, they contacted BEST for advice and received a grant for the investment, along with advice on enhancing energy efficiency within the premises.
Energy costs continue to be a challenge for the manufacturing sector, but with a detailed energy audit and a clear business case, there are many opportunities for businesses to benefit from lower energy use. BEST can offer free energy advice and capital grants to help businesses tackle rising energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint.
BEST can provide a range of fully funded energy efficiency support including free energy audits for businesses and a grant scheme designed to help cover the costs of improvements. Helping businesses to reduce running costs and help reduce the impact of operations on the environment.
The BEST energy efficiency project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with the North of Tyne Combined Authority and Gateshead Council as the lead authorities. BEST aims to reduce energy use and costs in small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) in Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland and Gateshead.
For more information and on BEST and to make an enquiry please visit visit www.best-ne.co.uk.
