Isra-Mart srl:Car industry steers energy saving onto forecourts

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Isra-Mart srl news:

The UK's car dealerships could save up to £50m and 300,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year through simple measures like resetting boiler controls or repairing door seals.

New research from industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) will say today that even zero- or low-cost measures could save dealerships a quarter of their annual energy spend.

The Dealer Energy Efficiency Guide, published in conjunction with the Carbon Trust, combines assessments from 30 car dealers across major manufacturers to outline a seven-point plan to help reduce energy loss.

Key to the plan is involving employees in monitoring and targeting reduced consumption, and using measures such as replacing lighting with more energy-efficient alternatives and exchanging hot-air heaters with radiant heating.

Up to £8,000 a year could be saved by resetting heating controls on the boiler, the SMMT said, while reducing the fan speed on air-handling units would cut £5,000 a year off budgets.

"Reducing energy costs will help dealerships sustain their businesses and improve the motor industry's carbon footprint," said SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt. "Our study shows some great work is being done, and highlights that more than £4,000 of savings are possible without spending a penny."

Non-domestic properties account for about 17 per cent of the UK's emissions and are one of the main targets for the government's Green Deal energy efficiency policy.