Environment

A service that aims to guarantee print companies annual energy savings of between 30% and 40% has been launched by Enigin.

The energy-saving consultancy has promised customers a return on investment of two years for its energy cutting EnergyMaps service, and will allow them to take advantage of Carbon Trust funding and government capital allowance tax breaks to back the outlay.

Steve Hayden, regional director at Enigin, said: “A print business of about £10m turnover and 100 employees will be spending around £100,000 a year on electricity, and we are able to reduce that consumption by up to 40%.

“Businesses of less than £35m turnover, and less than 250 employees, are eligible for Carbon Trust interest-free funding for this scheme, so in real terms, it costs the print company nothing as the savings achieved more than cover the investment.”

According to Hayden, all savings are guaranteed and underwritten by Enigin, so if a 40% projection is made but not achieved, the cost of the remaining consumption is refunded to the customer.

Hayden believes printers will also find the EnergyMaps service useful in achieving ISO 14001 certification. He added: “Electricity is one of the dirtiest energies, but because of this, it’s also one of the cheapest [environmental problems] to rectify.”

Steve Wicks, a director at Greenprint, said: “This is a good example of how being green doesn’t have to cost more. Printers who attain ISO 14001 find energy consumption reduces through implementing systems to monitor and reduce energy waste, and the resulting cost savings can be significant.

“If Enigin can identify funding and grants to help implement a self-funding energy reduction scheme then this has to be good for printers and the environment.”

Enigin is trialling the service with two unnamed UK printers, but already boasts more than 70 customers including London Underground.