How ready is your business to prosper in the low carbon economy? Here’s a quick and easy opportunity audit.

1.     Have you reduced your energy costs?

If you haven’t yet done anything on energy costs, savings of 20 – 50% on your energy bills are easily possible.

2.     Have you introduced more flexible working?

Not only do home based employees save expensive office running costs, but they are 20% more effective than office based workers, according to research by BT. The rising cost and hassle of commuting makes home and flexible working a very attractive option for many employees.

3.     What’s the carbon footprint of your products and services?

How much CO2 is produced by what you do, from the sourcing of the raw materials, through production and distribution to use and disposal?

4.      What other resources are used to produce your products and services?

Do you or your suppliers rely on cheap sources of raw materials, water, land or other resources that will become more scarce?

5.     How can you reposition your existing skills, products and services for the emerging low carbon economy?

Like the shipbuilders who are turning their skills to the manufacture of wave and tidal power equipment, how can you utilise your company’s skills, services and products in the new low carbon economy?

6.     What new products and services can you develop for the emerging low carbon economy?

This is the area where significant profits are to be made. Like Nissan’s move into electric cars, how can you develop new products or services that will satisfy market demand in the low carbon economy?