At MPL Fabrications we have already replaced our 30-year-old CNC machine with a brand new LVD Strippet and made modifications to our main Darley Folding machines. This has helped to make carbon savings and improve our carbon footprint.

We then decided we would look at areas within our business we could improve and help to save carbon emissions whilst at the same time help to improve energy efficiency and cost savings for the business.

We engaged with the Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme, which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and delivered by Coventry City Council, to see what could be done with the assistance they could provide. We had an audit from a CCC Energy Advisor and we between us identified three things we could do to reduce carbon output.

• Replace the existing shutter door with a better insulated rapid shutter option
• Replace all wooden single pane windows with Double Glazed alternatives
• Fit de-stratification fans to regulate air temperature and to work in conjunction with our existing heating system to improve heating in the winter and cooling in the summer months

These actions are estimated to save 10.69tCO2e per annum and reduce our projected energy bills for a year by almost £2,800, a saving of around 25% off our average annual bills.

Jonathan Howl, Business Advisor at the Green Business Programme said: “At the Green Business Programme, we understand the pressure the recent energy price rise has placed on businesses in our area. By being able to provide energy efficiency guidance and access to grant funding we are able to support local businesses in their efforts to reduce expenditure whilst helping combat climate change. It was a pleasure to assist MPL Fabrications in achieving these objectives.”

Without the support – both financial and expertise – we would have been unable to achieve these carbon savings in our manufacturing plant.

It is worth noting that the Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme has now been extended to June 2023 and an additional £1.25m of funding for small to medium-sized businesses is available for energy efficiency measures.

All works have now been completed and we are really pleased with all the improvements.

Many thanks to Green Business team for their assistance.

We are now looking independently at other areas within our manufacturing business where we can continue to make carbon savings and help to reduce carbon emissions even further.

About the Green Business Programme

The Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme supports businesses with fewer than 250 employees based in Coventry and Warwickshire who want to save money on energy, waste and water bills and maximise low carbon opportunities.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme is partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund and is being delivered by Coventry City Council, Coventry University, and Coventry University Enterprises Ltd.

It provides grants and free energy and resource efficiency audits to help identify where energy, water and waste savings can be made, as well as low carbon product development.

Small to medium-sized enterprises (SME) in Coventry & Warwickshire will continue to be supported to be more energy and resource-efficient through our new grant-funded programme leading to cost savings and new opportunities. Benefits of the new programme include:

• Energy and resource efficiency grants - £1k-£50k (with 40% intervention)
• Free energy and resource efficiency audits to help identify energy, water and waste savings
• Continued free membership to the Green Business Network
• New scope of audits to include advice on waste and water savings
• Access to other specialist support to enable growth and innovation
• Free events, workshops and 1:1 support

Since the programme started in 2016, it has proudly reported:

• £2.5m in grants have been awarded to 250 small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• There have been over 14,000 tonnes of CO2 savings
• 60 new jobs have been created
• 150 SMEs have received non-financial support
• 1450 organisations have joined the Green Business Network

To register your interest in the Green Business Programme please email the team at greenbusiness@coventry.gov.uk.