Firms urged to focus on energy usage and travel

Turning off electronic equipment at the end of the day, using the train instead of air travel where possible and other simple steps such as these are the basic cornerstones of environmental policies that all business should implement, it has been claimed.

Mark Chadwick, chief executive of Carbon Clear, also urged larger businesses that are in a position to influence the strategies of their supply chain to insist on energy efficient products that will further reduce carbon emissions in the workplace.

"Part of your environmental policy should include a travel policy and that should mandate that trains are used whenever practical. And if that means paying a little bit extra, sometimes that's worth doing because it's the right thing for the environment," he said.

"Reducing energy usage and working out your travel policy: they're two things that any business of any size can do, and they can make a difference."

According to the Carbon Trust, businesses in the UK could save at least £1.4 billion in 2008 by implementing simple but effective measures such as using energy efficient light bulbs, switching off PCs when they are not in use, and lowering the temperature by one degree.