Kirklees businesses have been urged to take advantage of funding to make their operations more energy efficient.

Kirklees Council’s Business Environment Grant makes up to £5,000 funding available per Kirklees-based business – but with a closing date of March, 2015, organisations are urged to apply as soon as possible.

The grant can help subsidise a range of energy, water and waste improvements including installing LED lighting.

Amanda Speight, business development manager at Dewsbury-based lighting firm J G Harrison, said: “If we could switch the world’s lighting to energy efficient solutions, we could save 120m euros on electricity and reduce CO2 emissions by 630m tonnes!”

Companies to benefit from the grant include Oxford Grange care home at Dewsbury, which received £5,000 of funding in February.

J G Harrison &

 Sons replaced the nursing home’s fluorescent 33w bulbs for 12w LEDs – saving £6,000 a year on energy consumption.

Furthermore, the products come with a five year guarantee which means a bulb will create savings of almost £30,000 over the five years. The home’s owners are now rolling out the improvements to other homes in the group.

Founded in 1951, J G Harrison & Sons, has four stores and lighting showrooms at Dewsbury, Halifax, Bradford and Rochdale.

With Government targets to reduce CO2 emissions by 40% by 2020 – leading towards an 80% reduction by 2050 – the company has seen a growth in its commercial work over recent years.

Said Amanda: “Most businesses are aware that they need to reduce their energy consumption for reasons both around being green and most importantly, to save the business having to pay out unnecessary costs.

“However, many companies do not know that such funding exists. I’m happy to advise organisations on how to apply and obtain the funding; and how they can use it to improve the efficiency of their lighting in the business which will further help to save costs and reduce their carbon footprint over the next several years.”

Kirklees businesses can also speak to Jim Porter at Kirklees Council to discuss grant funding on 01484 221660.