BUSINESSES are set to go green with a new initiative from the Huddersfield-based Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

The Lockwood-based chamber has teamed up with member firm Orchard Energy, based in Elland, to launch an energy and environmental efficiency scheme aimed at encouraging companies to reduce their carbon footprint.

The partnership with Orchard Energy and its waste management division, Orchard Environmental, will see a tree planted for every business that signs up to the scheme.

“When we decided to launch the scheme we were looking for a local organisation that could provide a range of services to help businesses reduce overheads and improve sustainability,” said chamber spokeswoman Kathryn Shuttleworth.

“We have worked closely with Orchard on a proposal that we believe will help our members save money and improve their green credentials.”

Gareth Henderson, Orchard Group managing director, said every chamber member would be offered a free energy and waste audit to help identify inefficiencies and highlight areas where savings can be made.

“Finding ways to reduce overheads, cut down on energy consumption and manage waste more effectively isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good for business too,” he said.

“Energy and waste represent significant costs for businesses and any measures that can help reduce spending, particularly in the current economic climate, will make budgeting easier and allow for investment in other areas.”

Mr Henderson said Orchard will plant trees quarterly – one tree for each member entering into the new scheme. Members will be given the opportunity to pick the species and location and Orchard will report regularly to the chamber on the number of trees planted and the volume of carbon offset by the scheme.