Elland-based energy management consultancy Orchard Energy is helping a Yorkshire kitchen manufacturer.

Doncaster-based Omega PLC has appointed Orchard to help maximise its energy efficiency as part of a new government programme.

UK businesses with turnover exceeding 50m euros or employing 250 or more people are required by law to take part in the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), which aims to reduce the amount of energy wasted by businesses.

The scheme, led by the Environment Agency, obliges companies to carry out an energy audit of their buildings, industrial processes and transport use to identify energy saving measures – which, if implemented, could lead to huge savings. Once a business is ESOS compliant, it must repeat the process every four years.

Omega PLC designs, makes and markets fitted kitchens and furniture for kitchen specialist outlets across the UK. The firm already has policies in place to cover recycling and sustainable wood sourcing as well as investment in new technologies to help conserve energy.

Alastair England, group operations and production director at Omega PLC, said: “As a business we recognise how important our impact is on the environment and the need to minimise our carbon footprint, which is why we have an Environmental Policy in place and strive to produce as little waste a possible.

“We already have a long-standing relationship with Orchard Energy who look after our packaging waste regulations and water, so it only seemed right that we asked them to help us become ESOS compliant. The energy audit will look at our factory and warehouses, and we hope it will identify any legal compliance and possible savings that we haven’t considered yet.”

Simon Pyne, Orchard Energy’s business development manager for Energy Solutions, said: “The ESOS scheme is a significant savings opportunity for large businesses.

“It does require initial investment, but the rewards at the end of it are considerably worthwhile. Many see it as just another legislation that the Government has introduced, but don’t realise that if they make the changes set out in their audit, it can save them thousands of pounds and help towards becoming a sustainable business.

“Businesses such as Omega come back to us year-on-year for advice on how to become more energy efficient.”