Although our core services focus on domestic advice for consumers, we increasingly work closely with businesses to enable more informed choices when it comes to saving energy.
Group head of business development Inga Jirgensone says: “By helping bigger brands in particular to see how their mission might look or evolve, we also move closer to consumers.” A virtuous circle is in play here. “As customers ask more of business,” says Inga, “business asks more of itself.”
Over the past year, our digital tools and services have helped to deepen relationships with major lenders, Lloyds Banking Group and Santander, among other financial sector brands. A digital tool developed for Danske Bank in Northern Ireland, the first in the territory, represents a major milestone.
Elsewhere, our reach has broadened to take in estate agents, energy suppliers and retailers. Senior business development manager Jamie Browne says: “Our tools and services support businesses across all sectors, regardless of where they are on their journey to net zero.”
Part of Energy Saving Trust’s role is to upskill partner personnel in order to provide better advice to customers and to support sustainability goals internally.
Our Measure Plan Act service helps businesses by measuring their entire carbon emissions while planning to shrink them over time. Once we have calculated all emissions from data collected across a business we help clients draw up a plan based on scientific targets for net zero. During the ‘act’ stage of the cycle our support is directed at implementing the plan to cut emissions over time.
Jamie says: “We’re seeing interest in ‘selling on’ our tool, particularly from banks with commercial portfolios and mortgage books. The potential is there to increase our impact dramatically.”
Meanwhile our energy efficiency advice tool, which promotes low or no cost behavioural actions, is used by energy suppliers as part of smart meter installations and by distribution network operators bringing energy to the door, as well as by local authorities keen to support residents. A web version of the mobile app will extend our reach, as will our new Smarter Homes digital tool, out this year.