A Newcastle business is saving thousands of pounds a year thanks to an innovative energy saving grant scheme.
The Business Energy Saving Team (BEST) project, which is delivered jointly by local authorities in the region including Newcastle City Council, offers advice and support to help businesses reduce their carbon footprint and save money on their energy bills.
One of the businesses to benefit from the scheme is Discount Pet Superstore in Byker, who received a grant of just under £10,000 to assist with purchasing and installing 72 solar panels.
Since the solar panels were installed in October last year, the business has saved between £3,500 and £4,000 on its energy bills.
It is estimated that in the last eight months the solar panels have generated 11,300 kWhs of electricity, with the pet store using around 7,000 kWhs.
This means the business has also been able to earn money by selling its surplus solar energy back to the National Grid.
Rob Phillip, the owner of Discount Pet Superstore, said: “We reached a point last year where our energy costs were too high and we needed to find a long-term solution, so we got in touch with BEST.
“The process was great. The team are very knowledgeable and were supportive throughout and they helped us secure a grant which helped us purchase and install the solar panels.
“The results have been fantastic and within two and a half years, the investment will have paid for itself. We’ve already been selling energy back to the National Grid too and this will only increase over the summer months.”
Cllr Marion Williams, Cabinet member for a Sustainable City at Newcastle City Council, said: "It is really pleasing to see that local businesses are benefitting from this fantastic scheme.
“Projects like this not only help businesses to become more cost and energy efficient but they also play an important part in helping our city achieve its net zero targets.
"I encourage all businesses to take advantage of the advice and funding being offered and see how the scheme could benefit them too.”
The scheme is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
BEST aims to reduce energy use and costs in small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) in Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland and Gateshead.
BEST provides a range of fully funded energy efficiency support, designed to help identify ways that can save energy in day-to-day business operations, which helps to save money and reduce the carbon footprint.
Grants are also available to help cover the costs of improvements, helping to reduce running costs and the impact of operations on the environment.
Find out more about the scheme by visiting www.best-ne.co.uk.