Partner Article

Green measures helping business cut costs

A six figure green loan is poised to half a North East engineering company’s electricity bill.

Astrum (UK) Limited, based in Stanhope, County Durham, is hoped to save more than £80,000 a year by replacing its air compressors.

This follows a £400,000 interest free loan from the Carbon Trust, which will help the business reduce its carbon emissions by 600 tonnes a year.

The scheme aims to drive small and medium businesses with zero-cost capital to invest in high performance, energy efficient equipment.

Mike Huthinson, Operations Director at Astrum, said: “Our compressed air system is critical to the performance of our plant and the quality of the products we produce.

“The money allows us to accelerate our investment plans and install system that will cut energy costs and improve the efficiency of our business.”

The loan is the largest sum awarded from the Carbon Trust’s £100m Big Business Refit and is about to increase the maximum level for its zero-interest unsecured loans to £500,000, following the interest in high-value loans in the past three months.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .