The Welsh Assembly government has announced an extra £5 million to help small businesses and the public sector become more energy efficient and lower their carbon emissions.

The funding has been awarded to the Carbon Trust in Wales to support the 'invest-to-save' programme that provides interest free loans to pay for the installation of energy efficiency measures. The funding will be repayable over up to eight years from the savings made and the repaid money will be recycled to help others.

This brings the total Assembly government support for the Carbon Trust Wales to £9.5 million during 2009/10 for energy efficiency projects.


A total of £4 million will go towards a loan scheme open to any public sector body in Wales, from hospitals, schools, museums and local government. The money can be used to fund 80 different energy efficiency technologies, including building insulation, boiler and lighting upgrades and IT improvements.

And £1 million will be used by the Carbon Trust to increase the money available for their existing business loan scheme for small businesses in Wales. The extra money brings the Welsh Assembly government’s total support for the Carbon Trust Wales to £9.5 million during 2009/10 for energy efficiency projects.

Environment Minister Jane Davidson said: "This support is about making business sense out of climate change. Climate change may be the biggest threat facing the world, but it must also be seen as an opportunity for businesses and the public sector in Wales to reduce their costs and become more energy efficient. Every organisation needs to take stock of their carbon footprint and take action to lower it. This funding represents a great opportunity for organisations to reduce their carbon footprint, save money off their energy bills and, importantly for businesses, to become more competitive."

(CD/KMcA)