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Energy Efficiency Loans Scheme to Change |
| The carbon trust have just announced some significant changes to the Energy-Efficiency loans scheme to encourage more businesses to invest in energy saving lighting technology. The minimum loan amount has been lowered from £5,000 to £3,000, putting the loans within reach of micro-businesses; and the upper limit has been doubled from £200,000 to £400,000 to meet the needs of small and medium businesses with higher energy spends. The Carbon threshold has also been reduced from 2 to 1.5 tCO2 / £1,000 of loan. So, this means a project making annual electricity savings of 8,379 kWh will now be eligible for the minimum loan of £3,000. The thresholds outlined above apply across the UK with immediate effect; including any applications currently being processed. In addition to the threshold changes, the following private sector businesses* are ably to apply for an Energy-Efficiency loan: • England and Scotland – SME’s and also enterprises with annual electricity spend of less than £500,000. • Wales and Northern Ireland – SME’s, enterprises with annual electricity spend of less than £500,000 and also any other size enterprises. They expect to deliver over £100m in loan funding to UK SMEs over the next two years, including almost £84m in England allocated by the Government as part of Budget 2009. The changes to the Energy-Efficiency loans scheme will provide businesses in the UK with a tremendous opportunity to invest in energy saving technology. Typical products that Lamps & Lighting offer for the Energy-Efficiency loan are ‘Ilite’ and ‘D-tect’ please find a link explaining the benefits: http://www.lampslighting.co.uk/lighting/Flush-Ceiling/Contemporary/757/Orbit-Prismatic-Courtesy-Occupancy/ For more information on the loans please visit their website: http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/loans *Though the Energy-Efficiency loans scheme is not available to Public sector organisations they may apply for interest free loans at: http://www.salixfinance.co.uk/loans ** An SME is an enterprise with less than 250 full time employees, a turnover of less than approximately £43m or assets of less than approximately £37m and a controlling interest by a non SME of less than 25% |