I’m not prepared to chain myself to a tree or throw myself in front of a whaling boat to save the environment. I would, however, think twice about doing it if it could add some much, much needed cash to my businesses bottom line.

Figures suggest that businesses waste up to 15 per cent of the energy they pay for, even in the summer months.

The good news is there is a way your business can save cash whilst saving the environment – and it doesn’t involve unnecessary bodily harm.

British businesses could save themselves up to £570 million in the winter months by practicing some simple energy-saving techniques.

Here’s some tips to help your business save energy – and cash – as we dive headfirst into the colder months.

Turn things off when you’re not around

  - Switch off lights and computers at the end of each day

 - Unplug equipment when you’re away or not using them for extended periods. Standby power consumes a considerable amount of electricity

Don’t make you heating/cooling systems work harder than they have to

 - Turn the thermostat down to around 15 degrees Celsius at night or when you’re out – this will save you about 5-10% on your total energy bill.

 - Close your blinds or curtains after sunset to keep the heat in

 - Set the temperature on your hot water tank to 50 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit). Every 5.5 degrees C. (10 degrees F.) reduction saves up to 13 per cent on your water heating costs.

 - Don’t put the photocopier near any cooling vents - the cooling system will need to work harder to cool an area that is constantly being heated.

Low energy alternatives

 - Replace an incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb in commonly used areas. These bulbs use 75 per cent less energy and last about 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs

 - Get an energy-efficient refrigerator –they’ll use half the energy use of a standard fridge from the early ‘90s and one quarter of those from the early ‘80s

 - Replace old windows with double-glazed windows. You are likely to keep in 25% more heat)

Wasting money through inefficient energy use in the workplace is an unnecessary strain on a businesses precious cash flow. Tom Delay, chief executive of Carbon Trust, confirms that British businesses are wasting millions on energy, hitting both the environment and their bottom line.

"The sheer scale of the energy wasted is staggering and something businesses can no longer afford to ignore," he warns.

"What's more, consumers and shareholders alike are becoming more aware of a company's environmental record and this trend is only going to grow. Energy saving today is a no-brainer for business and the environment."

So, there you have it. It’s easy really – you can do your bit to save the environment and your company.

Bear in mind though that your energy savings will help ease your cash flow problems but may not solve them – if you want a more robust and immediate solution to your cash flow solutions you can get a quote here.