PRINCE Charles will today challenge Scottish businesses to measure their carbon footprints and reduce their energy consumption – to save the environment and money.
The Royal challenge will be laid down to representatives from 100 Scottish businesses meeting to discuss further ways in which they can reduce their environmental impact.
The business leaders will be urged to measure their direct carbon footprin
t and to reduce their carbon dioxide () output, which the organisers say is the single most important action that businesses can take.
The Prince of Wales's May Day Business Summit on Climate Change in Edinburgh is one of 12 events running around the UK, which will bring together 1,600 business leaders.
Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, and Prince Charles will address the gatherings via satellite link, the first time the two have spoken at the same event about climate change.
The meeting builds on the success of a summit held by Prince Charles in Edinburgh last November, at which the prince launched his May Day Network.
Prince Charles's network, which is run by Scottish Business in the Community (SBC) north of the Border, already includes 900 businesses and offers its members advice on how they can reduce their environmental impact and also save money.
Today's summit will give businesses the chance to highlight the steps they have already taken and report back to Prince Charles on the progress that has been made.
Samantha Barber, chief executive of SBC, said: "Scottish businesses are already demonstrating their willingness to tackle the global crisis of climate change.
"It's crucial that businesses work together – not only because of the need for businesses to cut their own emissions, but also because they have enormous influence on the behaviour of the public both in Scotland and beyond."
Further help for small companies is also available from the Energy Saving Trust (EST), which offers a business advice service, funded by the Scottish Government. In 2006-7, 467 businesses received support from the scheme, resulting in potential lifetime cost savings of £17.7 million and potential savings of 109,000 tonnes.
John Murray, the EST's business advice manager, said: "In today's competitive business environment, successful businesses are those making efficient use of energy and resources. Easy, low-cost energy efficiency actions are often all that is required for smaller businesses to save money, improve their competitive position, and help the environment.
RABBIE'S BLAZING A TRAIL FOR ENERGY CONSERVATION ON TOUR WHEN Robin Worsnop set up Rabbie's Trail Burners in 1993, environmental responsibility was at the heart of his plans.
Founded on the principles of Small Is Beautiful – Eric Schumacher's 1973 book, which emphasised sustainable development and the conservation of natural resources – Rabbie's now has a turnover of more than £1 million and employs the equivalent of 23 full-time staff. From its Edinburgh base, Rabbie's takes visitors on tours of Scotland's most beautiful spots, from Orkney and Skye, to lochs Lomond and Ness.
Rabbie's has also saved money in its offices by reducing energy consumption – it has cut its annual energy bill by one-third, saving the company £1,150.
Worsnop, managing director of Rabbie's, said: "We've looked at using bio-fuels but we've ruled that out given what we have now seen coming to light on the issue of food prices and world food poverty. We'll continue to run on diesel but we will donate £10 per tonne of carbon that we use in operating our tours to Climate Change Scotland."
CCS is a not-for-profit organisation set up by Scotland's tourism industry to encourage companies to reduce their carbon use. When they cannot reduce their usage any further, they donate money, which is used for environmental projects in Scotland.
Rabbie's will also be making the May Day pledge today.
