D2EE project saves Tidyco six tonnes of carbon emissions

The D2 Energy Efficiency (D2EE) project, a partnership run by the University of Derby, Derby City and Derbyshire County Councils, has awarded £11,000 of funding to Tidyco Ltd, helping reduce its carbon emissions by six tonnes per year.

The hydraulic and pneumatic components manufacturer applied for the investment to part-fund the costs of installing a new energy efficient LED lighting system at its premises in Derby. The system uses 60 per cent less energy and will save the company £1,740 a year on electricity.

The D2EE project is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to provide support and grant funding to help small and medium sized businesses in Derby and Derbyshire to reduce their energy use. In addition to funding, the Low Carbon Business Network, hosted by University of Derby Management School, offers assistance in a wide variety of areas, including green funding, public tendering and carbon footprinting. Through its Green Accreditation, the network also offers support to SMEs to achieve an accreditation for their product, process or service.

Tidyco applied for funding after it identified an opportunity to make significant cost and energy savings by upgrading the lighting in its premises.

Philip Mason, Production Director at Tidyco, said: “We have worked with the D2 Energy Efficiency team to improve our lighting and save on electrical costs while helping to also reduce our carbon footprint. The whole process from application to the completion of the project was quick and easy.”

The company made an ongoing commitment to becoming a low-carbon business by reducing its energy consumption and carbon emissions. It has already invested in a solar photovoltaic (PV) system to meet its electricity demand from renewable solar energy.

As a result of the funding, the company’s whole site now has LED lights controlled by daylight and movement sensors, and has significantly reduced its carbon emissions.

Councillor Martin Rawson, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy at Derby City Council said: “The D2EE project is providing a really valuable service promoting the win-win of reducing businesses’ carbon emissions and saving them money.”

As part of the Low Carbon Business Network, the University recently launched its Green Growth Accelerator Programme, a two-part workshop which aims to help businesses establish how they currently operate within the low carbon economy and identify opportunities to grow their business.

Low Carbon Business Network Project Lead at the University of Derby, Dr Fred Paterson, added: “The Low Carbon Business Network has been working with SMEs in the D2N2 region since November 2016. Over the past year, the Network has worked with LED manufacturers, community interest companies, renewable energy installers and energy management companies, and now our Green Growth Accelerator is proving to be particularly popular with businesses.”

Find out more about D2EE grant funding