Thinking green is no longer the trendy preserve of the new agers, but something that businesses are increasingly finding makes sound economic sense.

In an era where every penny of expenditure needs to count there are plenty of simple, relatively inexpensive energy saving, and importantly cost saving, measures that are easy to implement.

Is your building the one with lights blazing through the night when no-one’s there? Install motion detectors that automatically switch off the lights in areas no-one is using. Then while we are on the subject of lighting, substantial savings can be achieved by changing all your light bulbs to energy efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

Ask everyone to turn off when they switch off at the end of the day, or simply install power strips or other devices that effectively unplug computers, kitchen appliances, printers, and other electronics when work is done. Photocopiers in particular use a lot of energy when they’re first switched on and when they’re left on because they need to be warm to work. For maximum efficiency, save up copies into a batch and then turn the copier off again.

Take a good look at the way in which your building works, walk round your premises and carry out your own energy audit. Could you reduce the actual area you need to heat or cool by redesigning the working area, perhaps by installing a suspended ceiling? External doors and windows should be sealed with draught excluders and doors kept closed between heated and unheated areas. Consider changing your window glazing to one of the new thermally reflective types and consider the benefits of solar panels. Air curtains installed at entrances to your warehouse and between chilled storage areas and ambient areas can also cut heat loss dramatically.

It is important that staff have a comfortable working environment but just as you would at home, turn your thermostat down a couple of degrees, thus only making a negligible difference to comfort levels but making a big one to your energy bill. Installing a programmable thermostat ensures that you will not be heating an empty building, and talking of thermostats just how hot is the water from your taps and are they programmed to only run for a limited period each time? A dripping, or left running, hot water tap is very costly from an energy point of view, and even if you don’t want to go as far as installing new taps, make sure that all the washers in all your taps are fully functional and that taps are easy to turn off.

While carrying out your personal energy audit apply the same process to the ways in which your business works, looking at ways to use technology to reduce energy use.

So called “hot desking”, a term used where individuals share workspaces is pretty cool from an energy usage point of view. Lap tops use much less energy than conventional computers and hot desking allows business owners to create innovative and flexible work arrangements for employees. For instance, does everyone need to travel into work each day, or can they sometimes work from home, saving mileage and fuel?

Why travel to meetings? Web cameras and accompanying software can allow companies to hold virtual meetings -- instead of driving or flying to meet clients or colleagues in distant offices.

Could your deliveries be made more efficient, perhaps by altering routes and schedules to make less drops, or using smaller vehicles for more efficient use of space and fuel? Modern GPS systems can help drivers improve their driving and thus use less fuel, decrease emissions and reduce maintenance costs on your company vehicles.

Involve employees in discussions about the energy saving policies you would like to implement in your business. Hold a meeting to discuss your expectations for reducing energy and waste and invite ideas on how to further cut energy costs. If you approach the issue with the right attitude, most employees are more than happy to help the business and the environment.

There is no need to feel helpless in the face of rising fuel bills, whether through simple changes or larger-scale investments, every business operation can do something to save energy. The Carbon Trust estimates that most businesses can cut energy spend by around 10% by taking some simple efficiency measures.

If you need help deciding which measures will prove the most cost effective, a number of utility companies will carry out an energy audit for you free of charge.