Three ‘Quick Wins’ for your Net Zero strategy

An effective Net Zero strategy is as important as the commitment of those who are involved in the journey. As Net Zero becomes a goal across most industries, many businesses have already started their journey – whether it involves preparing or even executing their plans.

Businesses account for around 18% of the UK’s total emissions from commercial activities.

If your company is currently working towards Net Zero, you may be faced with the common question, “When will we start seeing results?” – this is when quick wins come in.

Quick wins do not need to be major changes; in fact, they can be ‘small wins but have a big impact’ that yields environmental and financial benefits. Quick wins are important to keep up the momentum and demonstrate the feasibility of your net-zero goals.

Celebrating these successes fosters a culture of sustainability and motivates continuous improvement.

Identifying quick wins

Every business will have a unique set of quick wins, requiring a mix of low-hanging fruit initiatives and significant investments.

Effective net zero strategies balance easy, quick wins (like LED lighting upgrades) and long-term investments (such as installing onsite renewable energy technologies). Businesses can reinvest the savings from early initiatives to offset the cost of larger plans later.

This will allow your business to set up a baseline, which is important for tracking and setting goals. The baseline allows you to measure any improvements or to determine if the targets have been met. Many businesses can use carbon calculators to help identify hotspots or set carbon reduction targets.

We spoke to Ed Kirk, operations, innovations and sustainability director of Crendon Timber Engineering, and head of TRA’s health and safety committee about  the ways to achieve several quick wins that can be beneficial to your business in the long run.

1. Energy efficiency

The quickest and often most cost-effective step on the net-zero  journey is improving energy efficiency.

Many members may have already started by transitioning to energy-efficient lighting, such as LED systems, which provide significant savings with minimal investment. The next logical step in reducing carbon emissions would be to explore the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on factory roofs.

While the initial installation costs for solar PV systems may seem high, the long-term benefits, including reduced energy bills and protection against rising electricity prices, can lead to a full return on investment within a few years.

2. Electric and hybrid vehicles

Another key step towards achieving Net Zero  is the replacement of diesel-powered equipment and vehicles. Members should consider replacing diesel-powered and multi-directional forklifts with electric-powered versions. These electric alternatives not only reduce carbon emissions but also offer lower maintenance costs and longer lifespans.

At the same time, upgrading delivery fleets by replacing older trucks with newer, more fuel-efficient lorries can lead to long-term savings and improved environmental performance. Although vehicle replacement is a significant investment, the long-term benefits, such as reduced fuel costs, fewer repairs, and alignment with sustainability goals, make it a worthwhile step.

Members could introduce electric or hybrid vehicles for company cars and install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at all branches. This infrastructure investment could act as an incentive for employees to switch to electric or hybrid vehicles, reducing the overall carbon footprint of daily commuting and work-related travel.

By providing access to charging facilities, companies can encourage the transition to non-combustible vehicles, further contributing to both environmental goals and employee satisfaction.

3. Extractor fans

Many businesses may overlook the replacement of extractor fans until they show signs of failure. However, it is worth considering the benefits of upgrading even functioning fans.

Older extractor fans, while still operational, often consume significantly more electricity than modern, energy-efficient models. Upgrading to newer fans can lead to reduced energy usage and lower operational costs over time.

It is also important to regularly monitor and maintain the performance of existing extractor fans. Routine servicing can help ensure they continue to operate efficiently. Without regular maintenance, fans may experience reduced performance, leading to higher energy consumption and costly repairs down the line. By proactively tracking the condition and efficiency of your fans, you can avoid unexpected expenses and contribute to overall energy efficiency.

Employee engagement

People are the driving force behind any transformation, and behaviour change can deliver significant improvements.

Encouraging behavioural change for employees to take simple actions, like turning off idle equipment, can generate substantial energy savings over time – especially if you have a large workforce. In addition, sustainable practices such as carpooling, using public transport, or cycling to work, can collectively reduce the organisation’s carbon footprint.

Initiatives like ‘Green Commute Days’ can incentivise these behaviours. Although not every company location is accessible by public transport, businesses can introduce green vehicle schemes for electric vehicles or consider ‘business-use’ vehicles for staff who need to travel to sites for client meetings and projects.

Celebrating successes

By focusing on quick wins and celebrating achievements, businesses can make significant strides towards their net zero goals, demonstrating that sustainability is both achievable and rewarding. This can be achieved with success stories through case studies and blog posts, transparent reporting on progress in net zero initiatives to keep everyone informed and building trust.

The TRA is always looking for stories from members who have already started their Net Zero journey. If you have any success stories you would like to share, please get in touch via info@tra.org.uk.