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The Carbon Trust is launching a programme aimed at helping small and medium sized businesses reduce their energy bills by up to £40 million.

The Big Business Refit, which will formally launch in September, will offer SMEs advice and financial support to improve their energy efficiency by replacing old equipment with newer models.

The Carbon Trust says it has seen a surge in demand over the first six months of 2009 for its interest-free loans to help businesses invest in energy-saving technologies.

“With credit all but dried up elsewhere, the Big Business Refit breaks the deadlock by helping SMEs to buy the equipment that will both slash their costs and often transform their businesses,” says Carbon Trust chief executive Tom Delay.

The Big Business Refit has a total of £100 million available for loans of between £3000 and £400,000 to replace old, inefficient equipment.

The Carbon Trust estimates that the initiative could help around 3000 SMEs save up to £40 million in energy costs.

The most popular options for energy-saving investments are efficient lighting, modern air compressors, which are used to power pneumatic tools, and mechanised handling equipment like cranes.

For further information:
www.carbontrust.co.uk/loans