Small businesses could save €300 million a year through simple actions to reduce energy costs, Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) said yesterday.

Some 1,500 businesses participating in SEI’s programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have reduced their energy costs by 10-20 per cent through measures such as introducing more efficient lighting and changing temperature controls.

SEI estimates that if the 200,000 small businesses in Ireland took similar steps, the savings would arrive at €300 million.

“This isn’t pie in the sky stuff, we are talking about simple steps that will cut energy bills, save money and protect jobs,” said SEI’s head of strategy Brian Motherway.