such as wind and solar, the move toward smart grids,and the rise of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles, toname just three. Until recently storing electricity was thoughtimpossible, however the emergence of newtechnologies has disproved this theory. Consequentlythe global energy storage market is now potentiallyenormous but the need to reduce consumption is no less important, because however green theproduction process is, it will need to be delivered via an infrastructure that is hugely expensive to develop. The United Kingdom is at the forefront ofdevelopments in green technology, from marine energyand bio-fuels through to ultra low carbon vehicles. UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), is running the "UK KNOW HOW" campaign. This campaign inconjunction with UK strategy partners has beendeveloped to drive awareness of the UK's low carboncapability via the network of British Embassies anddiplomatic posts around the world. The UK leads theworld in carbon assessment, measurement andmanagement and has the expertise to reduce carbonalong the whole supply chain.We need to address how these strategies, products andsolutions for reducing consumption are marketed.Knowing your customer is crucial as all too often thesesolutions are being targeted at the wrong people. Forexample IT directors are often approached with energysaving processes for network PCs and data centreswhen they have no direct responsibility for the cost ofpower usage. Similarly, facilities managers will receivesales calls for HVAC and lighting solutions when theirbudgetary control may be negligible and responsibilityfor carbon reporting, out of their remit. Many of the companies behind the new green solutionsare small or start-up organisations run by thetechnologists and scientists who created them. Theycan tend to evangelise the environmental advantageswhilst not concentrating on the financial benefits ofinvesting in their solution. An education process isneeded to help these companies succeed and create asound commercial framework. For these initiatives to get the traction they deserve itis important to promote all aspects of the solution tothe right people at the right decision making level. Thegoal is to identify those individuals who understand thebenefits of low carbon technology on multiple levels,including the PR benefits, the Corporate SocialResponsibility requirements, and the regionallegislative directives and, as importantly, the positivefinancial returns.In the current global economic downturn, manyorganisations, whether they are public companies or privately owned are understandably wary of the low- carbon initiatives. Some solutions can ofteninvolve a large capital outlay with returns oninvestment running ten years and beyond. Often themental image when considering energy efficiency and the low-carbon economy is of wind turbines, solar panels and expensive new premises. The realityis that there are an array of products and services that involve low-capital outlay and deliver rapidinvestment return. Every key decision maker including CEOs, MDs,Financial Directors, and business owners, areinterested in reducing energy spend without incurringexpensive project costs. If, at the same time, theseinitiatives can reduce the carbon footprint and becompliant with regional green legislation, it becomes atotally viable proposition.There are many products that provide a compellingsolution to the business as well as the environment.There is a real need for an organisation that cantranslate the benefits of energy/carbon efficientproducts and services into a business case thatdecision makers will understand and embrace. Themost immediate action that any individual, company,organisation, public body or government canundertake is to reduce utility consumption. Within many organisations there is a growing demandfor their suppliers to demonstrate they have a clearlydefined carbon reduction policy within their CSRprogramme. Indeed, some organisations aredemanding precise carbon "readings" for all theproducts and services to be able to report accurately on the carbon impact across the supply chain.Businesses should ignore this at their peril, especiallythose who do not necessarily see themselves as atraditional "supplier". We have seen examples in London where legal andaccountancy firms have been asked to provide acarbon statement detailing the CO2 impact of theirengagement. The inability to provide this will have adirect impact on their business as the legislationaround environmental change becomes more stringentand far reaching.eSolve Partners has sought out various products and services that can make this reduction of usagehappen quickly and cost effectively with immediateenvironmental and economic impact. As a result of itsfocus and expertise on green issues, eSolve has beenable to bring together a set of "best of breed" solutionsthat provide a rapid return on investment withoutincurring expensive project costs. Our associated companies work closely in the UnitedKingdom with the government backed organisationsthat provide project funding support. We haveexamples of projects that have used this financialstructure to deliver initiatives cash flow positive fromday one. We have looked for solutions from a businessBelow: eSolve Associate,David Beer and (bottom)Chairman, Tim Ford060FINANCE" "THE MOST IMMEDIATE ACTION THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL, COMPANY, ORGANISATION,PUBLIC BODY ORGOVERNMENT CAN UNDERTAKEIS TO REDUCEUTILITY CONSUMPTIONMain Picture: Tightercontrol of energy usagecan save organisationsfortunes as well as aidingthe wider climate

point-of-view, not just an environmental one, for this iswhere real traction will be achieved.Optimising your existing assets is an effective way toreduce consumption rapidly and provide a fast returnon investment. eSolve works closely with AssuredEnergy Solutions to deliver facility-wide turnkeysolutions. Affiliated to Energy Automation SystemsInc. (EASI) in the US, they deliver rapid energy savingresults from applying their technology to motors, airconditioning, refrigeration and heating systems. By focusing on removing waste and reactiveenergy, heat build up and harmonics, theydeliver results facility-wide. Savings canrange from 6 to 20 per cent with payback typically within three years. These savings are measured using the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol, and with 30years experience and over 80,000installations around the world for majorglobal corporations they have the knowledgeand proof to provide a service underwritten byLloyds of London. Working with BP Solar, commencing in September2007, EASI introduced multiple solutions. Withintwo years, savings of just under US$300,000 had been achieved and the project had beenfinanced entirely from those savings. Accurate utilitymonitoring is vital to the optimisation proposal.Deciding how to invest, to achieve the greatest saving,needs to be done from a knowledge based viewpoint. An organisation needs to understandexactly where the energy is being used to make the most sensible decision to ensure maximum saving and the best possible returns. Monitoring is also vital in providing the information that can impact on user habits and help delegate theresponsibility for energy consumption to end users, habits that the Carbon Trust in the UK calculatecould save 20 per cent of annual energy spend. With savings of this magnitude, accurate monitoringwill probably enjoy a return on investment inside 12 months. The most effective example of the use of thisinformation is in educational establishments. Schoolsand colleges are bringing environmental studies intotheir core curriculum; the use of monitoring throughoutthe estate enables students to conduct experiments tosee the effect of changing habits. How much energycan be saved by lowering the temperature in the libraryby one degree? What change in electricityconsumption can be monitored when classroomlighting is adjusted? But what really drives this concept home with childrenis the realisation of the sheer quantity of carbon thatcan be saved by making these changes. Students of allages are concerned about the effects of climatechange and bringing this information to them whenthey can see the direct benefits of their actions isenormously powerful.These methods of achieving reduction are simple,effective and lucrative. eSolve is providing a route for these solutions in to companies by approaching key decision makers with a business proposal, abusiness proposal with a compelling and powerfulenvironmental theme. nFINANCE061BIOGRAPHIESTim Ford is Chairman of eSolve Partners LLP. Mr Fordis a past President of the University of Reading andwas also Chairman of Employment Tribunals andDeputy Chairman of Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital.He is a member of the Chartered Institute ofArbitrators, Fellow of the Institute of Directors, andFellow of the Royal Society of Arts.David Beer is Associate of eSolve Partners LLP. MrBeer has over twenty years of global commercial,management, and business experience. Over the lastfour years he has helped small start up climatechanges businesses get to market. He has anexcellent understanding of the key climate changeand sustainable challenges businesses now face andhow these risks and opportunities need to beintegrated into corporate decision making. Contact: David Beer Telephone: +44 779 969 4058Email: david.beer@esolvepartners.com