Businesses across the UK have been advised to employ individuals trained in electrical courses to identify correctly the amount of energy they are presently using and how they can bring this figure down.

Andrew Boddington, director of marketing at Return on It, said the recession has meant that companies are not taking as great an interest in green improvements as in recent years, but there remains a lot to be said for having excellent energy-saving credentials, not least in terms of the money it can save.

He commented: "Doing the right thing environmentally can actually help your business and save money."

According to the BBC, the Department of Energy and Climate Change is set to inject increased funding into sustainable causes in the UK in a bid to promote an eco-friendly lifestyle.

Energy secretary Chris Huhne told BBC Breakfast earlier this week that