Reducing waste and CO² emissions doesn’t just help the environment - it saves businesses money too. Simple steps like switching off lights in empty rooms and turning thermostats down a degree or two immediately cut costs.
Even more can be saved by cutting waste and expense in other business areas including the creation, copying, storing and delivery of unnecessary paper documents.
Every planning application submitted electronically rather than on paper contributes towards your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. The cost of paper and other consumables, the staff-time to handle it, the utilities required to process it and the energy used to transport it can all be minimised or avoided by working online.
Find out just how much CO² your organisation could save by submitting planning applications via the Planning Portal’s online application service by using our Carbon Calculator.
Improve your competitive edge
More and more organisations are linking CSR with competitiveness. Details of businesses' carbon management strategies and carbon savings achieved are included in CSR statements.
These are increasingly being published in annual reports and used in marketing material, website content and public relations to demonstrate corporate commitment to reducing CO² emissions.
The Planning Portal offers free demonstrations and user surgeries to help professional organisations, both large and small, obtain the maximum commercial benefit from all the Portal's facilities.
In addition, organisations can use the online applications service to minimise operational costs and gain more consistent and timely planning decisions for their clients.
Low Carbon Pledge
If you would like more information on how easy it is to sign the Low Carbon Pledge or more details on the benefits of doing so please email Stuart Mockford (stuart.mockford@planningportal.gsi.gov.uk). Once signed signatories can display the Pledge on their premises and will also be entitled to make full use of a Green Portal logo on their website and marketing material.
View a searchable listing of planning professionals (organisations and individuals) who have signed the Planning Portal's Low Carbon Pledge (Excel spreadsheet).
