how important is renewable energy for business?

Potentially if you can generate your own renewable energy, very.

In times past solar panels and wind turbines cost loads compared to what they can produce. Now these devices are cheaper and more efficient, and you can save their cost in electricity in no time. One your solar cell or turbine has generated enough to pay for itself- free electricity! Who doesn't like free electricity, only idiots, that's who.

Businesses have been leaders on energy efficient lighting, it's rare to see any workplace lit by anything other than florescent tubes. The idea not being to save the planet but the very sensible idea of not chucking money down the drain.

There's this thing called return on investment that every business is very cognitive of.

It's like when the boss goes and buys a really nice copy machine that improves performance, productivity and improves the image of the business in the market place by sending better copy... if the business does better, makes more money and everyone gets a raise... that's a good return on investment.

The way we generate and use energy is going to change based on necessity, the trend is towards renewables. The first to change bear more of the cost in research and development than those who wait for the right time (NOW!!!). so they won't get as good of return on investment, and that is one reason why the transformation has been slow, but picking up steam now. Those who wait too long might actually get stuck with higher energy costs from the old sources because as renewables take more market share, the old forms will still have the expense of their huge infrastructures and overhead, thus prices will rise to continue to generate a profit for those sources.

And when the dirty sources no longer receive subsidies from our tax dollars and that transfers to renewable at some point, businesses won't have a choice. God speed on that one yeah!

From here we could get into the whole social responsibity concept. I would summerize by simply saying it is the right time and the right thing to do.

Image is everything in the market place. Would you do business with an entity that was out dated, refused to change and was hurting you and your community with pollution and other negative things when there were other options that saved you money in the long run and made you feel better about using their goods and services?

It's the responsibility of the business, specially an SME to measure carbon concerns versus the costs. 'Business Energy' is still very expensive for the UK SME in general, and while companies such as Opus Energy and brokers like Love Energy Savings continue to compete in a market dominated by the big energy companies it can only be a good thing. And these SME's competing with the big boys are getting more common and better at it.

This will reduce business energy costs and push renewables to the fore.

It should be paramount. Business needs energy to exist and with the world either in Peak Oil or rapidly approaching Peak Oil, it is critical business be proactive and look for renewable energy sources.

It is hugely important because it yields reasonable cost savings in the short term and will yield enormous cost savings in the long term (as fuel becomes much more expensive).

It also yields a feel good factor for staff and good PR.

There are laws being passed regarding recycling and its only a matter of time (praise God we get a democrat president again) before we have laws. However, it is a good idea in general, unless your a coal or utility company, then the administration gives you subsidies regardless...........

For those in the business.....Very.

I'd say lets go back to horse and buggy and dog sleds.

It can be good for their image and give them a competitive advantage. Moral obligation.