Case Study
Highlands & Islands Resource Efficiency Project
Project funded and led by HIE in partnership with the SEPA
Project title: Highlands & Islands Resource Efficiency Project
Project Duration: 6 months
Completion date: March 2009
Overall Project Cost: Circa. £55,000
Project Description:
The Highlands & Islands Resource Efficiency Project (HIREP) was an innovative initiative to help businesses in the region realise the business benefits of improved resource efficiency and environmental management. The project was funded and led by Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) in partnership with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and a representative cross-sector Working Group.
Synergie was commissioned by HIE to manage delivery of the HIREP project from the company’s Head Office in Inverness. There were three main elements to the project:
The promotion of existing resource efficiency support initiatives;
The provision of direct site-specific advice and support;
The development and implementation of an on-going programme of events.
Over 30 businesses were recruited to the project, either receiving direct site-specific support from Synergie consultants, or signposted to existing support initiatives – e.g. the Energy Saving Trust. Individual client projects were varied and diverse, ranging from general resource efficiency audits, to more focused studies – e.g. small renewable energy studies, utilities metering and environmental management systems. Over 100 business representatives were also attracted to a total of four events in remote areas and two themed events in Inverness on “Low Carbon Buildings” and “On-Site Renewables”.
The results of the project have been extremely positive, with many referred businesses generating substantial savings within the period of the project.
