How to pitch greener upgrades to your CFO
If your competitors still think sustainability is a ‘nice-to-have’, can you afford to do the same?
You already know the benefits of embracing energy efficiency and renewables at work: lower bills, reduced emissions, and a stronger brand reputation. But convincing your finance team to sign off on sustainable upgrades for business may need you to present changes carefully.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to position renewable energy efficiency measures as strategic investments that reduce risk, cut costs and safeguard long-term value.
Guest written by Georgina Saunders, Energy Services Manager at Severn Wye – a registered charity in the west of England working to tackle fuel poverty and promote sustainable development.
“Do renewables make financial sense for business?”
Luckily for you (and the planet), the argument for energy efficiency and renewable upgrades has never been stronger.
Here’s what your business stands to gain:
- Cut overheads: Predictable, lower energy bills release funds to reinvest elsewhere in the business.
- Stay compliant: With new regulations demanding transparency, particularly Scope 3 value chain emissions, businesses need robust sustainability strategies to win contracts from business customers prioritising sustainability.
- Build resilience: Protect against volatile energy markets and future carbon costs to stay ahead of customer buying trends.
- Boost reputation: Strong ESG credentials attract investors, customers and employees alike, setting a great example for collaborators and competitors.
- Improved asset value: future-proofed premises and infrastructure ready for further upgrades.
- Operational benefits: some green upgrades, such as installing a heat pump system, offer improved comfort and facilities for colleagues and visitors.
- Feel good: you’re actively contributing to local and national carbon-reduction targets.
Scope 3 (value chain) emissions
Scope 3 emissions refer to greenhouse gases that are an indirect consequence of your business activities. They can often represent the largest portion of your overall carbon footprint.
Even if you haven’t experienced pressure first hand yet, growing scrutiny of Scope 3 emissions means all organisations – no matter where they sit in the supply chain – will increasingly benefit from measuring, reporting, and integrating carbon data into their long-term business and financial planning.
“Do customers really care about sustainability?”
Consumers are increasingly aware of the power of their pound when it comes to choosing sustainable products over those with dubious or unclear origins. In fact, PwC’s June 2023 Global Consumer Insights Pulse Survey found that over 75% of consumers surveyed were prepared to pay 5% more for products with traceable origins, recyclable materials, and a lower carbon footprint.
The message is clear: ethical practices are no longer niche – they’re a competitive advantage as customer expectations shift.
“How do we know which measures will work for our business?”
One of the most effective ways to win over your CFO is with independent, impartial analysis. A thorough energy assessment should:
- Analyse your energy use in detail, from how your spaces and equipment are used, to when and where your energy is focused.
- Provide clear estimates of potential savings from a variety of low-carbon measures.
- Recommend which measures to prioritise – and in what order.
Severn Wye has worked with hundreds of businesses across different sectors, helping ensure business cases are based on credible data rather than sales-driven promises. Through decades of hands-on experience, they’ve seen first hand how energy efficiency projects deliver not only direct financial savings but also reputational and operational benefits. Moreover, their experts understand what energy efficiency measures work in real life, not just on a spreadsheet.
Fit for Net Zero
Through Severn Wye’s Fit for Net Zero, delivered with Wiltshire Council, 47 small businesses implemented green upgrades. The results were lower bills, reduced carbon footprints and more comfortable working environments:
“The credibility of the programme and having a professional report with recommendations, together with the grant funding, was invaluable in getting buy-in from fellow trustees. We would never have been able to implement the measures without the Fit for Net Zero programme.” – Donhead St Mary Village Hall.
Pitching green upgrades is about showing your CFO that these changes are financially sound, strategically necessary, and reputationally valuable. With the right investment, you can help protect your business from rising costs and regulatory pressure, while unlocking opportunities for growth.
More UK grants for sustainable business upgrades
If you’re not based in Wiltshire but need help with the upfront cost of renewables, explore our regional guide to government incentives here.
