And let’s not forget that there’s the inherent energy saving from the improved system efficiency by controlling the motor. This on-going financial payback is something that wouldn’t necessarily be provided by other investments.

If we put on an accountant’s hat for a moment, we can see how the sums add up. The table below shows an example for a new cooling and ventilation installation. The total investment is £300,000, of which £100,000 qualifies for ECA and the remainder for capital allowances

So there really has never been a better time to invest in energy saving. With tax relief available on capital allowances and enhanced capital allowances, and an on-going payback from energy efficiency, the return on the investment is very attractive to even the most austere of finance directors.

The new government tax rules should be something that all stakeholders should be informing their customers about, whether they are an automation vendor, a machine builder, a systems integrator, a consultant or an energy manager. You can take your accountant’s hat off now, by the way.