The days of cheap fuel supplies for business are gone. According to the DTI, over the 12 months to the first quarter of 2006, the prices for fuel and light rose by 11.7% in real terms. Over the same period, gas prices shot up by more than 13%. Business and organisations can either choose to pay whatever they are billed - or they can act proactively and manage their own supply, and reduce costs in the process.

The government's introduction of mandatory rising targets for renewable energy provision has emphasised the need for renewable and sustainable energy from reliable providers. With potential grant funding support and a growing need for green credentials to achieve planning permission, the market is moving quickly to look for partners offering a total solution. Heat pumps are an energy-efficient alternative to fossil fuel boilers. They use between 40% and 80% less fossil-fuel energy than conventional heating systems and give the user control of supply and much more control over price.