YORK-headquartered shoe retailer Pavers has launched an energy audit as it prepares to map out an energy efficiency strategy for its headquarters and network of more than 100 UK stores.

The company is working with Yorkshire energy management consultancy Orchard Energy to identify where consumption can be cut and plan the operational changes needed to improve efficiency.

Jim Young, head of facilities at Pavers, said the audit would ensure the business complied with the government’s Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), which aims to reduce the amount of energy being wasted by businesses due to inefficiency.

He said: “Businesses of our size are required to carry out an energy audit under the ESOS scheme and we wanted to take this a step further, using it as an opportunity to develop a detailed energy efficiency strategy.

“We have worked with Orchard on energy procurement for a number of years and when they made us aware of our obligations under ESOS we felt the findings of the audit should have a real impact on our business.”

Mr Young said the audit would look at all areas of the company’s operations, including its buildings, electrical and mechanical systems, heating, lighting and air conditioning.