The on-line guide, Towards a Low Carbon Economy , aims to encourage and inspire businesses in the city to play their part in protecting the environment.

It provides ideas and suggestions to help businesses reduce their carbon footprint.  Topics covered include cutting energy and water consumption, renewable energy sources and carbon offsetting.

The guide also looks at the potential impact of climate change on Brighton & Hove if carbon emissions are not reduced, with hotter summers, wetter winters, more extreme rainfall, and a rise in sea levels causing an increased risk of coastal erosion and flooding.

Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, Councillor Mary Mears, said: "We are committed to cutting carbon dioxide emissions across the city and everyone can play their part and make a difference.

"It is estimated that nearly a third of Brighton & Hove's total carbon emissions are emitted by businesses and the guides aims to provide practical advice to encourage business people to look at what they can do to reduce their contribution to climate change. Measures such as reducing energy and water consumption also have the added benefit for businesses of cutting costs."

She added: "We have a lot of businesses already committed to protecting the environment, but there is still more that can be done and Monday's business breakfast is an opportunity for people to share experiences and information."

'Towards a Low Carbon Economy - The guide for businesses in Brighton & Hove' is being launched as part of a Low Carbon Business Breakfast being held at the Jury's Inn Hotel, next to Brighton Station on Monday morning. The event starts at 7.45am, with the guide being launched at 9.20am.

The business breakfast is being organised in association with eco-friendly property developers Bioregional Quintain and will end with a tour round their One Brighton zero carbon development next door.

The breakfast marks the start of a week of One Planet City workshops aimed at cutting Brighton & Hove's ecological footprint.

Brighton-based designer Oliver Heath, a committed environmentalist who regularly appears on TV makeover shows, has written the foreword to the guide. He says: "Even as individual businesses in a single city, we can make a difference. We can show that there is a better way to live, with reduced carbon emissions, fewer toxins and less waste.

"We can act as a benchmark for others to look toward and follow. We can be that sustainable, aspirational city."

Workplace actions in the guide include:

• Turn down your office thermostat - every 1 degree centigrade reduction could save 8-10% off heating bills
• Install timer switches for equipment not required overnight or at weekends
• Run a 'switch-off' campaign to turn off equipment, such as monitors, computers and photocopiers when not in use, and overnight
• Switch to energy efficient light bulbs
• Set up a workplace travel plan to encourage staff to use sustainable transport
• Repair leaks and dripping taps - every drop wasted costs in water charges
• Recycle as much waste as possible.

Download the guide at: http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?request=c1192814