Necessity really is the mother of invention

We all know the phrase ... suggesting that we often only think (really think) about things when we are forced to do so. I was reminded of that the other day when reading about recent developments in energy efficiency by a number of firms. The reports were quite impressive - suggesting that many firms are now looking seriously at their energy usage and costs ... and are finding ways of reducing them. Well, of course, they have had the opportunity to look at such costs at any time in the past - but only rising fuel costs and rising restrictions on emissions have turned a 'should do' into a 'must do'. So, thumbs up for the recent advancements; but thumbs down for the time it has taken for these firms to realise they should do something. Now what other savings should you be thinking about before you are forced into them?