CONSERVATORY firm Ultraframe has been honoured for a scheme which could save it £100,000 through things such as switching off lights and closing doors.

The business, which employs 1,200 people worldwide, including 450 at its Clitheroe base, has been handed the Lancashire Business Environment Association's award in the Energy Efficiency category.

And Ultraframe has been praised by green campaigners for its environmental approach.

It has made improvements which have reduced energy use through simple things like automatically closing doors and asking staff to always turn off lights and computers when not in use.

Ultraframe predicts that by the middle of next year the moves will have saved it more than £100,000 in energy bills, some of which will be invested into further environmental improvements at the company.

Rachel Cundey, quality & environmental co-ordinator at Ultraframe UK, said: "Through our various initiatives we have all learnt just how much every small changes in our business can make a vast difference to our impact on the environment."

The firm's scheme to introduce "rapid rolling shutter doors" is estimated to save about £37,000.

The scheme to encourage staff to turn off lights and computers should save about £36,000.

The award, which was presented by Pendle MP Gordon Prentice, comes as good news for the firm, which until recently was struggling.

Its operating profit for 2005 was £5.2million, down more than 66 per cent from £15.4million in 2004.

The fall was blamed on a tough market which resulted in fewer sales and the company being forced to cut prices.

Earlier this year it was sold in a £58million deal with a company called Latium Holdings, led by Sale Sharks rugby team owner and double glazing millionaire Brian Kennedy and accountant Stuart Lees.

Ultraframe was also commended in three other categories - for Waste Minimisation; Health and Safety; and the Business in the Community.