A BUSINESS woman who helps companies reduce their carbon footprint has been short-listed for a female entrepreneur award.

Toni Griffiths, 32 from Theydon Bois set up CO2ST in April this year to help businesses generate renewable energy from liquid bio fuels.

She said: “It lowers carbon and lowers their costs. We use three ways to do that. We provide LED lighting which can reduce energy bills by 85 per cent, we assist them to divert more waste from landfill and we help companies create their own renewable power on site by using bio fuels. But it's not all about tree hugging, being green reduces bills as well as helping the environment.

"I saw a businesses opening and decided to take it. I took advantage of the situation but really it's been led by the clients. I started out supplying renewable fuels but as we went to see clients we found new problems and came up with solutions for these.”

Miss Griffiths has been short-listed for the O2's X Awards for 2009, and it is now down to the public to decide the winner.

From today people can vote online for the person they want to go through to the final.

The winners will then be interviewed by a panel of judges who decide the overall winner for each category.

Miss Griffiths said: “I was really chuffed when I found out I had been short-listed. I'm very competitive and when I applied I thought if I don't get through I will be gutted. “ To vote for Toni as the Female Entrepreneur of the Year visit http://o2-business.com/Business/Vote.aspx or follow the link on her website www.co2st.co.uk.