Only one month until CRC launch!

Online, March 2, 2010 (Newswire.com) - The government is urging businesses to prepare for the introduction of Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme when it comes into effect on the 1 April 2010.

Any organisation with half-hourly electricity meters will have to register with the Environment Agency under the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, while about 5,000 of the heaviest energy users will have to partake in the full CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme and report annually on their energy use and carbon emissions.

Around 20,000 private and public organisations fall under the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme. The deadline to register with the Environment Agency is September 2010, although those organisations using more than 6,000 Megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity a year will be required to begin measuring how much energy they use from 1 April 2010.

Participating organisations will have to record carbon emissions data with the government from next year, in order to compile a national CRC league table based on organisations' carbon emissions and energy efficiency improvements.

These organisations will also have to purchase carbon allowances in line with their carbon emissions each year. The best-performing participants in the energy efficiency scheme each year will receive back the money they spend on carbon allowances along with an additional bonus. The worst-performers will see a financial penalty taken from their rebates from the scheme.

The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme will help businesses to reduce energy costs

The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme is expected to help businesses and public sector bodies to enhance their energy efficiency and reduce costs. However, experts have expressed concerns that many businesses and public sector agencies are ill prepared for the CRC energy efficiency scheme. A survey last autumn suggested that only a third of businesses were fully prepared.

Russell Lerman, Managing Director at Envido said: "This is a real opportunity for business and industry to take a leadership role in tackling climate change and gain reputational advantage as a result. With the start of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, we will see large public and private sector organisations cutting carbon emissions as well as saving money on energy bills."