Energy Saving News
UK government launches energy-efficiency scheme
A major new campaign to encourage large businesses to reduce their carbon emissions was unveiled by the UK government today (October 7th).
Starting in April 2010, the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) will target organisations whose annual half-hourly metered electricity use is at least 6,000 megawatt hours.
Businesses taking part in the initiative are required to report their emissions for the first year, after which they will purchase allowances according to their emissions from energy use and surrender them at the end of the year.
John Ruddock, the UK's energy and climate change minister, said: "Organisations and the public sector must play a central role including all government departments, regardless of size.
"Large organisations have huge potential to achieve cost-effective energy efficiency savings."
The government estimates that the CRC could save businesses a collective £1 billion by 2020, with carbon emissions dropping by 4.4 metric tonnes per year.
Iain Smith, a Liberal Democrat member of Scottish Parliament, recently challenged the Scottish government to increase its spending on energy efficiency by £100 million a year.
Wednesday 7th October 2009
