The CRC requires large public and private sector organisations to register with the Environment Agency by 30th September 2010.

It affects around 20,000 public and private sector organisations. Most only have to report their electricity usage. But around 5,000 of these will be required to not only record and monitor their CO2 emissions, but to purchase allowances equivalent to their emissions each year.

Greg Barker said: “I understand the original complexity of the scheme may have deterred some organisations and I want to hear suggestions as to how we can make the scheme simpler in the future.”

They're invited to send their suggestions to crc@decc.gsi.gov.uk

Eligible organisations that fail to register with CRC before 30th September 2010 may be fined £5,000, then an additional £500 for each subsequent working day they fail to register, for a maximum of 80 working days, together with publication of non-compliance.

The criteria for registration is organisations that had at least one electricity meter taking half hourly measurements in 2008.

The scheme is mandatory and is expected to save participants around £1 billion per year by 2020 through cost-effective energy efficiency measures that are not yet being taken up. They will also contribute to the UK’s emissions reductions target of at least 34% on 1990 levels by 2020 through improved energy efficiency.

“The CRC will encourage significant savings through greater energy efficiency and importantly will make carbon a boardroom issue for many large organisations,” said Greg Barker.

70% savings possible

The Carbon Trust has analysed the potential for cost-effective emissions reductions through energy efficiency and found that in the non-domestic building sector, 70-75% reductions could be made by 2050 at no net cost using options which exist today.

The London Fire Brigade is one organisation that has registered for the CRC.
Energy efficiency projects put in place by the Brigade have led to savings of £260,000 in 2009/10 and over £1 million since the Brigade started focusing on energy efficiency.

At Westminster Fire Station the energy reduction initiatives include Motion sensor lighting - so lights are not left switched on in an empty room; voltage reduction measures; and remote monitoring of the heating and hot water to reduce waste. The station has also had draught proofing, secondary glazing and timers that switch off TVs and printers.

“This isn’t just about protecting the environment," said Chairman and Leader of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority Councillor Brian Coleman AM, FRSA. "It makes excellent business sense. Last year we saved the taxpayer over a quarter of a million pounds by making our fire stations greener and reducing our energy bills.”

> www.decc.gov.uk/crc
> www.environment-agency.gov.uk/crc
> crchelp@environment-agency.gov.uk