The UK government is urging organisations with annual energy bills of more than £1million to start measuring and accurately reporting their energy usage to comply with the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme that comes into force on April 1st 2010, reports Envido.

The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme is the UK’s new legally binding climate change and energy saving scheme that aims to reduce the energy consumption of commercial buildings.

Compliance failures, such as incorrect reporting, pose the greatest risk to both reputation and the bottom line for participant organisations. Research shows two thirds of organisations are currently under reporting on their carbon emissions by a margin that will incur fines.

How the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme will affect UK business

From October 2011, the Government will publish league tables ranking businesses participants on their success at managing and reducing their carbon emissions. This will inform a bonus and penalty system which effectively sees money from the worst performers given to those nearer the top, to reward their performance.

Envido estimate the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme will affect up to 5,000 full participants while a further 10,000 or more will have compliance obligations, although will not have to trade carbon - for now.

The Government's hope is that the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme will incentivise large, non-energy intensive organisations to reduce their carbon emissions. It expects to achieve an annual saving of 4.4 million tonnes of CO2 by 2020. The greatest risk for participants is if they submit late or inaccurate data, as penalties will follow.

Core checklist of key actions for those affected by the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme

• Determine if you have any mandatory half hourly meters - if you do, you are included in the scheme


• Determine the level of 2008 electricity use through any half hourly meter. If this is less than 6000MWh, you still have to report but won't have to pay for carbon. If it is more than 6000MWh (approx £1m spend) then you are likely to have to report and trade in full from 1 April


• Collate and retain copies of energy bills and statements from 2008


• Build a register of fixed source energy use and emissions


• Recognise any emissions where landlord/tenant confusion might arise


• Familiarise yourself with all the deadlines for registration and data submission


• Start measuring your full carbon footprint within the scheme from 1 April 2010


• Check and double check that data

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