53% of Execs at top 5000 UK firms overlook CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme

July 26, 2010 - PRLog -- A survey carried out by green IT consultancy Externus revealed that more than half of senior executives at the top 5,000 UK companies are unaware of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, and an even greater proportion doesn’t know if their firm will be affected by the legislation.

In June, figures from the Environment Agency showed that less than 10% of eligible organisations had registered for the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme. It seems that with the current high level of ignorance, unless there is a last minute rush to register many firms will miss the registration deadline on 30 September.

The survey covers over 100 C-level and CSR executives in the top 5000 UK firms. Asked if they were aware of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, 53% of respondents said no. Asked if they knew whether the legislation will affect their organisation, 70% said they didn’t know. Thus, even some respondents who knew of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme’s existence weren’t sure whether it applied to their business or not.

The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme is a mandatory carbon cap-and-trade scheme targeting energy intensive organisations not covered by the EU carbon emissions trading scheme (ETS), such as local authorities, banks, supermarkets and hospitals.

An estimated 20,000 large public and private sector organisations that use half hourly electricity meters will have to report to the government under the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, which came into effect in April 2010.

Of these organisations, around 5,000 organisations with annual electricity bills of over £500,000 will have to report under the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme on their energy use, purchase carbon credits to cover their calculated carbon emissions, and comply with targets to reduce their carbon footprint.

According to the report to be published next week, 70% of respondents claimed to have a green strategy in place – anything from recycling paper to full carbon disclosure and reduction. Asked which activities were responsible for the majority of carbon emissions in their organisation, 43% identified buildings, 27% transport and 21% IT. However, the survey shows that for an office-based organisation with no manufacturing facility or logistics fleet, IT accounts for half of an organisation’s carbon emissions.

Envido can help you prepare for the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme in different ways:

1.    Make sure you understand how the CRC Scheme works
2.    Implement Early Action Metrics
3.    Make your carbon reporting easier
4.    Avoid fines and penalties
5.    Reduce energy and carbon costs

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We help our clients reduce their business carbon emissions - helping them to comply with climate change legislation and save money at the same time.

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