CRC is the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (“the Scheme”) which came into force on 1st April 2010. It is the UK’s mandatory climate change and energy saving scheme which has been implemented by the UK Government Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). The aim of CRC is to make organisations more energy efficient. The regulations target a number of entities that between them are responsible for around 10% of the UK’s current total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and as such is a key component of UK Government’s strategy to meet its legally binding commitment to reduce carbon omissions. The Scheme is intended to change organisational behaviour regarding energy usage by forcing entities to calculate their carbon footprint and introduce ways of improving their energy efficiency.
Any organisation that consumed more than 6,000MWh of electricity, measured via half-hourly meters (HHMs), or had energy spend exceeding circa £500,000 during the 2008 calendar year will be required to comply with the CRC. You will most likely have received a notification regarding the Scheme from your regulator who is your regional Environmental Agency (EA). Some 20,000 organisations including, but not limited to, government departments, supermarkets, hotel chains, large local authorities and financial services groups are expected to be affected. Of these, some 5,000 will be required to purchase annual allowances for their carbon emissions.
The electricity that you used in 2008 will determine whether you are in or out of the CRC Scheme. If you are in the Scheme the energy usage is to be measured and monitored; but energy is not just restricted to electricity, it also includes other fuels such as oil and gas. The carbon footprint of all these emissions must be calculated to determine the amount of allowances that must be purchased.
Kingston Smith Consulting has experienced staff and is able to provide you with cost-effective assistance. We have a comprehensive understanding of CRC implementation requirements and with our supporting methodology we can provide a quick 'sanity check' to ensure that your organisation is on the right CRC track.
We can help you to design and develop a proactive plan which will enable you to secure baseline compliance as quickly as possible. But more importantly, gain the maximum long term benefit from your CRC participation by ensuring that the optimal organisational structure is included within the Scheme and your energy footprint implications are clearly understood, thus enabling you to develop a robust carbon reduction strategy to help you truly benefit from the CRC scheme.
