GOING GREEN
Important next steps for your organisation
If you believe your organisation is likely to fall under the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, the first step you need to take is to identify your highest parent organisation, as that’s the body responsible for registering for CRC on behalf of the entire organisation. If this organisation has at least one half-hourly electricity meter, it will need to register for the scheme via the Environment Agency’s website. Before registering, determine if your organisation qualifies for CRC as a Participant or Information Declarer. This will require taking account of all half hourly meters in your organisation and their total elec- tricity consumption for the calendar year 2008. You should also find out what emissions are excluded from CRC and determine if your organisation, or part of it, qualifies for an exemption due to a Climate Change Agreement. If you have an exemption, you must still reg- ister with the Environment Agency. Once you know if you are a Participant or Information
Declarer, you will need the following information to reg- ister for the scheme: your registration address, the names of senior officers and contact details along with the half- hourly meters your organisation has and those meters’ electricity consumption. Making sure this information is easily available and getting all the data in order before- hand will make registration simpler and quicker. If you are a Participant, you will also need to consid- er the financial commitment your organisation will have to make in order to purchase allowances to emit carbon. During the CRC’s introductory phase (2011/2012), one allowance, which equals one tonne of CO2
, will cost £12.
However, after the three-year introductory phase, the total number of allowances will be capped, and these allowances will be auctioned, rather than sold at a fixed price. As a result, the cost of purchasing allowances will become higher making it financially more attractive for participating organisations to reduce their CO2
emis-
sions by introducing energy saving measures. Organisations have the choice between viewing CRC as a benefit or a cost. CRC can be a cost on poor energy manage- ment or a financial incentive for low carbon leadership. You can make an action plan for reducing your organi-
sation’s energy use on the Carbon Trust website: www.carbontrust.co.uk. For more information about the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme and to download the CRC Registration Guidance visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/crc. E
SIMPLE STEPS TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY
OFFICE EQUIPMENT
From PCs to vending machines, office equipment of some kind or another is used by almost all UK businesses, and accounts for around 15 per cent of all the electrical energy used in UK offices. It’s an area where huge savings can be made, as effective management of equipment can reduce its energy consumption by up to 70 per cent.
■ Upgrade existing equipment ■ Have an office equipment policy ■ Maintain equipment
HEATING AND HOT WATER
Heating and hot water can account for 60 per cent of your total energy costs. And because it’s possible to reduce your heating costs by up to a third, the potential savings are substantial. Don’t turn up the heating unless you really need to. Try to keep your thermostat at 19C as your heating costs will increase by eight per cent each time you turn the temperature up by just one degree.
■ Install boiler sequencing controls ■ Replace inefficient boilers ■ Install de-stratification fans
LIGHTING
On average, 25 per cent of an organisation’s electricity costs come from lighting. Yet you can cut these costs by up to a third while reducing your carbon footprint and improving the working environment for your staff. Switch lights off in empty rooms. You could cut your lighting costs by as much as 15 per cent just by making sure you turn off lights in areas that aren’t being used.
■ Use energy efficient lamps ■ Install occupancy sensors ■ Install daylight sensors
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