Are you ready for the CRC?

The Carbon Reduction Commitment comes into effect on April 1st. It is central to the UK’s strategy for improving energy efficiency and reducing Carbon Dioxide emissions, and has been designed to raise awareness in large organisations and encourage changes in behaviour and infrastructure.

Below are five tips to prepare for the Carbon Reduction Commitment.

1. Learn what the CRC is.

A compulsory carbon emissions cap and trade scheme for all organisations using over 6,000MWh of electricity per year. You will be required to buy an allowance for each tonne of carbon you emit, starting at £12 a tonne. It is important to know whether your organisation falls under this parameter.

2. Look at the opportunities as well as the risks.

Organisations will be rewarded or penalised for their energy efficiency performance. Good performers will make money by saving money on energy bills and will receive a greater recycling benefit than the cost of their allowances. Poor performers will receive less payment back than their expenditure on allowances and will face larger energy bills.

3. Remember the CRC league table.

An annual league table is being published to track the improvements made by those participating in the scheme. It will be important to perform well, as your achievements will be there for all to see!

4. Encourage improvement in your schools

For most local authorities emissions associated with the schools in their area will be the majority of their total CRC emissions. It is important to look at the energy used in schools and how this can be reduced in a number of different ways.

5. Start taking action immediately

If your company falls into the CRC category, you will need to register before September 2010, and have accurate energy usage data from April 2010 to March 2011. It is therefore important that you start thinking of ways to save energy as soon as possible.

To read more about these tips you can click here. Or, if you would like help in preparing for the CRC visit www.power-master.co.uk for ideas on what you can do to make your company more energy efficient.