UK’s best loved brands to be ranked on their energy efficency credentials

• Jun. 3 by Claire Latham (1)

The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme is now well under way, with organisations being encouraged to get involved. The scheme encourages supermarkets, hotels, manufacturers and public bodies to cut their CO2 Emissions and tackle the widely debated issue of climate change.

For the first time large non-energy intensive organisations, which account for about 10% of UK CO2 emissions, will be legally bound to closely monitor and report their emissions from energy use in preparation for carbon trading.   The scheme will also give people and businesses the opportunity to compare organisations’ efforts to combat climate change for the first time.

Household names which will be involved in the sheme include Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, John Lewis, Barclays, and HSBC, aswell as manufacturers and construction companies, for example Procter & Gamble, Unilever and Balfour Beatty. The NHS, local authorities and government departments will also be pitted against each other according to their energy usage.

Julia Lockwood, a former employee of Marks and Spencers Birmingham branch, commented on the introduction of this scheme, saying:

“I think its a fantastic way of getting businesses, particularly chains such as M&S to think more about the effect they are having on the enviroment and on climate change.

In big businesses its often something which features very low on any kind of agenda they have, adding an element of competition into this sector is a fabulous way for companies to engage and in turn drastically reduce CO2 emissions. “

Businesses will be ranked depending on the improvements in energy efficiency that they make. They will also be judged on the amount of energy they waste and what they save through new efficiency programs they decide to implement.

Analysis for the Environment Agency suggests that the scheme could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 11.6 million tonnes per year by 2020 – the equivalent of taking four million cars off the road. It is also expected to save organisations money through reduced energy bills – benefiting the economy by at least £1billion by 2020.

Organisations are expected  to all be registered by the end of September 2010. Closing date for registartion is 30^th September. The Environment Agency will publish an annual league table highlighting the best and worst performers from the ‘Carbon Trading Scheme’

Tony Grayling, Head of Climate Change and Sustainable Development at the Enviroment Agency said:

“The CRC energy Efficiency Scheme is an opportunity for organisations to do their bit for the planet and save money.

“The league table is a very public judgement on how seriously you take your environmental responsibilities. If organisations don’t take up the challenge, there is a risk to their reputation and their pockets.”

The biggest CO2 savings are likely to come from hotels, restaurants, retail and the public sector.  For the majority of these organisations, better management of heating, lighting and computer systems will yield quick results.

“Carbon reduction doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive,” says Tony Grayling, “There are simple and inexpensive steps every organisation can take to cut their energy consumption – from motion sensors for lighting in offices to higher efficiency motors in manufacturing.”