Businesses in the U.K. get 50 days to register with carbon cutting scheme

Published: 23 August 2010
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With just 50 days to go until the end of registration for the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC), Greg Barker is calling on the remaining organisations to register now. Currently 1229 of the organisations required to register have done so. Launched in April 2010 the CRC requires large public and private sector organisations to register with the Environment Agency by 30th September 2010. Greg Barker, Energy and Climate Change Minister, said: "This new Coalition Government wants to boost energy efficiency in business because we know that saving energy saves money. The CRC will encourage significant savings through greater energy efficiency and importantly will make carbon a boardroom issue for many large organisations. My message to businesses today is to register now. I understand the original complexity of the scheme may have deterred some organisations and I want to hear suggestions as to how we can make the scheme simpler in the future."

The London Fire Brigade is one organisation that has registered for the CRC. Energy efficiency projects put in place by the Brigade have led to savings of £260,000 in 2009/10 and over £1 million since the Brigade started focusing on the need to be greener. Despite the organisation growing overall carbon emissions on their buildings are down by over 18% on 1990s levels. Greg Barker visited Westminster Fire Station this month to meet fire fighters and see some of the measures recently installed to improve the station's energy efficiency. Chairman and Leader of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority Councillor Brian Coleman AM, FRSA, said: "This isn't just about protecting the environment, it makes excellent business sense. Last year we saved the taxpayer over a quarter of a million pounds by making our fire stations greener and reducing our energy bills."

The CRC will help to ensure that organisations play their full role in contributing to the UK's emissions reductions of at least 34% on 1990 levels by 2020 through improved energy efficiency.

Source: U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change, Image: Freefoto.com

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