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Countdown to CRC launch brings warning that only 'game players' will benefit The government's Carbon Reduction Commitment kicks off one month from today, on 1st April. Now known as the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, the programme requires large public and private sector organisations to improve the energy efficiency of their estate. The scheme affects organisations whose annual half hourly metered electrcity use is at least 6,000 megawatt hours. Energy and climate change minister, Joan Ruddock, bills the CRC as "an opportunity for business and industry to take a leadership role in tackling climate change and gain reputational advantage as a result". Critics of the scheme, however, say that a carbon price of £12/tonne will not encourage organisations to take action. McKinnon & Clarke said at least £40/tonne will be required. Callum Stuart, of the firm's energy and environmental services division also said: "With the CRC Energy Efficiency scheme designed to reward organisations that cut their carbon emissions, the odds are stacked against some businesses that have already made significant strides to reduce energy consumption. Unfairly, past performance is not given consideration under the new scheme and many of these proactive businesses have little additional scope to reduce consumption further." Stuart warned that under the scheme, public-funded organisations will end up meeting the majority of costs with implications for public services, and pointed to the "inequitable nature of the Climate Change Levy rebate mechanism" by way of example. "[We] fear that this new CRC legislation will benefit those organisations by virtue of circumstance and their ability to 'play the game' - rather than rewarding organisations which have put genuine efforts into improving their energy efficiency and significantly reduce their emissions of Greenhouse Gases (GHG)," he said. Source: Utility Week © Faversham House Group Ltd 2010. News articles may be copied or forwarded
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