The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, a mandatory emissions trading scheme, started on April 1st 2010. Around 20,000 organisations in the UK will be affected by the new regulation and 5,000 organisations will participate in a Carbon Reduction Commitment League Table.
Many organisations have yet to consider the financial, environmental and compliance implications of this new regulation. It presents an opportunity to reduce the energy consumption of your ICT, whilst also using ICT to assist with measuring and monitoring of your energy consumption, helping you to save money and become more efficient. Bristol GreenAddict (www.greenaddict.eu) hosts a free Green ICT solutions database which will assist you to identify opportunities to green your ICT and save energy. You can also find out what Bristol organisations are already doing and share your case studies.
The CRC is being administered by the Environment Agency. Large public and private organisations that used more than 6,000 MWh of electricity in 2008 (approximately £500K spend) will have to purchase and surrender allowances each year to cover their CO2 emissions. The revenues will then be redistributed among the participants and they will receive either a bonus or a penalty, depending on the extent to which they have reduced their emissions.
The Carbon Trust has produced a booklet on Managing the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) as a business opportunity: http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/cut-carbon-reduce-costs/reasons/impact-policy-legislation/pages/carbon-reduction-commitment.aspx
