The Environment Agency believes that the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) and Energy Efficiency Scheme could "spell the end for all-night lights and dazzling window displays." The CRC scheme requires businesses using more than 6000MWh electricity a year (equivalent to £500,000) to register for the CRC between April and September 2010 and to report and record energy usage. From 2011 the Agency will publish an annual league table of the best and worst performers in the CRC; poor performers will be penalised whilst top performers will be rewarded.
The top sectors affected by the CRC, supermarkets, clothes shops and fast food chains, are likely to challenge their staff to reduce energy use. A statement from the Agency said, "The days of leaving doors open to encourage customers in and leaving lights on 24 hours a day will be left behind as high street retailers look for the quick wins in the race to cut carbon emissions."
Tony Grayling, head of climate change and sustainable development at the Agency said, "The CRC is an opportunity for large businesses and public sector organisations to play their part in reducing dangerous carbon emissions. But for businesses the main motivation to cut their energy use will be their bottom line. By cutting energy use businesses stand to benefit from lower energy bills, and could be financially rewarded through the CRC if they perform well in the energy efficiency stakes."
In an age of increasingly eco-aware consumers, poor green performance could be damaging for a business's reputation.
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