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The Energy Services and Technology Association (ESTA) has welcomed the news that the Government is broadening the number of initiatives within the new CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (formerly the Carbon Reduction Commitment) by which organisations get credit, and a greater financial payback, for ‘early adoption’ of energy efficiency.
In a statement issued on 7 October, the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announced that “Government has decided to allow certified verification under schemes that are alternative but equivalent to the Carbon Trust Standard to also count towards the Early Action metric”. The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme will involve virtually all large energy users in the UK not already included in a formal Government-regulated carbon reduction scheme. It officially starts in April 2010, although organisations are already being required to provide evidence of their annual energy consumption to determine whether they will be included.
Professor Martin Fry, Chairman of ESTA, commented: “We’re delighted that the Government has recognised the need to focus on energy efficiency as the most effective way to reduce emissions. We are also pleased that the Government accepts there are a number of ways to reach the same level of savings. The new Kitemark scheme built around BS EN 16001 has been devised with the application of best practice in mind and we believe it can be just as effective as the Carbon Trust Standard in delivering savings. ESTA was closely involved with the preparation of BS EN 16001 and it represents the experience of those engaged in the practice of energy management over a number of years. We think many organisations will find this an effective way of approaching the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.”
BS EN 16001 Energy management systems – Requirements with guidance for use sets out the requirements for an energy management system, including the development of an energy policy, identification of an organisation’s past, present and future energy consumption, as well as the development of an energy monitoring (metering) plan. Analysis of actual versus expected energy consumption will allow businesses to put plans in place to help improve efficiency. Rather than prescribing exactly how operations should be run, though, BS EN 16001 provides the framework which will enable effective energy management. The Kitemark scheme announced by BSI will ensure that the standard is applied in a robust way through the process of independent verification.
The Energy Services and Technology Association (ESTA) represents over 100 major providers of energy management equipment and services across the UK. For more details visit the website at: www.esta.org.uk
For more details for the BS EN 16001 Kitemark scheme visit the BSI website at: www.bsigroup.com/en/ProductServices/energykitemark
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