ARE you switched on when it comes to knowing your electrical usage? Do you know the size of your carbon footprint? Well, don’t let the green issue leave you in the red. Recently introduced new legislation on carbon emissions is sure to affect thousands of businesses as they face higher costs. So don’t get caught out.
Companies, partnerships or sole traders using more than the allowed limit of electricity per year, said to be 6,000MWh, will have to fork out for an allowance to equal that of their carbon output, from April 2011.
The Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme – a title that leaves a size 11 footprint on the English language – has been set up. And businesses must register by the end of September or risk a hefty fine which accumulates daily in the event of failure to register.
Britain’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions by more than 75 per cent by the year 2050 is behind the scheme. The new rules apply to medium/large organisations, with other countries said to be operating similar guidelines. And small businesses too are being urged to become more energy-efficient. With customers demanding ‘greener’ standards and operating costs an issue it is seen as key to the future for most businesses.
So, if you haven’t signed up yet, make sure you do. And like a David Attenborough film crew following a rare sighting of mountain leopard, keep an eye on those footprints.