CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme 'to help property owners reduce costs'

16/July/2010

The new Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme will allow the owners of commercial property to design, build, refurbish and manage their properties to be as cost-effective as possible, it has been claimed.

Don Jordison, managing director at Threadneedle, said professionals in the housing industry have previously been in need of a "benchmark" to show them how to lower the energy usage of their properties.

"It just so happens that this legislation is coming through at a very low point in the economy so there is very much a parallel between the legislative need for lower energy and the need among occupiers and owners to get their bills down," he said.

Mr Jordison added that he was "optimistic" that the industry will adopt "quite adequately" to the new legislation.

Launched in April 2010, the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme is central to the UK's strategy for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, as set out in the Climate Change Act 2008.

It has been designed to raise awareness of energy efficiency issues in large organisations, especially at senior level, and encourage changes in behaviour and infrastructure.

Under the Companies Act 2006, businesses are required to consider the impacts of their activities on a variety of stakeholders, including the environment, not just their shareholders.