Will Only the Fittest Survive the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme?

Posted under environment by Daniel Stouffer

There are a large number of critics already, and the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme has not even been cranked up. The critics talk about needless bureaucracy, government intervention and additional layers of taxation, even though underneath it all the scheme certainly represents a common sense approach to the issue. While economic recovery and the need to achieve sustainability make strange bedfellows, they must be represented effectively as one goal. The efficiencies dictated by economic recovery should help to ensure that we do not go through such a bad downturn again.

It’s inconceivable that some organizations are still not aware of the threats posed by climate change and the need for them all to move toward sustainability. Surveys do show, however, that awareness and confusion still remains in the UK, even though the government has allocated considerable publicity machinery to the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.

5000 or so organizations are expected to be directly involved in the program. They have already referred to their 2008 energy and electricity use to calculate what their overall positions will be during 2009. As they prepare to register and start compliance in the new year they make take some solace from the fact that the true weight of the program does not really arrive until 2013. In the meantime, however, fines and other restrictions still await those who are behind.

Nations from around the world view what is happening in the UK with keen interest. The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme is centered around what many view as a punitive “cap and trade” program, but which others view as purely market forces. Nevertheless, if an organization is unable to achieve efficiencies by balancing its rights to emit carbon among its competitors, then it is in big trouble.

It seems that the survival of the fittest will dictate the outcome of this scheme. Not only will there be fines for those who perform poorly, but if they are unable to achieve reductions as compared to their competitors then they will face an increased cost of doing business as well. On top of all of that, reputations will suffer.

A lot is at stake as organizations try and recover from the severe economic downturn. As they emerge, they must also be seen to be sustainable and this will in itself require them to take a concerted inward look at their operations. A regeneration is required and those organizations who do not understand this quickly emerging trend will likely not survive.

Two relatively small simulations were staged in recent times to see how the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme would work. The simulations did highlight a number of problems as could be expected and there will undoubtedly be more as time goes by. This just helps to underline the need for organizations to be as fleet footed and agile as they possibly can be and be ready for whatever is put in front of them.

All of an organization’s assets must be classified as potential problem areas and each should be analyzed as far as performance and efficiency is concerned. As this happens, savings will be realized, but this will only happen if there is a good amount of high-quality information available. Businesses must select solutions and systems to help them review this data.

Daniel Stouffer has much more information about the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme and how a visit to www.verisae.com can be of use to you.