Over one-fifth of UK professionals don’t know about CRC Scheme

The scheme, formally the Carbon Reduction Commitment, is a regulatory requirement for some of the UK’s largest organisations in both the public and private sectors, and encompasses the monitoring, measuring, and reporting of carbon emissions, together with the buying and selling of carbon emission allowances.

In August, the Environment Agency admitted that less than half of the organisations required to register and provide data, had done so.

 

Eighty-six senior IT professionals across organisations in both the private and public sectors took part in the survey, which also revealed over 40% admitted to being aware of the CRC Scheme but remain unsure of whether their organisation qualified.

 

“It’s surprising that almost a quarter of IT professionals are still unaware of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme and that so many have failed to investigate whether their organisation qualifies or not said,” commented Julian Buck, MD of Version One. “With the registration deadline rapidly approaching, it’s vital that organisations act now or they run the risk of being hit by financial penalties.”

 

Qualifying companies have until 30 September 2010 to register with The Environment Agency, however due to the Agency needing to run pre-registration checks on businesses’ senior directors, qualifying organisations need to approach The Environment as soon as possible in order to register in time. Any qualifying organisation missing the deadline faces an initial £5,000 fine and a daily charge of £500 until registered (up to a maximum of £45,000).

 

Buck added, “With qualifying organisations requiring suitable software systems to enable them to monitor, measure, report on and reduce their carbon emissions, it’s vital for IT Directors to be fully aware of the CRC, its requirements and its IT implications.”