There are many compliance policy’s that reside within the energy and carbon landscape, many that businesses have to legally complete to not face any penalties.
Here are a few you may have heard of :
Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS)
ESOS not only helps raise awareness of energy consumption issues, but it also ensures that your company is running as energy efficiently as possible. This has two significant benefits; helping to reduce your carbon emission and lower your energy bills.
What is it?
The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) is a mandatory energy assessment scheme for organisations in the UK that meet the qualification criteria. Qualifying organisations must carry out ESOS assessments every four years.
These assessments are audits of the energy used by their buildings, industrial processes, and transport to identify cost-effective energy-saving measures. The third phase of the scheme must be completed by 5th December 2023.
Who needs to comply with ESOS?
Your company or organisation must comply with ESOS if :
- You have over 250 members of staff, or
- A turnover of over £44.1m or an annual balance sheet of over £37.9m
- You are an overseas organisation with over 250 employees in the UK
- Your company is part of a larger organisation
*which falls into any of the above
What is required?
To comply with the ESOS regulations, a Lead Assessor will need to undertake an ESOS assessment to :
- Measure your total energy consumption for your buildings, industrial processes and transport
- Identify areas of significant energy consumption, for at least 90% of your total energy usage
- Identify the areas in your business where significant energy is used and look for opportunities for savings.
Key Dates
- Runs from 6th December 2019 until December 2023
- Qualification date is 31st December 2022
- Compliance date is 5th December 2023
Timescales
The scheme runs in phases of 4 years and we are now in phase 3. Each phase has a qualification date (on which a company must assess whether they are obligated) and a compliance deadline (by which date an organisation must be compliant).
What do I need to do to comply?
- ESOS Energy Audits
- ISO 50001
- Display Energy Certificates
Through using Pause People Earth ESOS compliance service, you will receive :
- A dedicated Energy and Carbon Consultant and Lead Assessor
- Legislative Support and Fully Managed Compliance
- Regular Update Meetings
- Support with Data Collection and Analysis
Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR)
SECR aims to bring the benefits of carbon and energy reporting to more UK businesses. The reporting framework is intended to encourage the implementation of energy efficiency measures, with both economic and environmental benefits, supporting companies in cutting costs and improving productivity at the same time as reducing carbon emissions.
What is it?
The Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) is a mandatory energy assessment which requires organisations to report energy and carbon emissions in their annual report. SECR is a replacement for the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme.
Who needs to comply with SECR?
For over 11,900 organisations across the UK, SECR is a mandatory annual reporting requirement.
It is a requirement for :
- All quoted companies (i.e. companies listed on the public exchange), who are already required to comply with greenhouse gas reporting.
- ‘Large’ unquoted companies that are incorporated in the UK.
- ‘Large’ Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)
As per the Companies Act 2006, companies are considered large’ if they meet at least two of the following criteria :
- a turnover of at least £36 million
- a balance sheet of at least £18 million; or
- 250 employees or more
However, there are exemptions so please ask our experts!
What is required?
At a minimum, an organisation will need to report :
- Energy use which includes gas, purchased electricity and transport fuel. Along with GHG emissions
- Information around methodology used to measure energy use and emissions
- A narrative description of efforts taken to improve energy efficiency over the last 12 months
- An intensity ratio which is used to compare emissions data with a business metric, to allow for comparison with similar businesses and other previous years.
- Equivalent figures from previous years, as a base for comparison on changes and improvements.
Key Dates
- SECR policy was implemented from April 2019.
- Reported annually in line with your financial year.
What does this mean?
If you meet the SECR qualification criteria, you’ll need to make the following information publicly available :
- Annual energy use and resulting carbon emissions.
- At least one relative intensity metric.
- Narrative about energy efficiency actions in year.
- Year-on-year comparison.
These figures should be published in annual financial reports.
Through using Pause People Earth SECR compliance service, you will receive :
- A dedicated Energy and Carbon Consultant.
- Legislative Support and Fully Managed Compliance.
- Regular Update Meetings
- Support with Data Collection and Analysis.
