University of Leicester awarded Carbon Saver Gold Standard

Posted on 14/05/2012 by Sally


The University of Leicester has been awarded the highly acclaimed Carbon Saver Gold Standard for commitments to carbon reduction. After being audited, the University has been given a score of 92% and honoured with a 5-star rating. This achievement will strengthen the University’s position in the Government’s Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) performance league table.

Some of the ways in which the University is already working towards cutting carbon are:

  • The implementation of various energy efficiency projects funded via their increased £1.4m HEFCE/Salix Revolving Green Funds
  • The installation of biomass boilers in the Percy Gee building and Central Research Facility during 2010/11
  • The installation of an Automated Metering and Targeting (aM&T) system throughout the whole estate
  • The implementation of BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) ‘Excellent’ accreditation for all major new build projects

Recent results have also shown that carbon emissions from the University’s boiler system have reduced 11.6% from 2011 through the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).

The Carbon Saver standard recognises all of the work which is being done at the University towards implementing initiatives, making savings and achieving reductions to fulfil their legal requirements.

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Carbon Saver to launch revolutionary new product at eco-fair

Posted on 16/04/2012 by Sally

On 1st May, Carbon Saver will be launching a revolutionary new product.

Without revealing too many details (that would spoil the surprise), we can tell you this: it’s a straightforward, breakthrough solution to assist companies in their carbon reductions. It will help cut costs and secure contracts – not just within your organisation, but across your supply chain.

The launch will take place at the annual Leeds-based eco-fair.  It’s the largest free environmental exhibition in the North. This year’s focus is on energy, sustainability and waste. The day-long event offers businesses a variety of environmental advice, green solutions and expertise.

Carbon Saver will be kicking off the day’s activities with an 8.30am seminar. Glenn Wilkinson (Managing Director, Carbon Saver) promises an informative presentation and an insight into Carbon Saver’s highly anticipated new product. The session will highlight how reducing carbon emissions can make a difference to your company.

There are huge financial and reputational benefits to measuring, managing and minimising your organisation’s carbon footprint. eco-fair is a perfect opportunity to explore energy reduction and sustainability methods. It’s also a great day for networking with national and regional businesses.

Elizabeth Edgington, Environment Campaign Manager, Business in the Community (BITC) said: “The eco-fair will help businesses to improve their environmental credentials, save money and look for new low carbon business opportunities.”

Want to see what all the fuss is about? Check out this video from last year’s eco-fair. Or better still, come along to eco-fair 2012 to find out for yourself.

Book your FREE delegate place at eco-fair 2012 (1st May, Leeds United).

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Don’t have a carbon standard? Know the risks.

Posted on 04/04/2012 by Sally

No interest in carbon reduction?  Don’t see the point of having a carbon standard?

You are wasting the opportunity to save money and secure your reputation.

Reduce costs, not customers.

Even at the most basic level, controlled carbon management = less carbon emissions = reduced energy bills. This is increasingly important as energy prices continue to rise and companies face ‘carbon tax’.

Don’t be deluded by last year’s CRC Performance League Table coverage

Critics claim that last year’s Performance League Table had little media impact. So, why make the effort to improve your position this year?

Dismissing your League Table position holds huge reputational risk. Last year, the CRC Performance League Table positions had no benchmark for comparison. Now, there are real numbers, real reductions, real impacts. With last year’s performance to compare to, there is likely to be increased interest. The 2011 League Table set the bar and this year will showcase improvements made through implemented policies.

‘Green credentials’ are becoming an essential ‘tick box’ during the procurement process. Many larger companies now expect carbon management within their supply chain. The Carbon Saver Standard™ has helped clients retain contracts. It proves their energy reductions and demonstrates their commitment to sustainability.

Are you confident having your ‘green credentials’ scrutinised against that of your competitors? Can you prove a carbon reduction since last year? That’s exactly what your supply chain will be looking for. And your customers.

Little cost, minimal effort, BIG benefits. 

Certify your achievements with a Carbon Saver Standard™. Reduce your energy costs and prove you are an environmentally responsible company to associate with.

RISKS – know the facts

Don’t have a carbon standard? Here’s a summary of the risks:-

  • Extensive costs – high energy bills and carbon tax
  • Low positioning on the CRC Performance League Table
  • Media backlash – you could be accused of ‘greenwash’ if you falsely label your company as ‘green’ without proof
  • Reputation/brand damage – ignoring your environmental responsibility can reduce public confidence in your company
  • Loss of business – risk of consumers boycotting your product if you do not reach their ‘green’ expectations
  • Loss of business contracts – many companies now require their supply chain to exhibit carbon reduction through certification.
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DECC Publishes CRC Consultation to Save Business £Millions

Posted on 28/03/2012 by Glenn

Simplify CRC DECC consultation

Millions of pounds will be saved for businesses through ambitious new proposals to simplify the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme, (CRC). Participants will see their administrative costs cut by almost two-thirds, equating to around £330 million of savings up to 2030.

Download CRC Consultation Document Here

What does this mean for the Performance League Table?

DECC confirms that the Performance League Table will be published unchanged for the rest of phase 1 (2014). “Government believes that it is important to see what impact the performance league table has in creating a reputational driver for energy efficiency. We need to learn the lessons from the publication of the first couple of Performance League Tables before making a decision on whether to amend this element of the scheme.”

Where will your organisation rank? Try our league table forecaster to see where you and your competitors could rank.

CRC Performance League Table Forecast Tool

Its Not Too Late To Protect Your Brand!

Remember, its not too late to protect your brand and reputation with Carbon Saver Certification. It can improve your CRC league table position by over 600 places. Call Caroline now for more info 0800 1075 175 or email caroline@carbonsaver.org

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Chancellor to reduce admin cost of CRC

Posted on 21/03/2012 by Glenn

HM Treasury Red Book Budget 2012

2.167 Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) – The Government will consult on simplifying the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme to reduce administrative burdens on business. Should very significant administrative savings not be deliverable, the Government will bring forward proposals in autumn 2012 to replace CRC revenues with an alternative environmental tax, and will engage with business before then to identify potential options. Allowances sold with respect to 2012–13 emissions will be £12 per tonne of carbon dioxide.

Download HM Treasury Document Here

Letter from Ed Davey – Secretary of State for Climate Change

The day before the budget Ed Davey confirmed that the Red tape review had been completed and the Climate Change Act “gives much-needed certainty to business… without unnecessary regulatory burden. For that reason, the Act and its supporting regulations remain unchanged.”

Interestingly, CRC is a supporting regulation of the Climate Change Act.

Download Secretary of State’s Letter

What do we think this means for CRC Participants?

Not going to change fast. A fifth consultation will be launched by DECC before the end of the month to progress simplification options and consider alternatives. However, for the time being CRC is not going away.

The scheme will most likely run in it’s current form until the end of the introductory phase. The Treasury have even confirmed the price of allowances for next year at £12 a tonne in the budget document (download the highlighted page above).

League tables will be published as normal, with this years table including real emissions reductions/increases. This is sure to generate media interest as businesses and public sector organisations can be held to account based on real numbers for the first time.

Finally, its not too late to protect your brand and reputation with Carbon Saver Certification. It can improve your CRC league table position by up to 650 places. Call Caroline now for more info 0800 1075 175 or email caroline@carbonsaver.org


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Carbon Saver proposal aims to improve supermarket sustainability

Posted on 16/03/2012 by Sally

To mark the final day of Climate Week, a team of Carbon Saver employees have completed an innovative one-hour climate change challenge.

The task was set by Climate Week to Green Your Space: Develop an idea to change a place you know, to make it better for the environment. Teams across the country have been participating in the same challenge throughout the week, as a method of encouraging creative thinking towards carbon emissions reduction. The campaign underlines how behaviour change and even the smallest of physical changes can influence the environment.

Climate Week is a national campaign to encourage action on climate change. It raises awareness of how carbon emissions can be reduced to create ‘greener’ surroundings. This vision for change is shared by our employees. At Carbon Saver, we realise the impact of high carbon emissions. We aim to help companies measure, manage and minimise their carbon footprint. That’s why our involvement in Climate Week is so important to us. Carbon saving is a journey; there’s always new methods to discover and more that can be done to tackle climate change. Through the Climate Week challenge, our employees could push their creative boundaries and think ‘outside the box’.

And what was the result? Well, you’ll just have to wait and see. But for now, we’ll say this: It’s unique, it’s achievable and it’s going to be big. We’re currently drawing up a proposal targeting the UK’s leading supermarkets. Our scheme helps provide them with a competitive edge, highlight their environmental leadership and reinforce their commitment to carbon reduction and sustainability.

Like we said, carbon saving is a journey. Why stop when the one-hour challenge clock chimes, when you can develop a revolutionary scheme that can improve supermarket sustainability for the future.

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OECD Demands Immediate Carbon Emissions Action

Posted on 15/03/2012 by Glenn

Business as usual policies will not be enough to spare the world from devastating climate change and constrained growth. World leaders must take immediate and co-ordinated action, or risk locking the world into a calamitous temperature rise of up to six degrees as demand for energy, food, and water overwhelms the planet.

That is the shocking conclusion of a new report published today by the OECD, which projects that without a drastic change in policies the world will be woefully unprepared to support a population cresting the nine billion mark by the middle of the century.

Under current policies, the world economy is expected to quadruple by 2050 and consume 80 per cent more energy than today. This is projected to lead to an energy system that sources 85 per cent of its power from fossil fuels and “runaway emissions” 55 per cent that are higher than today, Simon Upton, environment director of the OECD, told reporters today.

According to the report 80 per cent of emissions through to 2020 are already “locked in” to the energy system, while the pledges made by governments fall well short of a cost-efficient pathway to delivering the two degrees temperature limit agreed at an international level.

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Software engineering to reduce carbon emissions

Posted on 17/02/2012 by Glenn

Green your software as well as your hardware
Sometimes it is the simple stuff that can make a real difference in reducing emissions. We all know PCs use lots of energy. Most of the energy is used to keep the components cool and stop them burning up. Well, how smart would it be to run software that uses as little CPU power as possible and therefore requires less cooling and less energy.

We’ve come across a couple of good examples in our search to reduce out IT footprint:-

1. Notepad++ is written in C++ and uses pure Win32 API and STL which ensures a higher execution speed and smaller program size. By optimizing as many routines as possible without losing user friendliness, Notepad++ is trying to reduce the world carbon dioxide emissions. When using less CPU power, the PC can throttle down and reduce power consumption, resulting in a greener environment.

2. Google docs and cloud based apps use much less cpu power as desktop software. How long does it take excel or word to load? That’s all crunching CPU power and generating heat. Plus with mobile device compatibility we often do not even need to boot up a PC. The energy/carbon footprint of a smartphone or tablet is so much smaller than a PC.

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Court of Appeal verdict: Government acted unlawfully cutting feed-in tariffs

Posted on 25/01/2012 by Glenn

Three Court of Appeal judges this morning upheld the original decision that the government had acted unlawfully in proposing cuts to feed-in tariffs for solar installations completed after December 12 last year, on the grounds the consultation on the proposed changes to the scheme did not close until December 23.

The ruling was celebrated by the solar industry, which has consistently argued that ministers should not be allowed to impose “retrospective” changes to the feed-in tariff incentive scheme.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne said:

“The Court of Appeal has upheld the High Court ruling on FITs albeit on different grounds. We disagree and are seeking permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.

“We have already put before Parliament changes to the regulations that will bring a 21p rate into effect from April for solar pv installations from 3 March to help reduce the pressure on the budget and provide as much certainty as we can for consumers and industry.

“We want to maximise the number of installations that are possible within the available budget rather than use available money to pay a higher tariff to half the number of installations. Solar PV can have strong and vibrant future in UK and we want a lasting FITs scheme to support that future and jobs in the industry.

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U.K. Had Second-Warmest Year on Record in 2011

Posted on 01/01/2012 by Glenn

2011 is poised to be the second warmest on record for the U.K., the Met Office said.

“This year marks a return to a trend of warmer than average annual temperatures. All the U.K.’s top seven warmest years happened in the last decade.”

Before 2011, the second warmest year in the nationwide temperature series was 2007.

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