Upcoming regulations
From Energy-Experts
Climate Change Levy
The Climate Change Levy is a tax on the energy that a business uses. If a business is energy-intensive it may be able to benefit from a climate change agreement
Building Regulations
If a business have new premises built, or make significant changes to existing premises, it must comply with the energy efficiency requirements of the Building Regulations
Emissions Trading Scheme
If a business is energy-intensive it must have a greenhouse gas emissions permit under the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Regulations.
Enhanced Capital Allowances
A business can receive tax breaks if it purchases new equipment or vehicles that are environmentally friendly.
Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC)
If a business carries out certain activities, it must have a permit under the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations. Permit may contain conditions that control your emissions to air.
Carbon Reduction Commitment
CRC is a CO2 emissions trading scheme based primarily around electricity use (once identified as on the scheme companies will then need to report on direct emissions as well). Water and certain other large companies will have to sign up to it and consultation on it closed on 9 Oct 07. Renewable electricity is classed as brown energy unless ROCs have been retired.
Climate Change Bill
The Climate Change Bill requires a target path to meet 60% reduction by 2050. CRC is one of mechanisms govt. hope to use to deliver this reduction.
Strategic Direction Statements
one of its guiding principles is that water companies must respond positively to the current challenges posed by climate change and deliver services in a sustainable way.
Energy Performance in Buildings Directive (EPBD)
seems to require (UK implementation) all buildings >1000m2 to be assessed and rated (A-G) for energy performance and have to display or have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). EPCs have a 5 year life will affect all businesses and depending on how it is implemented, could be a big deal.
In addition, “public” buildings have to display a certificate (Display Energy Certificate – DEC) that provides information regarding the actual operational performance of the building. DECs have a one year lift
NB HIPS for domestic properties are all part of the response to this EU directive. The scope of application to commercial and industrial building is unclear. Certificates have to be generated for all new buildings and produced when relevant buildings are sold/leased/rented. This may mean in practice that people don’t bother to get the work done, until they are looking to sell/lease/rent a building
There are also assessment and reporting requirements wrt boilers and AC. This is quite a hot topic in the public sector in particular, as I think implementation is due by 1.10.2008.
Renewable Obligation Reform RO Reform
From April 2009 the ROCs awards will be banded by technology type leading to some existing technologies getting <1 ROC/MWh (e.g. landfill 0.25/MWh) and others getting >1 ROC/MWh (e.g. tidal stream 2(?) ROCs/MWh).
Merton Rule Local authorities adopting the Merton Rule require new buildings to cut CO2 emissions by at least 10% using on-site renewable energy equipment. For non-residential developments, it applies to buildings above 1,000 m2.
Regulations that might come in down the line. For example, Manuel Barrosso suggested on Monday that the EU might want to impose carbon taxes on imports to the EU and this is may become unavoidable. It would affect businesses that imported raw materials or finished goods. China may then want to impose a carbon tax on financial services.
