The Green Economy in Bristol and the West of ... - Miguel Mendonça
The Green Economy in Bristol and the West of ... - Miguel Mendonça
The Green Economy in Bristol and the West of ... - Miguel Mendonça
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20<br />
Section 2: Policy<br />
CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme<br />
<strong>The</strong> CRC is a m<strong>and</strong>atory scheme aimed at improv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
energy efficiency <strong>and</strong> cutt<strong>in</strong>g emissions <strong>in</strong> large<br />
public <strong>and</strong> private sector organisations. <strong>The</strong>se<br />
organisations are responsible for around 10% <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
UK’s emissions. <strong>The</strong> scheme features a range <strong>of</strong><br />
reputational, behavioural <strong>and</strong> f<strong>in</strong>ancial drivers,<br />
which aim to encourage organisations to develop<br />
energy management strategies that promote a better<br />
underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> energy usage. 32<br />
Lloyds Bank<strong>in</strong>g Group, <strong>the</strong> UKbased f<strong>in</strong>ancial<br />
services group, provides a case study <strong>of</strong> CRC<br />
activities. Lloyds approached <strong>the</strong> CRC by sett<strong>in</strong>g out<br />
a Groupwide Environmental Action Plan called <strong>the</strong><br />
Smart & Responsible programme, which tracks <strong>and</strong><br />
reports on performance towards longterm targets.<br />
Emissions reductions targets for <strong>the</strong>ir property<br />
portfolio are set at 20% by 2015 <strong>and</strong> 30% by 2020<br />
aga<strong>in</strong>st a 2009 benchmark. Onsite energy use was<br />
reduced by 4% <strong>in</strong> 2010, exceed<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> 3% target. A<br />
fur<strong>the</strong>r 3% reduction was set for 2011. In addition,<br />
<strong>the</strong>y have implemented <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g:<br />
EU Emissions Trad<strong>in</strong>g System (EU ETS)<br />
<strong>The</strong> policy formerly known as <strong>the</strong> European Union<br />
Emissions Trad<strong>in</strong>g Scheme. <strong>The</strong> EU ETS was<br />
<strong>in</strong>troduced <strong>in</strong> 2005 as a policy to help <strong>the</strong> EU meet<br />
its Kyoto Protocol GHG emissions reduction target.<br />
This was set at 8% on 1990 levels by 2012. <strong>The</strong> 2011<br />
draft progress report from <strong>the</strong> European Commission<br />
to <strong>the</strong> European Parliament <strong>and</strong> Council shows that<br />
<strong>the</strong> EU27 is currently on target for <strong>the</strong> first Kyoto<br />
Protocol commitment period (20082012). Based on<br />
estimates from provisional 2010 data, EU15<br />
emissions are 10.7% below <strong>the</strong> baseyear level, <strong>and</strong><br />
EU27 2010 emissions are approximately 15.5%<br />
lower. At <strong>the</strong> same time, GDP rose by 39% <strong>and</strong> 41%<br />
respectively. 34 This is suggestive <strong>of</strong> a level <strong>of</strong><br />
‘decoupl<strong>in</strong>g,’ as discussed below.<br />
• energy audits at over 50 Lloyds TSB sites,<br />
deliver<strong>in</strong>g 9.25% sav<strong>in</strong>gs on average.<br />
• an energy optimisation, reduction <strong>and</strong> monitor<strong>in</strong>g<br />
scheme, rolled out to 948 sites with significant<br />
energy supplies.<br />
• <strong>in</strong>stallation <strong>of</strong> electricity voltage reduction units at<br />
40 properties reduc<strong>in</strong>g annual power consumed at<br />
<strong>the</strong>se sites by an average 9.76%.<br />
• <strong>in</strong>stallation <strong>of</strong> boiler controls on 216 boilers <strong>in</strong> 52<br />
properties. <strong>The</strong> technology provides an 11%<br />
reduction <strong>in</strong> gas consumption.<br />
• <strong>in</strong>stallation <strong>of</strong> l<strong>of</strong>t <strong>in</strong>sulation at 1,000 branches<br />
(estimates based on Energy Sav<strong>in</strong>g Trust data<br />
<strong>in</strong>dicate <strong>the</strong>y could achieve energy sav<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> 10%).<br />
• raised temperatures <strong>in</strong> data halls <strong>and</strong> IT server<br />
rooms without adversely affect<strong>in</strong>g computer systems.<br />
• made energy consumption a key performance<br />
target for eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g managers <strong>and</strong> facilities<br />
managers, <strong>in</strong>centivis<strong>in</strong>g staff to deliver on energy<br />
efficiency.<br />
• contractually obliged M&E ma<strong>in</strong>tenance suppliers<br />
to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> <strong>and</strong> identify opportunities to improve<br />
energy efficiency. 33<br />
<strong>The</strong> EU ETS is a type <strong>of</strong> ‘cap <strong>and</strong> trade’ system. GHG<br />
emission levels from factories, power stations <strong>and</strong><br />
o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong>stallations are capped, <strong>and</strong> emissions<br />
allowances are granted up to this level. Companies<br />
exceed<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> cap can buy allowances from o<strong>the</strong>rs<br />
who have generated a surplus by rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g below<br />
<strong>the</strong> cap. <strong>The</strong> limited number <strong>of</strong> allowances ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>s<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir tradable value. Each company must surrender<br />
an amount <strong>of</strong> allowances at <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> each year to<br />
cover <strong>the</strong>ir emissions. Failure to do so results <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
imposition <strong>of</strong> f<strong>in</strong>es. Any spare allowances can be kept<br />
for future use, whe<strong>the</strong>r to cover future emissions or<br />
to trade. In pr<strong>in</strong>ciple, <strong>the</strong> system should result <strong>in</strong><br />
leastcost emissions reductions, <strong>and</strong> should reduce<br />
total emissions over time, by reduc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong><br />
allowances <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> system.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Economy</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>of</strong> Engl<strong>and</strong>