Government energy scheme could spell the end for night-time high street 'dazzling window displays'

Walk down your local high street this evening and you’d be forgiven for thinking that everything was still open. From shoe shops to supermarkets, the lights are on - as are the flat screens and the illuminated signs - but no-one’s home.
But this year that could change, thanks to a new government scheme which will require businesses to record their energy use and from 2011, pay by the tonne for the carbon that they emit.

Businesses using more than 6000MWh electricity per year, equivalent to about £500,000 worth, must register for the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme between April and September this year, rocketing energy efficiency to the top of the corporate agenda for some five thousand UK businesses.

Household name supermarkets, clothing retailers and restaurant chains are among the top sectors affected by the CRC – and are likely to be challenging their staff to reduce energy use. The days of leaving doors open to encourage customers in and leaving lights on 24 hours a day will be left behind as high street retailers look for the quick wins in the race to cut carbon emissions.

Tony Grayling, Head of Climate Change and Sustainable Development at the Environment Agency said: 'The CRC is an opportunity for large businesses and public sector organisations to play their part in reducing dangerous carbon emissions. But for businesses the main motivation to cut their energy use will be their bottom line. By cutting energy use businesses stand to benefit from lower energy bills, and could be financially rewarded through the CRC if they perform well in the energy efficiency stakes.'

In a new age of eco-conscious consumers, poor green performance could be damaging for a business’s reputation. From 2011 the Environment Agency will publish an annual league table of the best and worst performers in the CRC – with the top performers getting financial rewards, and poor performers being penalised. Grayling added: 'Carbon reduction needn’t be complicated or expensive, in most cases better management of heating, air conditioning and lighting will deliver immediate energy and cost savings.'