The recently-launched Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) is the government’s new mandatory energy assessment and energy saving identification scheme that large businesses must comply with.
iiE Consultancy has registered as one of the few Lead Assessors in the region, who can conduct and sign off ESOS audits in 2015. As part of the charity Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT), iiE Consultancy is a not-for-profit support service that strives to achieve significant improvements in the environmental performance of the businesses it supports.
What do the new regulations mean for your business? Well, if you are a big business with more than 250 employees, or with an annual turnover exceeding 50 million Euros and a balance sheet exceeding 43 million Euros, or a corporate group that meets either of the first two criteria, then it is vital you meet the requirements:
1. Measure your total energy consumption (buildings, transport, industrial activities).
2. Conduct an energy audit to identify cost-effective energy efficiency recommendations. This must be through an ESOS compliant audit, a Display Energy Certificate, a Green Deal Assessment, or through an ISO50001 Energy Management System. Audits can be used from as far back as December 2011 as long as they meet ESOS audit requirements. Unless an ISO50001 system is used, all audits must be conducted or reviewed by a qualified Lead Assessor, who is registered with the Environment Agency.
3. Report compliance to the Environment Agency by the deadline of 5 December 2015.
Katie Greenhalgh, the ESOS Lead Assessor from iiE Consultancy explains: “It isn’t actually essential that you implement the energy efficiency actions the audit identifies, but this is where you will see the benefits through reducing energy use and saving your business money. A green-thinking company is a smarter business of the future!”
Once you have met the deadline of 5 December 2015, you will be required to submit new evidence every four years. Failure to notify the Environment Agency of compliance by the required date will lead to a fixed penalty of £5,000 and/ or an additional £500 per day starting on the day after the date of compliance until notification is completed with the penalty for not completing an energy audit up to £50,000.
If you need to comply with the scheme, then get in touch with iiE Consultancy for expert advice, guidance, and to book in your audit before the deadline of 5 December 2015. Contact iiE Consultancy on 01733 882549 or email [email protected]. You can also visit the website www.iie.uk.com/consultancy for more information.