Thesis
Impacts and mitigation of latest climate change legislation on participant organisations
- Creator
- Rights statement
- Awarding institution
- University of Strathclyde
- Date of award
- 2013
- Thesis identifier
- T13494
- Qualification Level
- Qualification Name
- Department, School or Faculty
- Abstract
- In order to reduce the energy consumption from large non-energy-intensive businesses in UK, government has introduced the mandatory CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme. After several revisions, CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme is now pushing its participants to reduce their carbon emissions. Due to complex design and several revisions, participant organisations have struggled to identify and meet the requirements of the scheme. Research has been carried out by a number of researchers to analyse the impacts of CRC and their mitigation. However, the available information is only at a higher level, and there is lack of detailed information on practical measures that an organisation should take to comply with the scheme and reliably reduce / mitigate its impact. The need for research was identified to find and implement the measures, and develop a best practice approach to reduce the impacts of the scheme. This research was conducted at a CRC participant organisation which operates in a number of sectors, mainly Aggregates and Construction. The project identified the emerging challenges to the organisation due to CRC, and their possible solutions. It was identified that CRC has introduced serious implications to the participant businesses. Participant companies are now required to improve their systems and procedures to meet these challenges. In addition to that, it is now vital for participant companies to reduce their energy use and carbon emissions due to the financial implications of CRC. However, while implementing the carbon reduction opportunities, organisations have struggled to achieve the anticipated level of carbon emission reductions when using new and innovative technologies due to the underperformance of products. In addition to the dangers associated with new and innovative technologies, there are issues with comparatively longer existing opportunities, as their financial impacts change with time due to changes in the incentivising schemes. The project identified the requirements for the participating organisation's data & information to ensure compliance with the scheme. Opportunities were identified to mitigate the impacts of the scheme through new & improved systems, procedures, carbon reduction measures and renewable energy systems. Latest techniques were used for comparing the carbon reduction opportunities, and for informed decision making and as a result of the analysis a new tool, CALoRIC (Carbon Abatement Low Risk Investment Curve), was developed. Viable opportunities were implemented, and their performance monitored and verified. A best practice approach was then identified to reduce the risks associated with innovative and existing technologies. It was also identified that, in addition to the proposed and implemented projects, absolute carbon emissions in a company may reduce due to a number of factors, such as reduced business activity, an increase in energy awareness or indirect impact from other activities such as maintenance etc, and Energy Benchmarking was found necessary to find the actual reductions from various factors. Decision makers in an organisation require this information to decide their further carbon reduction strategy. It was concluded that that the company must implement the 10 suggested carbon reduction opportunities, in addition to increasing its emission reduction from other factors, in order to achieve its carbon reduction target.
- Resource Type
- DOI
- Date Created
- 2013
- Former identifier
- 991658
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