Tuesday 27 October 2015
Taking no ESOS action ‘is worst thing firms can do’
The worst thing businesses can do is take no action when it comes to the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS).
Sam Bailey, Resourcing Manager at energy consultancy BIU said “some action is needed” to show the Environment Agency they’re “taking steps and actively seeking somebody to prepare and report for them”.
Under ESOS, large businesses are obliged to undertake energy audits to identify potential savings by the 5th of December.
The Environment Agency however said it won’t take any enforcement action until 29th January 2016 provided firms have notified of their non-compliance by the initial deadline.
Ms Bailey told ELN the extended date is a “little random” and it’s not a lot of extra time: “They say they are listening to businesses but I’m not sure four weeks is really acting on what they’re hearing.”
However she said: “I think what they’re trying to do is get people moving. I think even with the 29th of January deadline and the flexibility there, they’re probably not expecting the vast majority of companies to get over that extended finish line. But they are trying to push people into starting and doing something.”
Ms Bailey went on: “ESOS is not a survey of every single site, perhaps people think there’s more involved than there is and they need to get out there and get advice on what they can do to minimise any issues with the Environment Agency.”
She said although a lot of assessors “have closed the books on ESOS”, BIU is still taking businesses on.
She added: “We can’t promise them compliance by the 29th of January but we can promise to put a plan in place and we can present on their behalf to the Environment Agency to say ‘Yes, they are taking serious and timely steps’ and get them that leniency.”
This is a sponsored article.
