Impact of CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme on Implementing Energy Efficiency Strategies in Existing Buildings

The Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency scheme (CRC) was introduced in April 2010 as a mandatory carbon emissions reduction policy initiative in the United Kingdom. The CRC is designed to incentivise the implementation of cost-effective energy efficiency strategies (EES) in participating organisations by a combination of behavioural, financial and reputational drivers. Developing strategies for reduction of CO2 emissions in existing buildings is a difficult task due to fact that the decision making processes leading to implementation of EES have many exogenous influences (energy prices, building regulations, building condition, occupant behaviour etc.). The impact of CRC is taken in the context of 9 other exogenous variables influencing the decision making process. An IAD framework is employed to analyse the impact of the CRC in the decision making process for implementing EES in retrofitting of buildings in 16 Colleges of the University of Cambridge, UK. The study concludes that the CRC behavioural driver is most effective, while the financial and the reputational driver do not have the expected impact. Journal of Environmental Professionals Sri Lanka: 2015 Vol. 4 No. 1: 49-6