UK Firms Unprepared for CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme Claims Survey by Solar Gard

Ignorance, Apathy and Confusion Abounds Amongst UK`s Largest Energy Users as New
Scheme Risks Stumbling at First Hurdle
LONDON--(Business Wire)--
The Government`s new Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme
is set for a rocky start when it launches on April 1st 2010, according to
research published today.

The scheme is the UK's mandatory climate change and energy saving initiative. It
is central to the UK`s strategy for improving energy efficiency and reducing
carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, as set out in the Climate Change Act 2008.
Around 5,000 organisations are expected to qualify for the scheme this year and
all must comply legally with the scheme or face financial and other penalties.

However, a recent survey of senior managers responsible for energy management at
many of the UK`s biggest energy users highlights a staggering degree of
ignorance, apathy and confusion about the scheme. The survey was originally
undertaken for Solar Gard, an energy control window film specialist, to
understand the attitudes of the UK`s largest energy users towards reducing their
carbon footprint.

Over half (53%) of the UK`s biggest energy users likely to be affected by the
scheme do not even realise that they will be affected and that they are required
by law to register. If they do not register by the deadline of September 30 they
face an immediate fine of £5,000 and an additional daily fine of £500. A single
organisation that misses the deadline by a month will face a £20,000 fine. If
53% of the 5,000 organisations affected by the scheme miss the deadline by a
month, they will collectively accumulate a first month fine of more than
£50,000,000.

Other findings from the survey support the view that ignorance, apathy and
confusion reigns among many large UK organisations when it comes to their energy
use.

* A third (33%) of those surveyed who`s organisation almost certainly qualifies
for the scheme did not know what their annual energy usage was, despite this
being the basic metric for qualifying for the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.
* Nearly half (45%) of those who know that they qualify for the scheme do not
know when they are supposed to register.
* Unsurprisingly, the survey highlighted that more than a quarter (28%) of the
UK`s largest energy users who qualify for the scheme do not have a carbon
footprint reduction strategy in place.
* Meanwhile, almost every organisation (97%) admitted they could do more to
reduce their carbon footprint. Despite this honesty, almost half (48%) of those
qualifying for the scheme either have no plans, or are waiting to be told what
to do, to reduce their carbon footprint.
* Finally, indicating that almost no one knew what the financial impact of being
in the scheme would entail, only five percent could correctly give the official
price the scheme had placed on a one ton CO2 allowance. The correct answer is
£12.

Commenting on the findings, Ian Penfold, Solar Gard`s solar control window film
expert, said: "Such a lax approach by UK organisations to the climate change
issue illustrates the need for enforced legislation. But there`s clearly been
too much hot air around the CRC, and not enough cool action. Organisations
across the UK, big and small, should take ownership for cutting their carbon
footprint. The UK may have taken the lead in Europe to deliver climate change
legislation, but we face huge embarrassment if, collectively, we fall at the
first hurdle."

The survey was carried out by research company Vanson Bourne. The survey
interviewed senior facility managers responsible for power management at 100 of
the UK`s largest public and private sector organisations, most of whom are
likely to qualify for the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency
Scheme.

Solar Gard was looking to use data from the survey to understand the attitudes
of the UK`s largest energy users towards reducing their carbon footprint. The
survey helped reveal some of the most common strategies being used by large
organisations to reduce their energy usage.

The most popular steps were also the simplest and ranged from turning off lights
and IT equipment to opening windows rather than using fans or air-conditioning.
The least common approach listed was solar control window film that can reject
solar energy from the sun and help keep a building cool, reducing the need for
air-conditioning.

Although Solar Control window film can cut a building`s cooling load by 30
percent, and reduce accordingly the energy required to air-condition the
building, less than a quarter (23%) of organisations surveyed have installed it.

The survey showed that of the majority (97%) that relied on air conditioning to
cool their buildings, over half would still open a window to cool down on a hot
day. This suggests that the air conditioning was not working effectively against
the solar heat gained by the building.

For the duration of the registration period of the Carbon Reduction Commitment
(CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme, April 1-September 30, Solar Gard is offering
free glazing energy analysis, a first step in measuring precisely the reduction
in solar heat gain through the installation of solar control window film along
with the subsequent reduction in carbon emissions required to power the air
conditioning.

About Bekaert Specialty Films
Bekaert Specialty Films LLC, www.bekaertfilms.com, develops, manufactures and
distributes window films that provide solar control, safety, security, glare
reduction, energy saving and C02 emission reduction solutions. The company`s
films are sold in 60 countries under the Solar Gard®, Panorama®, Quantum® and
Solar Gard® Armorcoat® brands. Bekaert Specialty Films also manufactures films
for the photovoltaic, electronics, medical, graphic arts and imaging, automotive
and aerospace industries. Bekaert Specialty Films is strongly committed to
environmental responsibility and has been recognised by the Clinton Climate
Initiative and other energy experts. Headquartered in San Diego, California,
Bekaert Specialty Films is a subsidiary of Bekaert (Euronext Brussels: BEKB), a
global company headquartered in Belgium with annual combined sales of €3.3
billion, more than $4 billion.

More information on professionally-installed Solar Gard window film is available
at www.solargard.co.uk . For media inquiries, samples or photography, contact
solargard@touchdownpr.com.

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Touchdown PR
James Carter
+44 (0) 1252 717040
solargard@touchdownpr.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010