GUIDANCE FOR BUSINESS

Guidance for business on how best to respond to environmental measures is available from:

• Environment and Energy Helpline                   0800 585794

• Envirowise website  - the DTI/Defra sponsored programme designed to encourage business to adopt environmental best practice. A mid-term review on the work of Envirowise was published in November 2003.

• Business Link Gateway - Extensive guidance for small businesses.  

• Net Regs - an Environment Agency website designed to help small businesses with environmental legislation.

Advice on complying with environmental regulations can also be obtained directly from the Environment Agency.

Climate Change Levy

The Climate Change Levy is paid on the supply of energy to business. It contributes towards the UK's commitments to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. It is intended to promote energy efficiency across business and to stimulate investment in energy saving equipment and low carbon technologies.

The climate change levy funds energy efficiency support for business, a scheme of capital allowances for investments in energy efficiency, and the Carbon Trust, which is developing a low carbon innovation programme.

Fridges, Fire-Fighting Equipment And Solvents

New EC Regulations on substances which deplete the ozone layer will affect users, producers and suppliers, maintenance and servicing engineers, and those involved in the disposal of all ozone depleting substances.

These include:

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
Halons
1,1,1 trichloroethane
Carbon tetrachloride
Bromochloromethane (CBM)

These substances are mainly used in refrigeration, air-conditioning, foam blowing as solvents and in fire fighting. For further information see DTI guidance to New Controls to Ozone Depleting Substances

The EC regulation also affects the disposal of waste fridges. For further information see the DEFRA Guidance on the Disposal of Waste Fridges.

Fluorinated Gases

The European Commission published a proposal for a Regulation of certain fluorinated gases on 11th August 2003. If adopted it would put into place a legislative framework to reduce emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) in the EU.

Specifically, measures would be introduced on the containment, use and recovery of certain fluorinated greenhouse gases, measures on the placing on the market of certain applications containing those gases, and measures on the reporting of information on those gases.

For more information visit the the new DTI Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases page.