Environmental

Environmental

The footprint considers all six of the Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gases: Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs), Per fluorocarbons (PFCs) and Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).

A carbon footprint is measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). The carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) allows the different greenhouse gases to be compared on a like-for-like basis relative to one unit of CO2. CO2e is calculated by multiplying the emissions of each of the six greenhouse gases by its 100 year global warming potential (GWP).

Enhanced Capital Allowances

Give yourself a break – investing in energy-saving equipment does more than just save your business money. It’s often more tax efficient.

Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECAs) are a straightforward way for a business to improve its cash flow through accelerated tax relief. The ECA scheme for energy-saving technologies encourages businesses to invest in energy-saving plant or machinery specified on the Energy Technology List (ETL) which is managed by the Carbon Trust on behalf of Government.

The ECA scheme provides businesses with 100% first year tax relief on their qualifying capital expenditure. The ETL specifies the energy-saving technologies that are included in the ECA scheme. The scheme allows businesses to write off the whole cost of the equipment against taxable profits in the year of purchase. This can provide a cash flow boost and an incentive to invest in energy-saving equipment which normally carries a price premium when compared to less efficient alternatives.

How it works

So if your business pays corporation tax at 28%, every £1,000 spent on qualifying equipment would reduce its tax bill in the year of purchase by £280. In contrast, for every £1,000 spent, the generally available capital allowance for spending on plant and machinery* would reduce your business’ tax bill in the year of purchase by £56. In other words, an ECA can provide a cash flow boost of £224 for every £1,000 it spends in the year of purchase**.

Improve your bottom line

For more information about the scheme, read the ECA scheme for energy-saving technologies brochure (PDF) or visit the ECA website to check the eligibility of equipment via the Energy Technology List (ETL).

Loans to Help fund your energy savings

For projects in England and Scotland you may be interested in the Carbon Trust Energy Efficiency Financing scheme which is provided through the Carbon Trust’s partnership with Siemens Financial Services and is delivered to organisations in the private and public sector.

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Submitted to BECS 05/01/2011

 

"I've been using BECS since I started with a new company to carry out remedial and installation work of software systems for a major retailer. Their efficiency, attitude and end result is always to a high standard and we will continue to work with them for the foreseeable future"

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Symon Tomlinson
Westway Services