Jargon Buster - Definitions of Environmental Concepts A-D

Carbon Dioxide A pollutant released during the combustion of energy providing materials such as coal or oil. Carbon dioxide along with other pollutants (the greenhouse gases) are deemed to be a major cause of a recently perceived increase in global temperature - Global warming.

CFCs - Chlorofluorocarbons CFCs were previously thought inert and therefore widely used in foam blowing agents, emulsifiers and solvents. It is now recognised that they can seriously damage the ozone layer and have therefore been banned in the UK under the Montreal Protocol in 1987. The European Commission enforced the removal of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and CFCs from the insulating foam in refrigerators and freezers before they are scrapped. This came into force on October 1st 2000.

Climate Change Levy The Climate Change Levy applies to energy used in the non-domestic sector. It came into effect on the 1st of April 2001. The aim of the levy is to encourage businesses to reduce energy use and increase efficiency to reduce the emission of green house gases.

The levy forms a part of the Governments Climate Change Programme and enforces a tax on the energy used by all those in industry or commerce. Cuts in employers' National Insurance Contributions (NICs) are used to offset the effects of an additional tax.

Businesses benefited from additional schemes to promote energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources, with revenue and funding available for certain energy efficient investments.

The levy package is expected to reduce emissions of carbon by 2.5 million tonnes by 2010.

The following fuels are exempt:

• oils - as they are already subject to excise duty
• electricity generated by renewable energy (incl. solar power, wind power etc.)
• fuels used by efficient combined heat and power schemes
• fuels used as feedstock
• electricity used in electrolysis processes.

How it works

The levy will be added to energy bills before VAT. It is likely to appear as a separate item on the bill, however this is not a legal requirement.

For further information about the Climate Change Levy please contact the HM Customs & Excise Climate Change Levy Helpdesk

email helpdesk.ccl@hmce.gov.uk
telephone: 0845 0109000
Or visit the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk.

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) CHP is the simultaneous generation of usable heat and power (usually electricity) in a single process. Traditionally power is produced and supplied from power stations and heat comes from a boiler. This results in high energy input and high carbon dioxide emissions. With CHP the primary energy input and carbon dioxide emissions are lower but the same amount of energy is delivered.

On most CHP plants one or more prime movers drive electrical generators. The heat generated from this process is then captured and utilised for industrial, community or space heating. CHP can achieve up to a 35 per cent reduction in primary energy use compared to traditional methods. The CHP plants can easily be adapted to use biomass fuels as well.

For further information about CHP visit the Biogen website at www.britishbiogen.co.uk.

Compliance Audit This is an assessment of a company's activities to check that regulations are being met. Environmental regulators such as the Environment Agency ensure that firms comply with standards such as waste emission levels.

Duty of Care Duty of care is imposed on producers, requiring them to dispose of waste in accordance with the Environmental Protection Regulations of 1991 (see legislation and waste sections for further information). Businesses must ensure that their waste is disposed of responsibly by a registered waste carrier in licensed sites.