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Carbon
Tax - Home & Business CO2 Emission Taxation |
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Carbon
Tax, or Environmental Taxation based on CO2 emissions from
Commercial Buildings, Industry & the Home owner may be fiction
but a growing number of pressure groups and environmentalists
wishing to reduce green house gases and in theory prevent a
real change in the climate of the world may see the dawn of Carbon
Tax being introduced based on the Carbon
Footprint of your Home or Business.
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In the EU
including the UK Government, is committed to reducing CO2
emissions throughout industry as part of their environmental
policy. Ever increasing Energy demands usually translates as
more investment in fossil fuelled plants in some parts of the
world. The introduction of Tax Credits for sectors of industry
was designed to reward businesses that were making efforts to
reduce their Carbon Footprint. Reducing emissions can be
achieved in a number of ways, the primary key is
"Consumption" by the user. Calculation of your Home
or Business CO2 Emissions is already underway. |
In
short, if you reduce consumption, you naturally reduce your
footprint, and save money on utility bills. Commerce and Industry
are large consumers of energy, in many cases it takes a small
investment from both the Householder, or Business in energy
efficiency measures to reduce energy usage, and thus reduce Carbon
emissions.
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For Business, Government
grants are available for energy efficient "greener"
industrial plant that can help the asset owner with costs for
capital expenditure on equipment.
Similarly Energy Efficiency
Grants are available to owners of residential property, indeed Landlords
actively seek grants from Local Authorities and Energy companies for
installation of additional insulation in homes for example. Guidance and
methods of improving Home Energy Efficiency including Advice & Tips: Energy
Saving.
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How
can Carbon Tax be Implemented?
Implementation
of Carbon Tax would be relatively straightforward for any Government
to bring into affect. How? Lets consider the information flowing to
Central Government on a daily basis for both Commercial Buildings
and Home Domestic Residential Property. Carbon Emissions based on
your Carbon Footprint are already being calculated and submitted to
a central database by virtue of the issue of the EPC.
The
Environmental Impact Rating (Right Graph) could be used in the
future to determine your Carbon Tax Rating based on the CO2 Ratings
calculated in the Certificate for Home and Business users of energy.
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Energy Taxation will almost
certainly become a reality, when sufficient numbers of properties have
been "assessed" for Environment impact under CO2 emissions, then
a sliding scale tax band could be simply applied to how "Green"
your credentials are.
Damage Limitation
If such a Tax were introduced
there would be no exemptions from paying some form of Tax to the
Government, however small your CO2 footprint. So what should I Do? Become
more Energy Efficient is a good start.
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Conserve
Energy & Increase Efficiency - further information to help
reduce your Home Carbon Footprint and save on Energy Costs
including:
Renewable
Energy Sources:
For
Business improving efficiency if your building has an Air
Conditioning System:
Air
Conditioning Inspectors - Commercial Buildings will require
regular inspection of heating & ventilating systems including
boilers, chillers and controls where these are installed.
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Asset Ratings for
Commercial Buildings will, in the future become more important as a
property with a poor rating may well prove less attractive to
potential clients. Improved Environmental ratings for CO2 emission
standards may one day be a taxable proposition. Climate Change may
already be underway but to Business it may well be conceived to be
"Environmental Friendly" to attract investors. Act on CO2
Now and the analysis of your Carbon Footprint will be rewarded. |
Further
reference for Energy matters:
Social
Housing energy performance certification for Housing
Associations and Local Authority housing groups is considered
separately.
Landlord
EPC - If you control property lettings, rented accommodation,
and property rental
portfolios, or rent buy-to-let property, you must be in possession
of a valid EPC Energy
Performance Certificate on or before 1st October 2008 - find out
more at Landlords
Energy Performance Certificates.
See also Social
Housing.& Property Rental Energy
Certificates.
Switching Energy Suppliers - Switch Energy
Supplier, as a consumer
you can save money and reduce costs if you are a Home Energy User
for Gas &
Electric, For Business Users compare Energy
Costs Switch
Energy Suppliers for Business.
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Investors may
need to invest further cash resources to enhance their
"unsustainable" assets in the market place. In this environment
"sustainable" assets would be more liquid than their
"unsustainable" counterparts. It is probable that a 2 tier
market will develop, where energy efficiency will be considered as
"prime space". Reducing your Carbon Emissions now may well
prove a profitable move.
Eventually when buildings have been surveyed to
determine their efficiency ratings and the data collated in a central
database this information could be made available to property appraisers.
It is wise to act now and stay ahead in tomorrow's future.
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Find out more
information about the Commercial
EPC- For commercial property inspectors,
buildings inspectors, energy performance certificate DEC (EPC)
providers.
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