BUSINESSES can monitor their own carbon emissions and ensure they remain in line with impending legislation through a system being devised in the North-East.

Carbonbiz has created a web-hosted software system which brings together the latest accounting programmes to help businesses calculate carbon usage, and identify how to reduce it as a means of cutting operational costs.

The system being developed by the Bishop Auckland business is one of the first in the UK, and will help firms stay ahead of the UK’s first mandatory carbon trading regulations to be introduced next year through Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC).

Andrew Evans, Carbonbiz managing director, said: “Carbon management is fast becoming a key issue across all industry sectors.

“When the CRC becomes law next April, it will be mandatory for many large organisations to report on, and reduce, their carbon emissions.

Businesses need to be aware of the scale of planning needed to track their carbon output and should be preparing now.

“Companies need accurate data on their carbon footprint to ensure compliance with the new legislation in the UK and abroad, but tend to underestimate the time, resources and scale of planning needed to track this.

“Good software is essential ,and that’s where Carbonbiz can help.”

The CRC is a compulsory cap and trade emissions scheme which is a key component of the Government’s Climate Change Bill. Initially it will be compulsory for any institution or organisation that consumes more than 6000Mw of half-hourly metered electricity per year, roughly equivalent to £500,000.

The scheme will cover nonenergy intensive businesses including retailers, banks, hotel chains, universities and local authorities.

In the longer term, every qualifying business will be required to buy credits for their energy usage, and those who use energy above their credit limit will pay a penalty.

In addition, a CRC league table will be in the public domain ensuring the green credentials of businesses will be well-publicised.

Mr Evans said that Carbonbiz would give organisations the information they need to control the environmental impact of their operations and sustain a carbon-conscious supply chain.

He added: “It enables organisations to access data clearly and to use it effectively, not only to manage the way they use energy, but to change it for the better.”