Carbon Emissions Reduction Target

The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) (2008?2011) is the third three-year phase of a UK domestic energy supplier obligation and requires all domestic energy suppliers with a customer base in excess of 50 000 customers to make savings in the amount of CO2 emitted by householders. CERT is significantly more ambitious and doubles the level of activity seen under the previous Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) 2005?2008. It also sees a shift in emphasis, with the target set in terms of carbon savings rather than terawatt hours. When CERT began in April 2008, energy suppliers were required to deliver measures that will provide overall lifetime carbon dioxide savings of 154MtCO2 ? equivalent to the emissions from 700 000 homes each year (which we estimate will lead to energy supplier investment of around some ?2.8bn). As part of the Prime Minister?s ?1 billion Home Energy Saving Programme, the CERT target was further exceptionally raised by an additional 20%, increasing the scheme?s lifetime carbon savings to 185MtCO2 (some 31MtCO2 more than under the original CERT target) thereby making a significant contribution to the government?s environmental and social ambitions.