Carbon Trust Implementation Services (CTIS) is launching a Supplier Accreditation scheme which aims to help businesses reduce their energy costs, use more efficient technology and give accredited suppliers the opportunity to bid for pre-screened tenders with companies ready to invest in new projects.
To help businesses address the rise in energy costs and improve operational efficiency, the new service aims to being the businesses and suppliers together by providing an independent evaluation of the most effective renewable energy technology solutions for their organisation and will match them with accredited, high quality suppliers to carry out the work.

The Supplier Accreditation scheme is open to equipment suppliers with experience in designing and installing energy efficient solutions in technologies such as lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

A survey by the Carbon Trust has found that 76 per cent of companies are more concerned than they were six months ago by rising energy costs and are very concerned about its impact on their business.

The Carbon Trust is inviting suppliers of energy saving equipment who can demonstrate their competency in delivering best practice low energy solutions to apply to become an accredited supplier. Accredited suppliers will have the opportunity to bid for pre-screened tenders with companies ready to invest in new projects.

There is also the opportunity to access market and policy insights from the Carbon Trust and to differentiate their business by association with the trusted Carbon Trust brand. Equipment suppliers and installers are being sought in areas such as lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, energy metering, refrigeration, compressed air, motor control and renewables.

Myles McCarthy, managing director of Carbon Trust Implementation services said: 'Over the last ten years, the Carbon Trust has helped thousands of organisations implement cost effective energy efficiency measures which have paid for themselves within a few years. We know many more companies are concerned about rising energy costs and want to act, but need help planning and delivering these projects. We are seeking high quality suppliers to help us unlock the £9 billion investment in energy efficient equipment that we estimate is needed for UK companies to replace old, inefficient equipment and systems with modern, low energy, cost saving alternatives.'

Eddie Taylor, chief executive at the Lighting Industry Federation, said: 'With companies predicting double-digit rises in energy prices over the next three years, investments in quality lighting solutions incorporating energy efficient lamps and luminaires (including LED technology) and lighting controls can deliver high returns very quickly. Carbon Trust Implementation Services new offer potentially removes some of the practical barriers preventing end users taking advantage of these gains and will help quality providers of these services stand out. We're encouraging our members to seek accreditation with Carbon Trust Implementation services to generate new business and help the UK capitalise on greener, more energy efficient equipment and systems.'

The new service accompanies the flexible Energy Efficiency Financing scheme that the Carbon Trust and Siemens Financial Services Ltd (SFS) launched in April 2011, the aim of which is to provide UK businesses with green equipment finance worth up to £550 million over the next three years. Under this scheme SFS provides the financial backing and the Carbon Trust uses its expertise in carbon saving from energy efficient technologies to assess the carbon, energy and cost savings of any application. This enables the financing to pay for itself through energy savings, resulting in no net cost to the customer.