What is the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme? -

The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme, or ESOS, is a new, mandatory energy assessment and efficiency scheme in the UK that implements parts of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU). ESOS requires participants to carry out energy savings assessments every four years that audit energy used by their buildings, industrial processes and transport, as applicable, in order to identify cost-effective energy saving measures. The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change expects about 9,400 participants in the first phase of the scheme, which ends in 2015. Thereafter, ESOS will run in four-year phases.

ESOS is not exclusive of, and may overlap with, other notable energy use/greenhouse gas reduction schemes in the UK, in particular the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, Climate Change Agreements and the EU Emissions Trading System. Broadly speaking, ESOS places a greater emphasis on the identification of energy saving opportunities than these other schemes. In addition, the energy use covered by ESOS is likely to be broader than these schemes for many participants.