New scheme to 'offset' energy usage

Licensees adding patio heaters outside as they face up to the smoking ban have been handed the perfect riposte to critics who claim they are damaging the environment.

Energy supplier Calor has launched its own offset programme which will enable businesses to offset the damage done to the environment for a small charge - which could be as little as £2 to cover five years' usage.

Licensees taking it up will get a sticker to go on their heater and a certificate to go behind the bar.

Offsetting means reducing the CO2 in the atmosphere by the same amount that your activities add in order to balance them out.

Andrew Ford, corporate affairs manager at Calor, says: "Most everyday appliances produce CO2 emissions during usage and, while patio heaters are by no means the worst offenders, we recognise our duty as a responsible fuel supplier to consider the possible effects of our business and products on climate change."

Whenever a customer buys a patio heater and patio gas from Calor they will be given the option of paying a designated amount of money to offset their use of LPG (liquid gas petroleum) - either for a one year or five year period. In return they receive the certificate and sticker.

Phil Levermore, managing director of EBICo Limited, the not-for-profit organisation behind the company managing the scheme for Calor, Equiclimate, said: "Calor is providing its customers with a robust and transparent method of offsetting CO2 emissions."

For further information about the programme, visit www.calorcarbonoffset.co.uk