The Government’s energy efficiency league table could actually “penalise” firms who have been saving energy for longer. This is the concern of global auditors Ernst & Young who suggest that rather than reward companies who have acted to cut energy use it could have the opposite effect.

The worry is that firms who have already been cutting back for years won’t show as much of an energy saving in future Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) league tables because they’ve already done most of the legwork.

Steve Lang, Ernst & Young’s Head of Sustainability and Cleantech Services said: “Those who have focused on reducing their energy use and carbon footprint prior to the scheme coming into force, are likely to feel penalised: with the low hanging fruit already picked reducing their emissions further will be more difficult and costly.”

He added: “Now, limited to a “name and shame” tool, a company’s position in the table only carries a potential reputational impact.”