STROLL down most high streets in Merseyside this evening, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that everything was still open.

The lights are on – as are the flat screens and the illuminated signs – but no-one’s home.

But this year that could change, thanks to a new government scheme which will require businesses to record their energy use and, from 2011, pay by the tonne for the carbon that they emit.

Businesses using more than 6000MWh electricity per year, equivalent to about £500,000-worth, must register for the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme between April and September this year, rocketing energy efficiency to the top of the corporate agenda for some 5,000 UK businesses.

Supermarkets, clothing retailers and restaurant chains are among the top sectors affected by the CRC – and are likely to be challenging their staff to reduce energy use.

The days of leaving doors open to encourage customers in and leaving lights on 24 hours a day will be left behind as high street retailers look for the quick wins in the race to cut carbon emissions.

But Merseyside’s small businesses are already ahead of the game.

Franklins Deli, in St Paul’s Square, which opened just before Christmas, has been designed to be as energy efficient as possible.

“Overnight we turn everything off – except for one small dairy fridge,” said owner Adam Franklin. “We make everything fresh each day, so there’s no need for us to store most produce overnight.

“We were fortunate – we started with a shell of a building so we could start from scratch and engineer the whole operation to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

“At night we have a ‘last man out’ switch by the door, which means that whoever leaves last can turn off everything, apart from that fridge, every night.”

The deli is also engineered to require no heating or cooling. “We had a load testing done for heating and air conditioning when we were designing the building,” said Franklin.

“And they worked out that the heat generated by the refrigeration and the ovens made the heat we’d need from a big gas guzzling heater.

“The positioning and design of the doors mean that we don’t need air conditioning.

“It makes financial as well as environmental sense. We can pass on the savings we make from energy bills to our customers.”

In a new age of eco-conscious consumers, poor green performance could be damaging for a business’s reputation.

Tony Dean, North West Regional Director for the Environment Agency, said: “The CRC is an opportunity for large businesses and public sector organisations to play their part in reducing harmful carbon emissions.

“But, for businesses, the main motivation to cut their energy use will be their bottom line.

“By cutting energy use, businesses may benefit from lower energy bills, and could also be financially rewarded through the CRC if they perform well in the energy efficiency stakes.”

From 2011, the Environment Agency will publish an annual league table of the best and worst performers in the CRC – with the top performers getting financial rewards, and poor performers being penalised.

Added Mr Dean: “Carbon reduction needn’t be complicated or expensive, in most cases better management of heating, air conditioning and lighting will deliver immediate energy and cost savings.”