Companies are becoming more open and honest about what they are doing to reduce their carbon emissions, according to one industry official.

Tom Whitehouse, chief executive of Carbon International, says investors in particular like the idea of energy efficiency, but are unclear about the businesses and business models they might invest in.

Speaking to environmental website edie.net, he states that the days of "glib" projects such as planting trees are gone and that it is now more credible for a chief finance officer to announce that cost reductions have also translated into carbon reductions.

"It's a more honest message that nobody's going to be cynical about," Mr Whitehouse comments.

As well as this, he explains that energy efficiency measures are less vulnerable to accusations of greenwash.

Earlier this week the Renewable Energy Centre welcomed plans for incentives for wave power systems in Scotland.

The government said Renewable Obligation Certificates would be issued to encourage more business.