Client case study Low carbon
And investment in technologies will play a bigger
part in the future. Combined heat and power (CHP)
is one area that Bailey and his team are looking at,
because they feel the modern systems are better suited
to today’s projects. ‘Some of the older systems were
too big and the contracts too long. There was also a
problem with high servicing costs, but we are actively
looking at CHP again. There are also some exciting
opportunities for powering CHP with straw or methane
gas in rural areas.’
Returns
Reporting is a major concern for most organisations,
and several of Leisure Connection’s clients now ask for
hearts and minds is the key component of the strategy. Bisham Abbey... one of four quarterly energy reports and want to see improvements
Bailey estimates that changing behaviour alone was
national sports centres
every period. Bailey explains that it is the law of
responsible for a seven per cent drop in energy use.
managed by Leisure
diminishing returns, and extra investment will be
Connection.
‘We call it the digital approach; that is, use your needed if they want to continue to see progress.
finger and turn things off,’ he says. ‘Although the ideal Green measures can also lead to other benefits, as
is for people not to turn things on in the first place.’ the theatre Leisure Connection manages in St Albans
However, it can be a struggle sometimes to make discovered. Its underground bar had to be continually
sure money is spent in the right areas and not on illuminated using highly inefficient fluorescent
‘statement’ technologies. ‘Most of them prefer the lighting, which was ‘pretty unpleasant’ and generated
visible stuff – they want a bit of green bling, but we more heat than light.
know that it is often the measures you take behind the ‘We switched the whole lot over to LEDs, improved
scenes that make the big difference and deliver the the lighting levels, and the running cost is one
lorry loads of carbon saving. hundredth of what it was. This is the sort of result we
‘They don’t know about optimisers and better boilers,
but we do, and they need our advice.’
That does not mean that the group is ignoring the
We are hostage to costs like
bigger investments. In fact, Bailey has already told
his clients that if they want to step up their game they
many other organisations, so
Leisure Connection
will have to invest. But with the credit crunch biting, these improvements are made for
it has been harder to get investment, especially for
Simple steps
the soundest of business reasons
technologies with long payback periods.
to cutting
‘There is funding out there, but we miss out on a
energy
as well as to meet our corporate
lot of it,’ says Bailey. ‘We are bigger than a small or
Appointment of site
responsibilities
medium company, so don’t qualify for the support they and regional energy
get, and we are not a local authority – we are stuck in
‘champions’
are keen to share with all our clients,’ says Bailey.
the middle, but we still have to pay the energy bills. So League tables – capture Energy roadshows help spread the lessons learned
we are looking at leasing deals and investments where
hearts and minds
throughout the group, and these have taken on a greater
it might be possible to pay the loans back from energy Energy sub-meters: big urgency with the approach of winter. Bailey recalls the
savings.’
sites take daily meter
particularly harsh winter of two years ago when the
readings
He does feel there should be more coming from the group took a huge hit on running costs, which made a
government. Reduced or zero-rate of VAT on energy
Swimming pool covers:
major dent in the group’s profits.
reduce overnight heat
efficient investments would be a welcome first step,
loss (70 per cent of sites
‘We are hostage to costs like many other organisations,
and the Enhanced Capital Allowance system needs have pools) so these improvements are made for the soundest
improving.
Variable speed drives for
of business reasons as well as to meet our corporate
air-handling units responsibilities.’
Variable speed motors
The group also believes that Display Energy
onnection
C Certificates are a useful tool for gauging consumption
Relamping with low
energy lamps
and progress against their own targets. This was a key
Leisure
Changing pumps
aspect of the company’s CIBSE award entry submitted
by Richard Hipkiss of i-prophets, who carried out a
Variable speed motors
range of energy assessments for the group.
Recommissioning of
Bailey believes the award has been a big help in
building management
systems
giving their carbon reduction efforts ‘credibility’ with
clients. Leisure Connection has also used the CIBSE
Roadshows to share
experiences
100 Hours of Carbon Clean-up initiative to help engage
Another LC project... Blackwater Leisure Centre, Maldon, Essex. and empower site employees. l
www.cibsejournal.com October 2009 CIBSE Journal 47
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