financial savings
“Reducing energy consumption means a reduction in operating
costs in the public sector, and improving profitability in the
business community. That economic argument should be
sufficient to convince the most seasoned sceptics that it is worth
seizing energy-saving opportunities whenever they arise.”
Tim Yeo,,MP, Chairman of the Environmental Audit Committee
screens in typical situations where this ap-
proach has already been applied also provides
Scepticism is understandable
the energy managers with pinpoint accuracy Every cultural change has its detractors. The
tracking which identifies abnormal consump- move to lower-carbon operations in large in-
tion patterns. It raises questions such as why stitutions such as central government depart-
the heating system comes on at 4 am rather ments inevitably has its share of sceptics, but
than 5.30, when the required temperature could the subject matter naturally lends itself to that.
still be reached before staff start arriving at 8. Many people remain to be convinced that
In this scenario, there is no capital expendi- the UK government’s campaign to cut carbon
ture needed once the monitoring system has emissions will have anything more than a
been installed: observing consumption allows marginal effect on what they see as the nebu-
simple decisions to be made which reduce lous concept of ‘global warming’.
consumption immediately. With that view of carbon reduction threaded
A figure often cited by organisations such through the tiers of the Civil Service, it is per-
as the Carbon Trust, and which originated in haps understandable why the public sector is
the days of the DTI, is that observing patterns falling behind targets. Those involved in man-
of energy consumption can lead to savings of aging resources could be forgiven for seeing
up to 20% of total heating and lighting usage schemes such as the CRC as imposing addi-
in a typical organisation. The savings that can tional responsibilities with no apparent up-
be achieved in this way are often referred to side for their area of operations.
as the low-hanging fruit of the energy sector. Tim Yeo took up that point, arguing that
The EAC chairman supported that approach climate change was just one of the benefits of
of searching out the easy gains as a way of pursuing carbon reduction policies. “Reducing
making inroads to carbon reduction. “The prin- energy consumption means a reduction in oper-
ciple can be applied right across the spec- ating costs in the public sector, and improving
trum. Individual households as well as the profitability in the business community.
business community take little persuading to “That economic argument should be suffi-
modify their behaviour if they can see what is cient to convince the most seasoned sceptics
going wrong. Visualising the data helps eve- that it is worth seizing energy-saving oppor-
ryone involved appreciate the contribution tunities whenever they arise.”
they can make.
”If all government departments were pre-
pared to follow the best practice lead, a great
Driven by cost-savings
deal of progress could be achieved. The DECC The extent to which cost savings provide a
initiative of monitoring and displaying energy stimulus to reduce energy consumption is
consumption is one that others would do well highlighted by the visual energy displays to
to implement.” be implemented by DECC.
26
The Informed Executive
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