ENERGY MANAGEMENT
MANAGING ENERGY BETTER
Finding good energy management strategies is one of the core issues being addressed at The Energy Show 2011. Dave Lewis, head of business energy services at npower, an Energy Show exhibitor and sponsor, explains how facilities managers can overcome 2011’s challenging legislative and economic climate and further reduce business costs.
here is no escaping the challenges businesses face in relation to energy legislation and compliance but, first and foremost, it is important not to get caught up in the details. Businesses must focus on the bigger picture of ensuring energy efficiency is always their main focus and energy emissions and costs are reduced.
T
The Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) – set to be one of 2011’s most debated energy challenges – is a case in point. Following the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review in October, the CRC has caused much confusion for businesses. In response to this, the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) is now undertaking another consultation process, looking to simplify the scheme and extend the introductory phase to 2013. But, despite the uncertainty that lies ahead, it is essential that facilities managers focus on the best practice behaviour the CRC seeks to encourage, whatever shape the scheme is to take in the future.
THE WAY FORWARD For those taking part in the CRC, the next stage is to submit the first footprint report by the 29 July 2011 deadline. Then, in October, the scheme’s first league table will be published. However, although these are
important ‘dates for the diary’, organisations should not just see the CRC as a series of milestones – approaching footprint reporting, for example, as just one of the actions to tick off as soon as possible. This ‘milestone mentality’, coupled with the confusion surrounding the CRC, means many businesses aren’t
20| SUSTAINABLE FM | MARCH 2011
treating energy reduction as an ongoing priority, and this is something we are keen to work with businesses to address. Organisations should be treating the CRC as just one element of an overall energy management strategy which has board level buy-in. For any energy management strategy to be successful, FMs should work collaboratively with the management board and all staff to ensure everyone is active in its implementation. By raising energy management to board level, organisations can ensure they have the time and resources devoted to it to achieve both cost and carbon savings. At npower, one of the ways we are supporting customers to manage the CRC and ensure their energy management is integrated, is through our ‘CRC Assist’ service. The service is designed to help businesses understand the CRC; assist them with the development of an energy management strategy; and manage their participation in the scheme, including completion of the year-end footprint reports.
Aside from the peace of mind this support provides, using services like ‘CRC Assist’ also helps ensure the CRC strategy is based not only on compliance, but on long-term goals to integrate energy management to deliver energy savings and carbon reductions.
INTEGRATING ENERGY MANAGEMENT
The first stage of any effective energy management strategy, whether it incorporates compliance with the CRC or not, is accurate and comprehensive data. Only by having a full understanding of energy consumption can facilities managers identify areas for improvement,
therefore enabling the board to ensure it invests in the right areas to achieve energy savings. Accurate data will also ensure reports required for CRC compliance are precise. For many businesses this will require a step change in how they manage energy consumption and the implementation of new tools. For example, organisations need to have detailed plans in place to record and report on their emissions, and then reduce them.
Smart meters should feature as a priority in these plans. These will capture data on energy use which can then be analysed to make informed decisions on energy efficiency.
Armed with this data, participants can take a longer term view on where energy efficiency measures can be implemented; the capital investment required to deliver these actions; and the expected outcome in terms of energy, and therefore carbon and cost savings.
THE ROLE OF THE FM
It is clear FMs have a very practical role to play in the management of energy, be it compliance with legislation or developing and implementing an integrated management plan. This is because FMs often have a unique position of being able to communicate at board- level and also on the ‘shop floor’ of an organisation. So whether it’s liaising with top level management to ensure energy is being procured in the best way possible or keeping energy usage across the business to a minimum – such as monitoring heating levels and lighting use – there’s huge scope to make a real difference. Importantly, FMs need to work across the business and not approach changes to energy legislation, such as the CRC, in isolation. All work towards compliance with energy legislation needs to be part of an integrated energy management plan to ensure it is adhered to in the best possible way and ultimately energy costs are reduced.
FINDING FURTHER SOLUTIONS There is a direct link between emissions and every business’s bottom line, so energy efficiency should always be embedded into an organisation’s culture. FMs have a key role to play here in
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64