COSTS AND CARBON – IC SECTOR BALANCING ACT


concern as accurate data is the first point of any effective energy management strategy.


Only by having accurate data can organisations develop a clear picture of where and how energy is being used within their organisation. What is then important is how they use that data. Smart meters play a crucial role in allowing organisations to access the sort of specific data they need regarding energy consumption. It is then crucial the data captured by smart meters is analysed effectively and the appropriate measures implemented, as clearly data is only useful if it is acted upon.


This is where the adoption of specialist tools and services is important. npower has developed ‘encompass professional’, a sophisticated monitoring tool that analyses energy use in detail. It also combines historic data on consumption levels and energy usage with 20 year weather patterns to calculate probable future energy use. This information can then be used to devise strategies to reduce consumption, costs and carbon, improving energy management and, ultimately, cash flow.


Once an organisation has identified where energy efficiency measures can be implemented, it will need to identify if capital investment is required to make the changes. This can be particularly challenging when already facing squeezed budgets. We work with organisations to guide them through ‘capitalise’ – a stage of the energy management journey which is dedicated to improving equipment and systems to achieve long term efficiencies. An organisation may have recognised it can make reductions by replacing outdated equipment, but before taking this step, it will need to understand the impact of that change in terms of costs, disruption, potential energy and carbon savings and payback period. The ‘capitalise’ stage of an energy management journey converts high-level concepts or opportunities into actions and we fully support customers all the way through to successful project completion. The potential need for capital investment is another reason why an energy management strategy should sit at director level. However, highlighting the


payback period for any investment will be a deciding factor for boards, so we often work with organisations to ensure they are able to show the savings to be achieved by capital investments.


As organisations in the public sector look to cut costs, there should be renewed focus on the savings that can be delivered through an effective energy management strategy.


Many organisations will soon face the purchasing phase of the CRC and now, with confirmation of the implementation of a carbon floor price from 2013, it is more essential than ever that all the simple


measures are in place to avoid unnecessary costs. Organisations should not ignore the impact of simple energy efficiency savings on their bottom lines. In short, organisations should be treating the CRC as just one element of an overall energy management strategy that will provide better energy efficiency and management for the future. The challenge for organisations is to embrace this strategy and create innovative solutions to meet these demands from which they will undoubtedly benefit in the long run. For further information on npower,


visit www.npower.com


SWITCHED-ON TO GREEN TECHNOLOGY


O


ne of the most cost-efficient ways of making any building more sustainable is through fitting energy conservation technology, and one of the fastest-growing sectors in the UK is that of voltage optimisation or voltage stabilisers (VOs). These are retro-fitted electrical regulators that adjust or dampen the voltage used by large facilities, typically from the UK standard 240 volts to 220 volts.


Both the private and the public sector are alive to the benefits of VOs. A growing number of UK young offenders’ institutions and prisons, for example, are reducing their energy consumption by installing VOs. However, there are concerns that ought to be considered as part of the planning process. Notably, that installing any equipment at the source of an incoming electricity supply could have an enormous impact on your organisation, if it can affect the continuity of mains supply. Installing a bypass switch in conjunction with VO equipment provides safe working conditions during installation, testing and subsequent maintenance. It also provides continuity of supply via mains or auxiliary power in the unlikely event of a VO failure.


At one institution in the Midlands, for example, when the VO was fitted, a 1250A bypass switch with in-built line protection was also installed. The bypass switch facilitated easy installation of the


VO, enabling all the cabling to be laid, connected off- load and tested, before switching to the stand-by


generator for final mains connection. Crucially,


following an initial site survey, the electrical contractor,


Advanced Electrical Services (YKS) Ltd,


was able to work with Switchgear Systems to plan and design the installation beforehand, minimising the contractor’s time on site, reducing costs, and freeing the contractor to concentrate on satisfying their customer. The bypass switch panel was also specially configured to fit the available small space in the compact switch room.


“Switchgear Systems offers a very tailored and flexible service to budget and on time which facilitated far quicker installation,” says Lee Johnson, Operations Director for AES. “Having discussed what we needed with them, they designed and manufactured the whole unit, including a bespoke side connection box that really saved me time in marshalling the cables” www.switchgear-systems.com


PUBLIC SECTOR SUSTAINABILITY • VOLUME 1 ISSUE 3 27


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