ENERGY
The air tightness has also helped lower the number of air changes per hour. Before the improvement works, air pressure tests were carried out which revealed there was an average of 12 air changes per hour in the bungalows. This means that if the heating was on, it would need to heat the air 12 times in a 60 minute period. After the improvement works, the average air change per hour went down to 2.9. Knowsley Housing Trust is now looking at ways to get this down even further. The residents are also beginning to see firsthand how beneficial the changes are, with one tenant reporting a 75 per cent reduction in their energy bills over the winter period.
CLOSER TO HOME
The materials and applications used by Knowsley Housing Trust on its bungalows can in theory be used on different buildings and construction types, regardless of what previous works have been carried out. The added bonus of using these methods is that it causes minimal disruption, meaning the buildings can still be used while work is being carried out and costs are kept as low as possible.
Although the public sector doesn’t know what targets the government will set it to help the country achieve an 80 per cent carbon reduction by 2050, it does know that changes are on their way and needs to start preparing for these.
There is the issue of how building improvement works are going to be funded. Knowsley Housing Trust was able to carry out the improvements on the bungalows thanks to £800K of investment from its parent company, the First Ark Group. Whether the government provides support or the sector has to find private backing, finance needs to be made available if the sector is to do its bit to help climate change. While there is a significant outlay to find, the social and environmental benefits of bringing the public sector estates up to a high standard of energy efficiency are huge. But the public sector needs to act now if it is going to make a positive difference in time for the 2050 targets.
@knowsleyhousing
SPENDING LESS, GETTING MORE: THE IMPORTANCE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN
E THE PUBLIC SECTOR
nergy efficiency means lower bills, reduced running costs, greater longevity and improved reputation, but some local authorities remain cautious in embracing the issue. Ahead of Energy & Environment Expo, Fergus Bird, Group Event Manager, UBM Live, examines the many opportunities
open to the public sector.
The green agenda is not a new topic of conversation among local authorities. Councils have a duty to promote the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of their communities and it’s generally well-known that implementing measures to save energy ticks all three of these boxes.
Indeed, a study by a group of scientists at Newcastle University found that 100% of local authorities in the 28 urban areas investigated planned to take steps to increase energy efficiency in their area. And why wouldn’t they? Doing so helps to save money that can be spent elsewhere, demonstrates good overall management, reduces maintenance costs, improves the lifespan of equipment, reduces pollution and helps put the UK on course to achieve important CO2 targets set by government and the EU.
However, while many authorities are aware of the importance of saving energy and have good intentions towards doing so, many remain unsure where to begin. With councils spending a total of £750m per year on energy, and the Department for Energy and Climate Change estimating that bills will increase by 20% by 2020 (or as much as 30% for heavy users), this knowledge gap needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. The forthcoming Energy & Environment Expo (formerly the Energy Solutions Expo), which takes place on 17-19 June at London’s ExCel Centre, is a good place to start, providing visitors with access to the widest possible range of products, services and – vitally – experts across the built environment sector, catering to a range of knowledge levels. Some of the most basic energy measures, for example – and those which are often overlooked for seeming too ‘simplistic’ – merely involve switching off; encouraging staff to turn off lights and computer equipment, and to use heating and cooling appliances more mindfully. Office equipment, such as computers and printers, account for 30% of an office’s energy bill, but simple behavioural measures can reduce this figure. Lamia Shamma from RIBA Enterprises will be on hand during the expo to discuss the ways local authorities and other organisations can get their staff on board with energy saving measures. Facilitating behavioural change doesn’t happen overnight, but there is
a wealth of ‘quick wins’ open to local authorities. Addressing lighting, for example, is a good launch pad into energy efficiency. Low-energy lighting uses 75% less energy than traditional systems, and lasts 10 times as long.
Turning down the thermostat by one degree, meanwhile, reduces fuel consumption by 8%. However, having already implemented quick win measures often becomes something of a barrier to further pursuing energy efficiency. At the expo, Andre Burgess of EMVC Solutions will make the case for pushing efficiency efforts further, arguing that energy efficiency investments need to be viewed as strategic, value-creating investments rather than mere cost-saving measures.
Simple routine maintenance, for example, is often overlooked by decision-makers considering energy management (organisations are likely to allocate a higher proportion of their energy budget to capital spend than to maintenance), and yet a poorly maintained boiler can drive up costs by 10% and air-conditioning systems by 60%, and result in shorter equipment lifespans and unnecessary repair costs. Insulation is another value-creating investment. Two thirds of heat lost from government buildings escapes through walls, floors and ceilings, and while adequate insulation helps slash heating and cooling costs, it also creates a more comfortable environment for the building’s occupants, having the beneficial knock-on effect of boosting morale and productivity. Energy price rises and supply security are two of the most commonly cited concerns for organisations, which is why renewable technology is rapidly taking centre stage on the energy landscape. At the expo, Raoul Tufnell of Belectric will be discussing the many benefits solar power can yield, including reduced energy costs, subsidies revenue and supply guarantee, as well as the opportunities available to local authorities throughout the UK.
The Renewable Heat Incentive roadshow will also be on hand at the expo. The much-discussed RHI scheme remains poorly-understood by many, so seminars and debates from top-level speakers will take place to give attendees an in-depth grasp of the new tariffs, eligible technologies and application processes involved in this potentially lucrative new programme, which many councils are already taking advantage of. Local authorities have a large sphere of influence and are well-placed to guide their communities towards a low-carbon society and ensure their own financial sustainability, but long-term, strategic planning is necessary to do so. All too often knowledge gaps, hesitation and doubt prove formidable barriers to the measures that can benefit many. However, armed with the right tools and information, these barriers can be overcome.
The Energy & Environment Expo takes place on 17-19 June 2014 at London’s ExCel Centre.
www.energy-enviro-expo.com PUBLIC SECTOR ESTATES MANAGEMENT • MAY 2014 27
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