NEWS INDUSTRY ENERGY-SWITCH SAVINGS COLLEGE CUTS ENERGY USE BY 65%


Businesses are in the dark on energy purchasing as new research shows that nearly half (47%) have never switched suppliers or tariffs, with one in five not knowing that switching is an option for them. Three-quarters of SMEs – which equates to approximately 3.9 million businesses – believe they pay too much for their utilities and almost the same number (75%) understand there are savings to be made. Following recent consumer switching campaigns, the study,


published by Utilitywise, explores what businesses know about energy switching and found that despite feeling they pay too much, there is a lack of understanding about the options or perceived barriers that stop them taking action. Although one in five (20%) businesses switched in the last


year, many others avoided moving to new suppliers and tariffs due to the belief it is not worth the hassle (28%) and the return would not outweigh the time it takes to organise (20%). Andrew Richardson, Deputy CEO of Utilitywise, said: “There has been much in the news about domestic customers switching to get better energy deals, which is positive in terms of building a competitive market place and educating consumers about energy. Businesses can do the same and there are real savings to be made. However, it is daunting and more complicated for commercial enterprises to navigate switching as they may have a number of sites, meters and different contracts – this is where working with Utilitywise can help. “Our teams are experts and can advise on the best approach for energy management - our flexible purchasing team has saved our customers over £1.2 million in the last 12 months with an annual average of £55,000, while our fixed contract team is saving hundreds for customers on a regular basis. We can take the hassle out of switching and help businesses manage their energy better.” Over half of businesses (52%) reported that a feeling of taking the power back into their hands would encourage them to switch energy suppliers, on top of a financial motivation. A saving of £100 - £200 per year would be enough to encourage them to switch and over a quarter already believe they would save up to £300 if they were to switch in 2015. David Riches, Executive Director for Commercial, Trade and


Marketing from the British Chambers of Commerce, said: In the past year, Utilitywise has switched over 80% of new


customers to a different supplier to get the right tariff for their business. www.utilitywise.com


E


nistic monitoring and software solutions are the backbone of an energy management system at Okehampton College which has helped save £40,000 a year on energy costs. Efficient real-time


monitoring of energy use gave the school in Devon, the data needed to conduct analyses and initiate a programme of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures. The school cut its annual energy utilities bill from £100,000 to zero in 2008. The programme included


energy saving initiatives such as improved insulation and boilers, double glazing and low energy lights as well as a behaviour campaign, alongside investment in solar PV, biomass heating and a wind turbine. To date, the school has cut gas consumption by 70%, electricity by 60% and energy bills by £40,000. Using Enistic meters and software, the College has created an energy dashboard showing energy generation, consumption and the cost per hour.


Using two Enistic SUB3


meters to measure the mains inputs into the school and a Pulse Meter to measure the Solar PV generation, Okehampton College could track both consumption and generation in real-time. The data collected from


the meters flows straight into Enistic Energy Manager Software where the facilities team and the students can view real- time dashboards of energy usage, along with costs and CO2


emissions. www.enistic.com


COMPRESSOR SYSTEM UPGRADE


Following a major move from Rossendale to its 42,000 sq ft new premises in Burnley, subcontract engineering company Sparta anticipate substantial energy savings and carbon reduction from their Atlas Copco compressor system upgrade. As a starting point, Atlas Copco sales engineer John Green carried out an iiTrak data


logging survey of the existing compressor system to establish just how well it was performing. This procedure was followed up with a full report which included the recommendation to upgrade the air supply equipment with a more energy-efficient solution; one that was calculated to save approximately £14,000 per annum for the site’s electricity consumption and an annual carbon reduction of over 100 tons. Three new full-feature GA30VSD+FF oil-injected rotary screw compressors were


installed together with a central controller and ancillary equipment. The compressors and ancillaries are connected to the workplace processes via a


completely new AIRnet ring main. AIRnet is Atlas Copco’s modular air piping system, made from robust, lightweight, powder-coated aluminium tube and designed for easy, low-cost installation with a large selection of engineered polymer fittings. Atlascopco www.atlascopco.com


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