Energy Management
consumption can energy managers set benchmarks, identify areas for improvement, and prepare the business case for the board to ensure it invests in the right areas to achieve energy savings.
Organisations which operate across numerous sites often find it difficult to see where areas of inefficiency are present as electricity is measured through one central meter. Accurate data is needed for cost-cutting and for legislative compliance, and can often be achieved by submetering.
As an expert in metering, npower is able to provide the required primary metering and submetering infrastructure for all utilities (gas, power, water, steam etc.) to collect data across and throughout the premises. If operating a number of similar sites, energy managers can compare the energy performance of each site against good practice guidelines. Typical examples of simple improvements include upgrading controls, checking set points, and equipment replacement.
Monitoring To correctly analyse and interpret
the large volume of interval data that a metering infrastructure provides, it is essential to use a monitoring system to generate information. As a result, steps can then be taken to control energy consumption and carbon emissions. Building on the data gathered through measurement, energy managers can use monitoring technology to gain greater insight and therefore control over a building’s energy usage levels.
Energy management systems, such as npower’s encompass, allow energy managers to spot any discrepancies in energy usage, which can highlight problems. This is particularly useful for buildings which are empty for several weeks of the year, as energy managers can make sure it is kept at the optimum temperature for energy efficiency.
An accurate energy monitoring system is also important for companies taking part in the CRC and the European Union Emission
Trading System (EU ETS). It is essential for companies in the CRC to know what their energy consumption is and to have a plan to reduce it year on year. Using energy monitoring systems, energy managers can track their carbon consumption against forecasts to ensure they stay within the purchased emissions allowances.
Minimise Energy use can be minimised
through a number of highly-effective methods, such as in-house training, equipment optimisation, or on-site generation. By implementing one or more of these schemes, a company can reduce energy wastage and encourage employees at all levels to become more aligned to the ideology of cutting energy usage and increasing efficiency.
One of the quickest and most effective ways to improve energy efficiency for any business is to alter the behaviour of employees working in the building. Small actions such as only lighting occupied rooms and using timers and thermostats to regulate heating can produce significant savings. Many organisations find it useful to appoint an ‘energy champion’, who takes responsibility for initiating small-scale efficiency practices, and reminds colleagues of steps they can take to reduce their energy usage.
On a larger scale, some companies find that a dedicated energy management team is effective in positively altering the behaviour of staff and at raising issues of energy usage to the board. This energy management team can be part of the internal team, or this task can be outsourced to an external supplier.
Only by integrating energy management and carbon reduction strategies into all aspects of the business can the risk become more managed – examples of the affected business areas being capital planning; property selection; maintenance programmes; procurement; working practices and staff training. This integrated approach ensures existing property and utility equipment is working at
optimum efficiency, according to the demand or usage.
In addition to minimising energy consumption from existing plant and equipment, organisations can also implement cost effective on- site energy generation projects such as solar photovoltaic panels (PV), microgeneration or wind turbines.
Generating solar energy is an effective solution for businesses looking to minimise both costs and carbon emissions. Solar PV panels require only daylight - not direct sunlight - to generate electricity, making them incredibly efficient as businesses will often be able to utilise 100% of the electricity they generate during the day, drastically reducing energy costs and emissions.
The benefit of having solar panels installed by an energy supplier is that they are also able to help with the set-up and management of Feed- in-Tariffs (FITs), and monitor any additional electricity that businesses buy from or sell to the national grid. FITs provide a payment of up to 43.3p for every unit of electricity generated, regardless of whether it is used on site or exported back to the grid.
Micro CHP (combined heat and power) and ground source heat pumps also provide other routes for companies to generate their own heat. Using renewable technology to produce energy can again help with meeting CRC and EU ETS quotas.
Taking into consideration the various options discussed above, it is evident that energy providers are not only knowledgeable to provide support on issues of procurement, management and generation, but are ideally placed to do so. With companies facing internal reudction targets and industry-wide legislation, sub-contracting some of this responsibility enables them to benefit from the knowledge and experience of an expert, giving them more time to concentrate on their business.
www.npower.com/Large-business
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