ENERGY EFFICIENCY FEATURE Giving energy efficiency the GREEN light
The 18th Edition will constitute one of the biggest shake-ups to the UK Wiring Regulations to date. With this brings a renewed focus on the energy efficiency plight and the integral role that the modern electrical engineer has to play in helping customers to reduce their energy use and carbon footprint while, in turn, boosting their green credentials. Mahendra Mistry, technical manager for electrical systems at Bureau Veritas, discusses
T
he advent of sustainability is undoubtedly transforming the role of the modern electrical
engineer. Today, the task is not only to ensure that all electrical systems and equipment are in safe and working order, but to operate in the most energy-efficient manner possible. A large driver has been the Government’s growing green agenda. While we are one of the most successful countries in our carbon reductions, there is still huge progress to be made towards reducing emissions by 80 per cent on 1990 levels before 2050, with the commercial energy landscape playing a big part. Currently, non-domestic buildings in the UK account for 17 per cent of our energy consumption and 12 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. Thereby a majority proportion of our green economy lies with the UK’s business and industry; particularly as they are usually bigger premises than domestic properties so energy efficiency measures are more cost effective. This is seen in a raft of green initiatives and legislations with the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), the ErP Directive, Energy Performance Certificates, the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, the Waste Resources Action Plan (WRAP) and more. Increasing onus is being placed on the electrical
engineer who must play a major role in this transition by developing in-depth knowledge of the latest green products and solutions. Yet until this point, there has been no official best practice regulation around the design and installation of energy efficient technology – meaning it has been all too common for installations to be chopped and changed, with little regard to the distribution of electricity or potential losses. Cue the arrival of the 18th Edition this July (2018), which, for the very first time, goes beyond looking solely at safety requirements and includes a new section that ensures energy efficiency is incorporated into electrical installation designs. Comprising 25 pages of expert guidance,
the new Part 8 takes a different approach to electrical installations, with a view to lessening environmental impact, reducing energy losses and energy costs, using energy only when required and potentially at a lower tariff, reducing maintenance by ensuring equipment is installed correctly, and enhancing general life-time efficiency. Key energy efficiency performance measures include replacing traditional standard
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filament, halogen and fluorescent lights with super-efficient LEDs as one of the easiest ways to cut energy costs. Boasting a typical lifespan of up 70,000 hours, which is eight times that of traditional options, switching to LED lighting can help businesses reduce a lighting energy bill by as much as 90 per cent. Also, because LEDs are typically low voltage, they can also negate the risk of electric shock. Another important area is that of the electric
vehicle. Amid the backdrop of a turbulent fuel market, recent years have seen a remarkable surge in demand for electric vehicles in the UK, particularly in the commercial realm, as more businesses come to realise the huge savings that can be achieved by switching to a greener fleet. In fact, more than 100 companies have now promised to integrate electric cars into their corporate fleet under the government-backed electric car campaign Go Ultra Low. While this is great news for the green economy, there has been an underlying concern about the charging infrastructure that is being installed to support this growth, and whether it is being done safety and correctly. Equally, power factor correction is covered, being an increasingly sought out energy-efficient measure that employs the use of high-quality, reliable capacitors that compensate for any re-active non-working reactive power demand; restoring power factor as near to unity as possible. In this way, power correction units can achieve significantly reduced power consumption and CO2
emissions,
along with lower electricity bills – another great revenue stream for electrical engineers. Further measures covered in Part 8 include
guidance around the best practice installation of transformers and cables, with a view to negating losses through the installation of more energy-efficient models supported with a strategic design, alongside with
guidance on smart metering, load balancing and harmonics, and more. Although all of this, of course, is nothing new – it is a clear sign of the times and the growing sense of urgency around energy efficient technology and smart installations. The good news for the electrical contractor in the know is that it will help coerce even greater demand for smart solutions and open up new opportunities. As such, the recommendation is for electrical engineers to invest time and resources into familiarising themselves with Part 8 of 18th edition and the changes it brings. Indeed, it may mean time off the tools and extra training, but the likelihood is it will pay dividends in the years to come. Plus, the good news is that help is at hand with
many leading organisations offering dedicated support to help contracting firms ensure they are trailblazing the best practice guidance detailed in the 18th Edition. Bureau Veritas, for example, is able to offer technical expertise and support to alleviate the growing complexity of electrical specification and installation and will be launching a package specifically around the 18th Edition, the changes and what it means. Amid new legislation and a volatile fuel market,
there has never been a better time for the electrical engineer to upsell smart solutions to commercial clients. Not only is it important in terms of legislative compliance and environment, it can have a remarkably beneficial impact to any company’s bottom line. With the arrival of Part 8 marking a landmark step forward for sustainability, it is time to give energy-efficient consultancy the green light.
www.bureauveritas.co.uk
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