BUILDING CONTROLS
How voltage optimisation can save money and reduce carbon footprint
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Wayne Cramer, chief executive and founder of GWE, explains how voltage optimisation (VO) is a solution that could help building services providers with a way to cut energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint
reating and managing an efficient building has many moving parts. Lighting, heating, water, drainage, air conditioning and fire detection are all
crucial elements to a safe and secure environment, many of which require energy to sustain. Energy bills have been rising significantly over recent years and a recent Energy Insights Report found that 92% of organisations feel that energy costs are posing a threat to business profitability and competitiveness. Not only is there increasing pressure for businesses trying to control their costs, but there’s a growing focus on sustainability and the carbon footprint of buildings. The buildings and construction sector contributes significantly to global climate change, accounting for about 21% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In 2022, buildings were responsible for 34% of global energy demand and 37% of energy and process-related CO2 emissions. Many building services providers are keen to find a way to reduce energy costs, as well as operate premises in a more sustainable and energy-efficient manner but aren’t sure where to start and how it will impact both their business and bills.
The question is what solutions are there that can help building services providers reduce both the costs and carbon footprint of premises, without compromising on the day-to- day operations?
How does voltage optimisation work?
One solution that can reduce both a building’s carbon footprint as well as its energy bill is voltage optimisation (VO). Electrical equipment in the UK is designed to work at 220 volts, however, the national grid can supply businesses and homes with up to 253 volts. The difference is not only wasted energy, but it also costs money and can cause equipment to wear out sooner through continual overload. Voltage optimisers are designed to regulate and optimise voltage levels and ensure the best energy efficiency without compromising
on performance. This energy-saving solution reduces the voltage supplied to electrical equipment and re-aligns it with the equipment’s actual requirements. VO involves regulating or optimising the incoming power supply by identifying the ideal voltage for the building’s appliances, machinery and other electrical equipment, which in turn reduces wasted energy. Using VO could have a substantial impact on energy use, reducing consumption by up to 19%. On top of that, VO ensures the equipment operates at its most efficient levels and avoids electrical overload, prolonging the lifespan of equipment – a further benefit when it comes to costs and sustainability.
How to calculate potential energy savings
To fully understand the potential benefits, there are a few ways for buildings services providers to calculate this.
Undertaking an energy audit of a building helps to fully understand how much energy it is using and what it is costing annually in energy bills. Armed with information on historical energy bills, the most energy-intensive equipment and consumption patterns, building services providers can work with a VO manufacturer and supplier like GWE to calculate how much money could be saved.
Overloading equipment shortens its overall lifespan, but there is equipment that’s particularly sensitive to overload such as non- LED lighting and some heating elements. These items are likely to ‘burn out’ faster and have a reduced lifespan if constantly overloaded.
Installing voltage optimisation
After a report has been carried out to determine how much energy could be saved by installing VO, it’s time to consider the installation and best solutions. To start with, an installation survey, which looks at the physical elements, will help to determine where, when and how to fit the VO equipment, including whether it needs to be installed outside the building. From the results, the team working on the project can specify the best solutions, as well as calculate the full kit price. Part of the calculations can also outline the payback timescales for how long it will take for a full return on their investment; usually between just 6-24 months.
Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk For buildings services providers, VO is an
incredibly compelling, straightforward and quick-return energy saving initiative, where clients see both cost and energy reductions, resulting in a reduced carbon footprint. The fact that the resulting cost savings can be accurately calculated and presented to the customer before the project starts, should make VO a clear investment for them and an easy sell for the electrical contractor.
VO in action
ASDA has implemented a VO solution to address its energy use and emissions. Since installing GWE’s eco-max system, ASDA has seen an overall energy reduction of 27% and a saving of more than £587,000 each year. So successful was the installation that the payback period for the VO unit was achieved in just 8 months. Another business that has started to roll VO out across its properties is Ashley Hotels, which has more than 23 years’ experience in developing and managing hotels. Having already installed voltage optimisers in several of its other premises, Ashley Hotels wanted to roll this out to both its Mercure Salisbury White Hart Hotel and the Aparthotel Farnborough SACO. The business’ aim was to reduce energy consumption, lower energy bills, and follow initiatives and regulations that promote energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions – notably The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) and the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES).
Following the installation by Optimized Energy at the Mercure Salisbury White Hart Hotel and the Aparthotel Farnborough SACO, the premises reported a 10% and 12.5% reduction in energy consumption respectively, saving a combined £57,000 in energy costs per year. Payback on VO investment was less than eight months for the Mercure and six and a half months for the Aparthotel. VO is a proven, reliable technology which can save significant amounts of energy, money and carbon emissions. It’s estimated that just 50,000 properties in the UK have VO fitted, with a further 2.5 million potential properties that would be suitable for the technology. With sustainability and cost savings two of the most pressing concerns for any building services provider, the ability to save up to 19% energy consumption by installing a voltage optimiser is a compelling undertaking.
BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JUNE 2024 17
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