Energy Advice - Focus on Energy - East Ayrshire · 2014. 9. 2. · Action Energy gratefully acknowledges the contribution of these organisations. Direct access to Action Energy can

A practical introduction to reducing energy billsFocus on Energy

Tel 0800 58 57 94 www.actionenergy.org.uk

Introduction

Using Focus on EnergyIntroduction

Focus on Energy is publishedby Action Energy which is a CarbonTrust programme.

This second edition of FOCUS has beenproduced with the assistance of a number of FOCUS users who providedfeedback on the original publication and suggestions for its revision.

Business & Environment NetworkDudley Metropolitan Borough CouncilEast of Scotland WaterEcodyn EnvironmentalGovernment Office for the West MidlandsMG RoverRover PowertrainScottish Energy Efficiency OfficeSEA LtdSouth Ayrshire Energy AgencyWarwickshire County Council

Action Energy gratefully acknowledgesthe contribution of these organisations.

Direct access to Action Energy canbe made by telephone or by website.

0800 58 57 94www.actionenergy.org.uk

How can Focus on Energy benefit your organisation?

It can help you save money throughthe better use of energy. As well assaving money you will also be helpingthe environment as the use of fossilfuels is a major source of carbon dioxide– a key contributor to climate change.

It is a collection of checklists that will enable you to focus on provenopportunities for energy saving.

It is divided into a number of sections,for example lighting, electricalequipment and compressed air, eachcovering an area of energy consumption.(Steam boilers, refrigeration and processplant are not covered, as these requirespecialist knowledge – For furtherinformation call the Action EnergyHelpline 0800 58 57 94.)

It is flexible. You can choose what todo and when to do it. The more youdo, the more you save!

It is an ideal introduction to energysaving and can be used by any size, or type, of organisation.

It is a starting point – it is not intendedto be a comprehensive guide to energymanagement. The sooner you start,the sooner you will make savings!

It is divided into a number ofsectionsto help you tackle energyefficiency for your organisation. You donot have to use each section in order.If you think lighting is what you wantto do, then go straight to that section.

Using Focus on EnergyIntroduction

How to use the checklists

A common format is used throughoutFocus on Energy.

Each item on the checklists has three main elements:

WHAT you should be looking at

WHY you should be doing it

HOW to do it

Further information is provided on:

COSTApproximate cost indicated by symbols:

£0 No cost? Cost dependent on circumstances£ Less than £10££ Less than £99£££ Less than £999££££ Over £1,000

Cost information is only indicative. Beforecommitting to any expenditure you shouldsatisfy yourself on its viability.

HOME May apply in the home – useful as part ofenergy awareness activity for the workforce.By simply including these items you canprovide an effective home checklist.

ADVICEProfessional advice should be sought

Professional advice may be needed

An equipment supplier, professionalconsultant, or other accreditedperson/organisation can provide advice. If looking for suppliers, or contractorsconsider recommendation, the EnergyTechnology List at www.eca.gov.uk or trade association listing.

CAUTIONCare required, possible health and safety issue

Where this symbol appears there may be ahealth and safety issue either as a result ofwhat you have found, or what you might do.

DONE – Tick when complete!The checklists can be used more than once!You might find it useful to take a copy, dateit, mark it and then file it for reference.

IF IN DOUBT, ALWAYS SEEK ADVICE

To get you started the savingsopportunities are categorised into three types – these are colour codedso you can easily see where you are.

NOW!Items that should be tackled as soon aspossible. The majority will not cost youanything to implement.

PAYBACKWill require money to be spent but have been shown to provide acceptablepaybacks – typically less than two years.

MOREFurther ideas, some require money,some do not, but all have been provento save energy – and money.

Interest free Action Energy Loans areavailable to fund the replacement orupgrade of existing facilities for a wide range of energy-saving projectsand products.

In addition, products purchased fromthe Energy Technology List (ETL) areeligible for an Enhanced CapitalAllowance (ECA) that allows for a 100% write off against tax.

For more information on Loans and ECAsplease see the Reference section of this guide.

ManagementGaining control and understanding

Buying energy and waterUtility purchasing

Heating, Ventilation and Air ConditioningHeating, ventilation and air conditioning

LightingGeneral internal and external lighting

Electrical equipmentSmall power, office equipment, motors & drives

Hot and cold water Hot, cold and cooling water

Compressed airBasic compressed air systems

VehiclesCommercial vehicles and cars

ReferenceThis section contains a listing of keyAction Energy publications, as well asfurther information you may find of use.

Contents


Management

Management

The key to energy efficiency ismanagement – it doesn’t matter howmuch you spend on technology, if youdon’t manage your energy resourcesefficiently, you will waste money.

It can be easier to increase theprofitability of a company by reducingenergy costs than by increasing sales orturnover. For the organisation with fixedrevenue, energy efficiency provides ameans of maximising resources.

Most energy saving activities rely onpeople – make sure that everyone iscommitted to your programme.

It may be worthwhile taking a little timeto assess the business impact of energy –in this way you can make a better case to support energy efficiency.

This section deals with the way energyresources are managed and shows variousactions you can take to save money. The savings you make by more efficientmanagement of energy can contribute to the increased performance of your organisation.

A key issue is knowing how much energyyou use, and what it costs. Remember –you can’t manage what you don’t measure.

In nearly all cases, you don’t have tomake any financial investment to savemoney. However, all the techniquesinvolve people and, in order to besuccessful, you will probably have tospend some time gaining support. Don’tforget, energy efficiency is also anenvironmental issue and should becoordinated with your organisation’senvironmental activity – e.g. ISO 14001.

The actions outlined in this sectionshould form part of a comprehensiveprogramme to help you save energy andmoney. You can carry out as many or as few of these actions as you choose –the more you do, the more you save!


PAYBACKWill require money to be spent buthave been shown to provide acceptablepaybacks – typically less than two years.


No costIs energy efficiencythe responsibility of aspecific person withinyour organisation?

Making a specificperson responsible forenergy efficiency givesit a higher profile andcreates a focal point.

• Make someone responsible for energyefficiency, including monitoring thecost of allenergy and water.

• Make sure that the person responsiblefor energy efficiency has the fullbacking of management.

• Note: In many organisations, energymanagement activities will take up onlya small amount of time each week oncesystems have been set up – but will savemoney. For the larger organisations itmight be a good idea to have more thanone person responsible.

Does your organisationhave an energy policy?

• A simple statement ofpolicy objectives willshow management’scommitment toenergy efficiency.

• The most cost effectiveenergy efficiencyprogrammes are led bymanagement example.

• Effective energyefficiency programmesproduce significantcost savings.

• Formulate a policy for energyefficiency and make sure thatmanagement is committed to it.

• Produce a statement of objectives (as simple as possible) showingmanagement’s commitment to reduce energy usage and protect the environment.

• Make sure that every employee has a copy and hang framed copies inpositions where they can be seen by both employees and visitors.

• Use team briefings and meetings as ameans of raising awareness of the costof energy.

• Don’t forget to coordinate with anyenvironmental policy that may exist.

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No cost

Professional advicemay be needed

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Management

What? Why? How? Notes

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NOW!


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NOW!

Management

Do you fullyunderstand and make use of all theinformation on yourorganisation’s energyand water bills?

Energy and water billsprovide informationessential to help youmonitor the efficiencyof your organisation.Keeping accuraterecords of consumptionand costs will enableconsumption to bemonitored andalternative tariffs and suppliers to be evaluated.

• Set up a system for recording all therelevant information from energy andwater bills.

• Record as much information as possible, noting whether bills are actual or estimated. For example, the information on electricity bills willusually include: number of units used(this will be split into day and nightunits where appropriate); MaximumDemand; Supply Capacity; Power factor.

• If night units are metered, check that consumption agrees with knownusage. This will help you to identify if equipment is being left runningovernight.

• If other billing times are identifiedseparately (evenings/weekends), check that usage can be accounted for.

• If a Maximum Demand tariff is beingused, make sure that you can accountfor the demand incurred.

Do you compareenergy and waterbills with theprevious equivalentmonth or quarter?

This is an easy way tomonitor expenditure on energy and water.Careful comparisons of consumption willidentify changes inusage and help toidentify possible areas where money is being wasted.

• Compare consumption and costsagainst equivalent periods theprevious year.

• Consider plotting trend lines ofconsumption and cost.

• Investigate any unexplained increases.

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May apply in the home

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Management

Do you carry out in-house readings ofall energy and watermeters every month?

Monthly in-house meterreadings provide data to establish patterns of energy use. Knowingregular patterns ofconsumptionisparticularly useful whenbilling periods areirregular or when billsare frequentlyestimated.

• Set up a procedure for regular monthlyreadings and recordings for all meters.

• Having got the readings, use them to plot trends of both consumption and cost.

• For larger energy users, weeklyreadings may be appropriate.

• Occasionally read at the end of theday/week and again prior to the startof the following day/week to find outwhat “out of hours” energy use takesplace. Investigate any high “out ofhours” use.

Do you look forreasons for allincreases inconsumption?

You can only deal withenergy waste if you canaccurately identify andaccount for changes inusage. Increases may bedue to faulty equipment,which might also affectproduction, orunplanned changes inworking practices.

• Where consumption rises, check allpossible procedures.

• Check that control devices, such astime switches, valves and thermostatsare operating correctly.

• Check that any changes in workingpractices have taken into accountpossible increases in energy use.

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Do you compare yourenergy use with thatof organisations inthe same sector ofactivity?

If you compare yourenergy usage withsimilar organisations,you will get a goodindication of the currentlevel of efficiency andthe potentialimprovement.

• Obtain Energy Consumption Guides for your sector of activity. These areavailable for a wide range of sectorsincluding offices, factories,warehouses, shops, hotels and schools.

• Compare your energy usage per squaremetre of floor area against nationalperformance bands.

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Management

Is heating energyusage related to outsidetemperatures?

Benchmarking againstweather data, such as‘degree days’ (ameasure of ‘heatingrequirement’) canprovide usefulinformation on theefficiency of yourheating controls.

• For guidance see Good Practice Guide310 – Degree days for energymanagement – a practical introduction.

• Degree day figures are published in the Energy & EnvironmentalManagement magazine – and onwww.actionenergy.org.uk.

• CHECK – Chart your monthly fuelconsumption against Degree days. Ifyou do not get the required ‘match’,check that your heating controls areworking properly.

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Do you set regulartargets for reduction in energy consumption?

Setting realistic targetsfor energy reductionswill help to focusattention on inefficientactivities and raise thegeneral profile ofenergy efficiency.

• Obtain data for comparable activitiesin your industrial/commercial sector.

• Identify the best two or three months’performance by your organisation.

• Set regular and achievable targetsbased onexternal and internal data.

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Do you check energyusage againstproduction levels?

Relating energy usageto production canprovide an internalbenchmark of energyefficiency.

• Set up a procedure to calculate energy performance.

• Dividing energy used each month byproduction data for the equivalentperiod will give a performance factor(such as kWh per tonne of product).

• Monitor trends in the performancefactor to identify efficient andinefficient working practices.

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Management

Have you identifiedthe key people whocan help save energy?

In most organisations,there is limited timeavailable for energyefficiency activities. To be most effective,identify the people whocan play a key role insaving energy. Obvioustargets are thoseresponsible for plant,equipment and buildings(e.g. productionmanagers, maintenancecrew, etc.).

• Identify the people who can play a keyrole in saving energy. Don’t forget theless obvious people – caretakers andsecurity staff have an important rolein saving energy.

• Make the involvement of key people inenergy efficiency activities a priority.

• You can use techniques such as team-building to develop awareness andinvolvement.

Do you continuouslypromote the benefitsof energy efficiencyto everyone in yourorganisation?

Energy efficiencyprogrammes mustinvolve all members ofthe workforce. Youcan’t expect to achievehigh levels of energyefficiency and makecost savings unless youcontinuously involve allmembers of theworkforce in theactivity.

• Ensure that all people become aware of the benefits of energy efficiency.

• Use team briefings and meetings andsimilar activities to convey simple good housekeeping practices, such asswitching off unnecessary lights,closing doors and windows when theheating is on, switching offunnecessary equipment, etc.

• Provide the maximum of usefulinformation to people. You can usemeetings for this purpose and postinformation on bulletin boards, etc.

• Use a range of activities to promoteenergy efficiency.

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Management

Do you make full useof the energyefficiency literatureand videos that areavailable?

There is plenty ofeducational andpromotional materialavailable. Literatureavailable includes GoodPractice Case Studiesand Guides, FuelEfficiency Booklets andConsumption Guides.Promotional materials,such as posters andvideos, covering bothmanagement andtechnical issues, are also available.

• Contact Action Energy on0800 58 57 94 or visit the website atwww.actionenergy.org.uk

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Does yourorganisation includeenergy efficiency inall specifications forbuying new plant andequipment?

Cost savings achievedthrough lower runningcosts can significantlyoutweigh higher initialpurchase costs.

• All plant and equipment specificationsshould include energy efficiency.

• People responsible for purchasing orhiring new plant and equipment shouldreceive training in energy efficiencyawareness.

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15 Has your organisationtried running asuggestion scheme forenergy saving ideas?

Encouraging people tosuggest how to reduceenergy and water costscan often produceworthwhile ideas.

• Consider setting up a suggestionscheme for energy cost saving ideas.

• It is important that all ideas arediscussed with the individual puttingforward the idea.

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16 Are all newemployees informedabout energy policies and procedures?

It is essential that newemployees be informedabout your organisation’scommitment to goodenergy management.

• Ensure that energy efficiency practicesare included in all induction programmes.

• Ensure that new employees receiveand read a copy of your organisation’spolicy on energy efficiency.

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Management

Does your organisationpublicise its energysavings successesboth internally andexternally?

External publicity on energy efficiencyactivities can enhance the imageof your organisation(particularly if theseare linked withenvironmentalimprovements).

Internal publicitymaintains the highprofile required tosustain effort by allinvolved.

• Opportunities for cost effectiveexternal publicity can includeproviding stories for local papers,radio and television, writing articlesfor trade journals, etc.

• Give feedback to people throughregular meetings, internal publications(memos, magazines, etc.), posters andbulletin boards.

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PAYBACK

Management

Do you providetraining in energyefficiency for keyemployees?

Don’t expect people tobe aware of energyefficiency techniques ifappropriate training isnot provided!

• Identify key people.

• Identify both organisational andindividual training needs and scheduletraining programmes.

• Carry out initial training and regularrefresher training.

• Review the effects of training againstthe data obtained from yourorganisation’s energy monitoring.

• Check if there are any training grants available.

? Cost dependent on circumstances

19 If your energy billsexceed say, £10,000per year, has aformal energy auditbeen carried out?

An in-depth review ofenergy use will identifywhere energy costsavings can be made.The review will help toimplement an integratedenergy policy.

• Every five years, carry out an energyaudit either in-house or using anexternal consultant.

? Cost dependent on circumstances

Professional adviceshould be sought


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MORE

Management

Have you fittedsub-meters to energyintensive plant andequipment?

Individually monitoringthe energy consumptionof energy intensiveplant and equipmentwill provide useful data.

• Identify those items that have asignificant energy consumption andconsider fitting sub-meters to them.

• Record energy consumption from theindividual sub-meters and reviewagainst performance/production data.

Note: For new buildings & refurbishments,sub-metering is a requirement of Part L2of the Building Regulations.

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21 Are any incentivesgiven to people toencourage goodhousekeepingpractices?

People are more likelyto carry out goodhousekeeping measuresif they themselves,are benefiting.

• Consider setting up a scheme tomaintain interest in energy efficiency.

• As personnel reward programmes can bedifficult to administer, incentives couldinclude improvements to facilities orgiving a donation to a nominated charity.

£££ Less than £999

22 When savings aremade through energy efficiency, is a percentagereinvested in futureefficiency activity?

Reinvesting a portion of savings in additionalenergy efficiencymeasures will generatefurther savings andshow the commitmentof your organisation to energy efficiency.

• When an energy efficiency programme is being planned, make sure that apercentage of the planned savings isreserved for investment in futureprogrammes.

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Buying energyand water

Buying energy and water

Using energy efficiently is fundamental inmanaging and maintaining energy costsbut ensuring you are on the right tariffcan result in some immediate savings.Money saved through tariff changes can(then) be used for energy saving projectsto generate further savings.

Check if there are any alternative,lower cost, equivalent quality energysuppliers. A change of supplier is apaper exercise that can be quicklyundertaken – pipes and cables remainthe same.

Money can also be saved by reducingwater and sewage bills.

This section deals with the way you buy energy and water and shows variousactions you can take to save money.Don’t forget that opportunities foralternative sources of supply of both gas and electricity are increasing. Thesavings you can make by more effectivepurchasing of fuels and utilities willcontribute to the increased financialperformance of your organisation.

This section concentrates on techniquesrather than technology. In all cases, youdon’t have to make any financialinvestment to save money – the onlything that might slow you down is finding out the necessary information.

The actions outlined in this sectionshould form part of a comprehensiveprogramme to help you save energy andmoney. You can carry out as many or asfew of these actions as you choose – the more you do, the more you save!

NOW!All items in this section should betackled as soon as possible. They shouldnot cost you anything to implement.


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NOW!Do you check that allincoming bills areaccurate?

Even the largestsuppliers can makeerrors on bills. Notchecking bills couldlead to wasting money.It is important to checkthat estimated figuresare reasonable for theperiod they represent.

• Check carefully all incoming invoicesagainst your in-house meter readings.

• If you don’t already take your ownmeter readings, set up a scheme to do so.


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2 Is an annual checkcarried out to makesure that you are onthe correct tariff?

The most appropriatetariffs for yourorganisation maychange from year toyear. Tariff prices andstructures are usuallychanged on an annualbasis. The pattern ofconsumption in yourorganisation may havealtered due to changedworking patternsor practices.

• Carry out a yearly review of tariffs anduse the one that is most appropriateto your needs.

• Ask your supplier for advice on tariffs.

• You will only be able to identify thebest for your organisation if you cansupply accurate data on patterns ofdemand. You can use the data onconsumption patterns from your in-house readings for this purpose.

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3 If your site has morethan one gas meter,have they beenaggregated into asingle account?

If your site has morethan one meter,aggregating supplies mayreduce standing and unitcharges. Aggregatingminor supplies mayenable you to obtainbetter rates.

• Check that all metered supplies areaggregated for billing purposes.

Note: Aggregating is a paper exercisethat does not require any physicalalteration to meters.

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NOW!Is a specific personresponsible forchecking all billsreceived from energyand water supplycompanies?

It is essential thatsomeone in yourorganisation hasdetailed knowledge ofhow energy and watercharges are calculated.Energy and water costscan be minimised byselecting the mostappropriate tariffs – but first, you mustunderstand how thetariffs work.

• Make sure that a specific personunderstands how bills are calculatedand is responsible for checking allenergy and water bills.

• Obtain tariff booklets from suppliersof energy and water for detailedinformation.

• If there is any doubt about the waycharges are calculated, contactsuppliers for information.

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5 Is the amount ofenergy that is usedovernight monitoredregularly?

Information onovernight consumptionwill enable you todetermine whetherchanging to a cheapernight tariff would beworthwhile. Manyorganisations withdaytime only workingare not aware that theyare also using a lot ofelectricity during off-peak periods whenpremises areunoccupied.

• Arrange for your meters to be read dailyfor 1 or 2 weeks of normal working.

• Readings should be taken both at the endof the day and first thing in the morning.(If you are on a 2-rate tariff already then the meter will have high and lowreadings.) Very sophisticated tariffsrequire more sophisticated meters.

• Calculate average hourly usage bydividing the units consumed by thenumber of hours between readings.

• Check whether overnight consumptionmatches essential plant and equipment use.

• If overnight consumption is necessary,look for alternative cheaper night tariffs.


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NOW!Do you make thebest use of cheaperrate electricity?

If more than 15% oftotal electricity usageoccurs in the off-peakperiod, it is worthconsidering switchingto a day/night tariff.

• Carry out a survey of individual plantand equipment usage.

• Where possible, switch equipment useto take place in the cheap rate period.Possibilities include kilns, drying ovensand water heaters.


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7 If your organisation ison a MaximumDemand tariff, haveyou reviewed yourSupply Capacity?

The way in which yourbills are calculated willdepend on the supplierand the tariff.However, you may bepaying for capacity youdon’t need.

• Check whether your declared SupplyCapacity (or Availability) is more than15% higher than your highest MaximumDemand.

• If you reduce your Supply Capacity you will most likely be charged forincreasing it again at a later date, sobe sure before arranging a reduction.

• Contact your supply company aboutreducing the Supply Capacity.

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Care required, possiblehealth and safety issue

8 Have you looked at ways to reduceelectrical demandduring peak chargingperiods?

Where tariffs includepeak unit charges ordemand charges,reducing usage duringthese periods can makesignificant cost savings.

• Look for opportunities to re-schedulenon-essential loads in order to reduceusage during peak charging periods.

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9 If your organisation ison a monthly tariff,have you checkedthe power factor foryour site recently?

Some monthly tariffspenalise users for poorpower factors. Somesuppliers identify thepower factors on their bills.

• Establish your site’s power factor. You may find this on your bills,otherwise ask your supplier to help.

• Most suppliers of power factorcorrection equipment also offer a free check.If your power factor isbelow 0.95, you should review thepotential benefits of installing powerfactor correction.

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NOW!Have you looked for alternative,competitive suppliersof electricity?

Any electricity user isable to buy electricityfrom any authorisedsupplier. If you are still with your ‘local’supplier, you may beable to make savings by“shopping around.”

• Seek alternative quotations from anumber of suppliers.

• The regulator OFGEM maintains a listof authorised suppliers.www.ofgem.gov.uk


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11 Have alternative,competitive suppliersof gas been sought?

You can choose to buygas from any authorisedsupplier.

• Seek alternative quotations from anumber of suppliers.

• The regulator OFGEM maintains a listof authorised suppliers.www.ofgem.gov.uk

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12 If your organisationpays trade effluentcharges, are thesechecked carefully?

If your organisation ispaying trade effluentcharges, a charge isusually made fordisposal of a proportionof incoming water asdomestic sewage. Theremainder is charged astrade effluent. As thecharge for domesticsewage is generallyhigher than the chargefor disposing tradeeffluent, you may bepaying more thannecessary.

• Establish how the sewage charge is calculated.

• Check that the proportion fordomestic sewage corresponds to thenumber of employees.

Note: As a general rule, you canestimate a requirement of 13m3 peremployee per year, or 50 litres perperson per working day.

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NOW!If you use heatingoil, do you belong toan oil purchasingconsortium or group?

Buying oil in largerquantities enablesbetter discounts to benegotiated.

• Use the consortium to negotiate betterdiscounts. You may also get otheruseful information from theconsortium on price trends and other relevant matters.

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14 Does your organisationtry to avoid smalldeliveries of oil?

Oil companies offerbetter prices for larger deliveries.

• Try to avoid small deliveries.

• Talk to your suppliers and find outwhat quantity discounts exist and plan purchases around these.

• It may even be worth reviewing theamount of on-site oil storage.

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15 Are you aware ofseasonal variations in oil prices?

The price of heating oil usually drops duringthe summer months.

• If it is possible, make the best use ofseasonal prices by filling up oil tanksduring the summer months. (This willincrease the value of stock held andmay not be attractive to youraccountant!).

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16 Do you have a metered water supply?

Low quantity userspaying charges basedon the rateable valueof their property maybenefit from switchingto a metered supply.

• Check the charges on water bills.

• Estimate the cost of your annual waterconsumption based on a meteredsupply and compare with presentcharges (in office environments; onaverage, one employee requires 13m3

of water per year).

• Discuss options with the water supply organisation.

Note: Be very careful with yourcalculations – once you opt for meteredsupply, it is not normally possible torevert to a non-metered supply.


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NOW!If your organisationhas a meteredsupply, do you knowif the water meter isthe correct size?

Standing charges arecalculated according tothe size of the meter.If the meter is too

large, you may bepaying too much.

• Check the size of your meter.

• If the meter is 25mm, or less, it is unlikely that a change will bejustified. If it is larger than 25mm,compare the meter size with yourmaximum flow rate requirements.

• Contact your water supplier for assistance.


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18 Are ‘minimumcharges’ on waterbills checkedcarefully?

Unnecessary minimumcharges may beincurred due tounderestimates by thesupply organisation.

• Check that minimum charges onestimated bills are not due to anunder-estimation by the supplier.

• If you think that you have beenwrongly charged, take meter readingsand inform the supplier. If you areright, you should obtain a refund.

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19 Do you claim rebatesfor any mains water,which is notdischarged to thesewer?

Charges for the disposalof water are normallycalculated according tothe incoming meteredsupply. If more than10% of water suppliedis evaporating or isused in your products,you may be able toclaim a rebate ondisposal costs. If youcan demonstrate lossesthrough leakage, youmay also be able toobtain a rebate ondisposal costs.

• Calculate the quantity not returned to the sewer.

• Check that sewerage charges are not being paid on water that is notreturned to the sewer.

• Seek a rebate from your supplier if you think that this quantity exceeds 10% of you total fresh water supply.

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NOW!Do you pay for thedisposal of anysurface water notflowing into thewater company’sdrainage system?

You should not paydisposal charges forsurface water notentering the watercompany’s drains. (For example, ifdrained into a localwatercourse or asoakaway system.)

• Check the method of disposal of yoursurface water. If some water does notpass into the water company’s drains,check that you are not paying thewater company for disposal.

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HVAC

HVAC – Heating, ventilation and airconditioning are used to provide acomfortable working environment.

Heating can account for around 50% of the energy used in offices.

Effective insulation can reduce heatlosses by up to 90%.

Air conditioning uses expensiveelectricity and can add considerably to running costs.

Boilers are not 100% efficient – around20% of heat generated is lost up thechimney. Heat loss can increase to 30% or more if the boiler is poorlymaintained or operated.

This section deals with the way youprovide thermal comfort for yourpremises and shows various actions youcan take to reduce the cost of HVAC.The savings you can make throughdeveloping an awareness of efficientHVAC practices will contribute to theincreased financial performance ofyour organisation.

You can save money by using simpletime and temperature controls – and by understanding how your system and building should work. Heating andcooling can account for a significantamount of the money spent byorganisations on energy and even small adjustments can make bigimprovements to the workingenvironment and, at the same time,save money.

Don't forget that, to ensure the healthof staff, all buildings need adequateventilation. For safety reasons, boilersmust be maintained in the best possible condition.

Also remember that for any newbuildings or refurbishments the BuildingRegulations will specify minimum energyefficiency requirements.

The actions outlined in this sectionshould form part of a comprehensiveprogramme to help you save energyand money. You can carry out as manyor as few of these actions as youchoose – the more you do, the moreyou save!

NOW!Items that should be tackled as soon as possible. The majority will not costyou anything to implement.

PAYBACKWill require money to be spent buthave been shown to provideacceptable paybacks – typically lessthan two years.


HVAC


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NOW!Have you checkedwhether yourbuildings are heatedabove 19°C?

Most people don'trealisethat themaximum temperaturerecommended forheating is 19°C.

Costs rise by about 8%foreach 1°C.

The temperature in anarea can be above19°C, but the heatingsystem should not beproviding heat when itis over 19°C, equallythe cooling should notstart to operate as soonas 19°C is exceeded.

• Carry out regular checks on thethermostat settings.

• Discuss temperatures at team briefingsand meetings.

• Check thermostat settings of heatingto ensure that heat is not supplied toraise the temperature above 19°C.

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2 Have you checkedthe temperature ofair conditionedareas?

Unless there is aspecified requirement,air conditioned areasneed not be coolerthan 24°C.

• Carry out regular checks on thethermostat settings.

• If, because of heat gain, an area ishotter than 19°C, don't install airconditioning to reduce it unless youhave to. For many buildings thetemperature can be allowed to rise to24°C, or more, before there is a needfor air conditioning.

• Discuss cooling levels at team briefingsand meetings.

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HVAC


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NOW!Do people keepwindows and doorsclosed during thetime when theheating/airconditioning isoperating?

Windows are oftenopened because roomsare too warm. Doorsare often wedged openfor convenience. Up toone third of heatingcosts can be saved byreducing the amount ofcold air that entersyour building. Equally ifdoors and windows areleft open in thesummer heat fromoutside can add to theair conditioning load.

• Use promotional materials (posters,booklets, etc.) to encourage people notto leave doors and windows open whenheating/air conditioning is on. Getthem to adjust thermostats instead.

• Use team briefings and meetings toraise awareness of the cost of heating.

£0 No cost


£0 No cost


4 Where heating andair conditioning unitsare installed in thesame room, are theirsettings adjusted toavoid simultaneousoperation?

Simultaneously heatingand cooling wastes a lotof money.

• Set thermostats at 24°C or more forcooling and 19°C or less for heating.

• Set units in common areas to the samemode of operation (either heating andcooling) to avoid operational conflicts.

£0 No cost

5 Are peopleencouraged toreduce their heatingwhen they are toohot instead ofopening windows or doors?

Money is wasted whenwindows and doors areopened when heating is on. Turning downthermostats can increasecomfort and save money.Costs of savings ofaround 8% can be madefor each 1°C reduction in temperature.

• Use promotional materials, such asposters and stickers.

• Use team briefings and meetings to raise awareness of energy costs.

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NOW!Are your HVAC timeswitches programmedto match occupancypatterns?

Money can be saved by adjusting preheatperiods to matchweather conditions.The heat stored inradiators,and in thebuilding in general, is often sufficient toallow the heating to be switched off beforethe end of occupancy.

• Check settings on all time switchesregularly to ensure that they aredisplaying the correct time and dateand that the timings correspond to the occupancy pattern.

• Check that the heating and ventilationdoes switch off when the building is unoccupied.

£0 No cost


7 Have you checkedwhether there areany sources ofuncontrolled/unwanted heat in airconditioned areas?

Heat from uninsulatedpipework and similarsources make airconditioning equipmentwork harder andwastes money.

• Check for sources of unwanted heatand remove or insulate.

• Also look for the unauthorised use ofelectric space heaters – these mightbe used if the space is too cool for the comfort of some occupants. Adjustthermostats instead.

£0 No cost

8 Have you checked ifyour boilers continueto fire when there isno demand for heatingin work areas?

Boilers can continue tofire even when theroom thermostat orheating time switchshuts off the pump.This wastes moneyduring periods whenthere is no demand for heating.

• Arrange for the wiring to be altered sothat the thermostat and heating timeswitch shut off both the circulatingpump and the boiler(s).

? Cost dependent oncircumstances


HVAC


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NOW!Do you regularlycheck to see if HVACplant control valvesand dampers areoperating correctly?

Seized valves anddampers (or those thatwill not close properly)will waste money andresult in discomfort.

• Check that all radiator valves work.

• Check that motorised valves anddampers have full travel from open to closed.

• Make sure that hot water is notpassing through closed valves.

£0 No cost


10 Are radiators andother heatingsurfaces alwaysunobstructed?

Radiators are oftenobstructed withfurniture. This willreduce their output and lead to poorperformance andextended warm-uptimes.

• Check out the layout of your workingareas to ensure that all heat surfacesare not obstructed.

£0 No cost


11 Is your boiler plantchecked weekly?

Boiler plant operatinginefficiently will wastea significant amount ofmoney. Weekly checkson the boiler plantshould quickly detectany problems.

• Arrange for a weekly check of boilerplant. Check for: any warning lights;signs of leakage from pipework;valves; flanges and boilers; any gassmells; oil leaks; damage and burnmarks to boilers and flues; unduenoise from pumps and burners;blockage in all air vents.

£0 No cost

12 Do you adjust HVACtimes for holidays?

Heating, or cooling, anunoccupied building tonormal occupancytemperatures iswasteful.

• Ensure that someone is responsible forswitching the heating to holiday mode(i.e. frost protection level only).

Note: Where a building is partlyoccupied during holiday periods, it maybe more efficient to have local heatingonly in the occupied areas.

£0 No cost


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NOW!Have you checked tosee if air conditionedcomputer rooms arebeing maintained at the correcttemperature?

Many computer roomsare maintained atunnecessarily lowtemperatures, whichwastes money. Stabletemperatures areusually more importantthan high or lowtemperatures.

• Check and adjust computer roomtemperatures to about 25°C.

Note: Before making adjustments,check the precise system requirement.

£0 No cost


£0 No cost


14 Are filters inventilation systemsregularly checked toensure they are notblocked or creatingexcessive resistance?

Blocked filters lead toreduced airflow andincreased operating costs.

• Have filters regularly checked andreplace as required. Consider fittinggauges to indicate when replacement is required.

££ Less than £99

15 Are the settings offrost thermostatschecked regularly?

If frost thermostats areset too high, money willbe wasted – if set toolow, the system andbuilding may be at riskof damage from frost.

• Re-set frost thermostats.

• Typical settings for thermostats are:Internal 4°C External 0°C – 1°C

• Also check if the frost heating cancome on in the summer – this is notusually necessary and normally onlyoccurs when the frost thermostat isset too high.

• Make sure that they are labelled:‘Frost Thermostat’.

• Ensure that they are tamperproof.

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NOW!If you have a multi-boiler installation, do your controls‘sequence’ theboilers according to load?

To avoid wasting heat,the minimum numberof boilers should befiring at any one time.

• Check that boilers are not firing upand closing down simultaneously.

• Set individual boiler thermostats tofire on an increasing range from say,60°C to 85°C. This will ensure that theminimum number of boilers are firingto meet demand.

• Consider installing sequencing controls.

£0 No cost


17 Do you turn offheating boilersduring the summer?

Leaving boilers onduring the summer iswasteful. Pilot lightson gas boilers can usesignificant quantitiesof gas.

• Arrange for someone to turn off boilersand pilot lights in the summer and torelight them when required.

£0 No cost


19 If you have a multi-boiler installation, do you turn off un-needed boilers duringmilder weather?

Multi-boiler installationsare designed to copewith the highest levelof heat demand (usuallyduring winter). Runningthe full system duringmilder weather wastesmoney. For someinstallations one boilercan be turned off allyear round.

• Turn off un-needed boilers in mildweather. Close isolating valves to stopwater flowing through them.

• Label boilers and valves to indicatethat they are isolated.

• Don’t forget to re-open valves beforeattempting to re-start boilers.

£0 No cost


18 If you have a multi-boiler heating andhot installation, doyou use only thesmallest boiler in the summer?

Larger boilers losemore heat then smaller boilers.

• During summer, use only the smallestavailable boiler for generating hot water.

£0 No cost

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NOW!Is your boilerhouseadequately ventilatedwith all louvresandvents open andnot obstructed?

Restricting the supplyof air to a boiler canresult in a loss ofefficiency due toincomplete combustion.

Inadequate ventilationcan allow the release of potentially dangerousgases; thereforeboilerhouse ventilationis also a vital health and safety matter.

• Conduct regular checks to ensure thatventilation openings are kept free andclear at all times.

• If you have any doubts, seek adviceimmediately.

£0 No cost



21 Are your temperaturecontrols, e.g.thermostats andthermostatic radiatorvalves (TRVs) settothe correcttemperature andthen left alone?

Thermostatic controlsare often abused bybeing used as on/offswitches. This canresult in discomfort andmoney being wasted.

• Set controls and TRVs to give thedesired temperature and make themtamperproof by using locking devicesor exterior covers.

• Educate users that they need to setthermostats to their comforttemperature and then only adjust bysmall amounts.

£0 No cost


22 Do you regularlycheck your heatingsystems for leaks?

Leaking systemsrequire water losses tobe made up. Addingwater can result incorrosion, scaling andloss of efficiency.

• Check the feed and expansion tankregularly.

• If you can hear water filling the tankthrough the ball valve, it is likely thatthe system is leaking.

• If you suspect a leak, call a contractorto investigate.

£0 No cost



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NOW!Do you ensure thatall heating surfacesand filters on fanheaters are cleanedregularly?

Blocked filters and dirtbuild-up on fan heatersreduces output andresults in excessive pre-heat periods. This mayencourage people touse additional portableelectric heaters.

• Check that all fan heaters are fittedwith filters and that they are kept clean.

• Check that the cleaning of heatingsurfaces is included in regular cleaning routines.

£0 No cost

HVAC

24 Have you consideredreducing the level ofheating in some areas?

Areas such as storerooms and corridors, or areas where there isa high level of physicalactivity, require lessheat. In warehouseswarm clothing can besupplied and the heatinglowered to protect theproduct only.

• Reduce thermostat settings in areas that do not require full comfort heating.

Typical settings should be:Offices 19°CWorkshops 16°CStores, etc 10°C – 12°C

£0 No cost


25 Have you checkedyour buildings fordraughts fromredundant fireplaces,flues, stacks andchimneys?

A lot of heated air canescape from buildingsthrough thesepathways.

• Carry out a check to identify redundantfireplaces, etc.

• Blank off or remove all redundantfireplaces, flues, stacks, exhaust ventsand chimneys.

Note: For inbuilt brick chimneys fit avent at the base of the old fireplace toallow some air into the chimney toprevent damp.

If you have any doubts, seek advice,from Action Energy on 0800 58 57 94

£0 No cost





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NOW!Are ventilators thatare used for summercooling closed offbefore the heatingseason begins?

It is wasteful to allowcold air into thebuilding orto extract heated airunnecessarily.

• Make someone responsible for closing offall ventilators used for summer cooling.

• Check that ventilators are not neededfor essential purposes such as removingfumes, dust or odours.

£0 No cost


HVAC

27 Are all unused doorsand windowspermanently sealed?

Unused doors andwindows are a sourceof draughts that causediscomfort and wastemoney.

• Identify and seal doors and windows that are no longer used.

• Check that apparently unused doors and windows are not required for safetyreasons (e.g. fire escapes).

£0 No cost



28 Are your boilersproperly serviced atleast once a year?

A build-up of depositscaused by combustionwill reduce boilerefficiency.

Wear in controls andlinkages can result inpoor combustion.

Poor combustion canalso be a health andsafety risk.

• Boilers and burners should be properlycleaned and serviced at least once ayear by a qualified contractor. Theservicing should include a combustionefficiency check and adjustment of theburner air/fuel ratio for optimumefficiency in accordance with themaker's instructions.

• Instruct the contractor to maximise theboiler efficiency and provide a boilertest sheet showing the results of thetests, the boiler efficiency and themaker's quoted maximum efficiency.

• For boilers with gas atmosphericburners, combustion checks can belimited to testing gas pressure.

££ Less than £99


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NOW!Is all refrigerationplant regularlymaintained?

It is possible for chillersand other cooling plantto continue operatingat significantly reducedlevels of efficiency.

• Ensure plant is regularly maintained.This should include checking forrefrigerant charge and refrigerantleakage. Insist on a detailed andunderstandable report from thecontractor.



30 If you have gas or oilfired air heaters, arethey serviced at leastannually?

A build-up of depositscaused by combustionwill reduce heaterefficiency.

Wear on heatercontrols and linkageswill cause poorperformance.

Poor combustion canalso be a health andsafety risk.

• Arrange for a regular heater service and combustion check. Heaters andburners should be properly cleaned and serviced at least once a year by a qualified contractor.

• The servicing should include acombustion efficiency check and theburner air/fuel ratio should be adjustedfor optimum efficiency, according tothe maker's instructions.

• Instruct the contractor to maximise theheater's efficiency and to provide a testsheet showing the results of the tests,the heater efficiency and maker'squoted maximum efficiency.

£0 No cost


££ Less than £99




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PAYBACKAre windows,rooflights and doorsdraught-proofed?

Draught-proofing is alow cost and veryeffective means ofreducing heating costsand improving comfort.

• Carry out a survey of buildings toidentify where draught-proofing is needed.

• Fit draught-proofing to all externaldoors and all internal doors thatseparate cold and warm areas.

• Draught-proof all windows.

• Ensure the appropriate levels ofventilation of safety and protection of the property exist.

Note: Ensure that all combustionappliances are adequately ventilated(including gas-fired cateringequipment).



32 Are windows,rooflights and doorsdraught-proofed?

Un-insulated loft spacescan be a major cause ofheat loss. Insulationapplied to un-insulatedareas will reduce heatlosses significantly.

(For example, between100mm and 150mm ofglass fibre can reducelosses by up to 90%).

• Identify un-insulated loft areas andapply insulation where appropriate(different insulating materials havedifferent insulating values, butbetween 100 and 150mm of mostmaterials is recommended).

• When applying, ensure that there issufficient ventilation at the eaves.

• Remember to insulate any water tanksand pipes in the loft space to reducethe risk of freezing.

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33

PAYBACKAre your thermostatsand temperaturesensors located inthe right place?

Siting a thermostat in a cold or draughtyplace will result inoverheating; conversely,siting a thermostat neara source of heat maylead to underheating.

• Check thermostat locations and,where appropriate, change torepresentative locations. Make surethat they are in a free flow of air butaway from windows, heat sources anddraughts.

• If your heating controls incorporate anexternal temperature sensor, makesure it is located on a north-facingwall and out of direct sunlight or anyother sources of heat.

Note: The siting of thermostats is veryoften a compromise in order to achievereasonable temperature conditionsthroughout an area or building.

HVAC




34 Have you installedmodern electronicthermostats?

Some thermostats canallow temperatures tovary by up to 3°C fromthe set temperature.Wide variations in roomtemperature can causediscomfort to occupants.

• Replace older or inaccurate controls toallow closer control, typically a 0.5°Cvariation from the set temperature.

££ Less than £99



35 Are heated areaseffectively separatedfrom unheated areas?

If heated and unheatedareas are effectivelyseparated, draughts willbe reduced. This willresult in improvedcomfort and reducedcosts.

• Fit plastic strip curtains, swing doorsor other suitable partitions betweencold and warm areas.



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PAYBACKAre extraction fansfitted with self-closing shutters?

Cold air can enter evenwhen the fans are notrunning, producingheat loss.

• Install shutters – they are available formost makes of extractor fan.

HVAC

££ Less than £99


38 Is your heatingdistribution pipeworkappropriatelyinsulated?

Heat losses from un-insulated pipeworkcan be reduced bymore than 70% byadding insulation.

• Insulate all heating pipework (except when it gives useful heat).

££ Less than £99

37 Are extraction fansfor areas such astoilets and kitchenstime controlled?

Running extraction fansduring periods whenrooms are unoccupiedis generally notnecessary and wastesmoney. As warm air isextracted from thebuilding, the heatingsystem has to workharder, or cold draughtsare felt.

• Fit a 7 day time switch to allextraction fans that are not needed to run overnight and at weekends.

• Fit a humidistat to any extractor fanthat is used to remove moist air.

• Connect extraction fans intocontrolled lighting circuits (e.g. in small toilet areas).

• Control fans and lighting in toiletareas with occupancy sensors.

Note: In some cases Building Regulationsmay cover the operation of toilet fans.

££ Less than £99



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HVAC

££ Less than £99


39 If you have electricheating, does itswitch offautomatically whennot required?

Although direct electricheating is cheap andeasy to install, it isexpensive to run,particularly when notcontrolled. Electricheating should switchoff (or drop to areduced level)automatically whenareas are not occupied.

• Fit 7 day electronic time switches toall electric heaters.

• Or, in intermittently occupied areas,install an electronic two-levelthermostat with integral run-backtimer to switch off electric heatersafter a pre-set time.

40 Have you consideredfitting ThermostaticRadiator Valves(TRVs) to yourradiators?

If individual roomssuffer from regularoverheating, peoplewill solve the problemby opening windows –this wastes money.TRVs can provide morelocalised control,preventing rooms fromoverheating.

• Carry out a survey of rooms thatappear to suffer from overheating.

• Fit TRVs that incorporate a lockingmechanism. Ensure they are correctlyset and then locked.

££ Less than £99



41 Is your heatingsystem flexibleenough to cope withoccasional out-of-hours working?

If heating is requiredthroughout the wholebuilding, fittingextension timers is amore efficient optionthan constantlyreprogramming timeswitches. If only a partof the building is to beused,it may be moreeconomical to providelocal heating.

• Fit an extension timer whereappropriate.

• Provide supplementary portableheaters where required – ensure thatuse is limited to approved periods only.

££ Less than £99


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PAYBACKDo heaters switch offautomatically whendoors in loading bays,garages and workshopsare opened?

Large open doors resultin substantial heatlosses. If heat is cutoff when doors are

opened, there is anincentive for people to keep doors closed.

• Interlock the operation of heaters andlarge opening doors, such as loadingbay doors, so that heaters areswitched off automatically when doors are opened.

HVAC

££ Less than £99

44 If you have buildingswith high bays, have you checkedthe difference in temperaturebetween floor and ceiling levels?

Warm air rises andcollects in the roofspace where it is not needed. Largetemperature differencesincrease heat lossesthrough the roof.

• If the temperature difference isexcessive (more than 5°C), fitting a high level fan controlled by athermostat will help to bring the warm air down to working levels.


43 Can you accuratelyprogramme the time setting on your heating andventilation systems to allow forweekends, earlyfinishing and lateevening work?

Some older electro-mechanical timeswitches cannot beprogrammed fordifferent daily schedules(for example, earlierswitch-off on Fridays, or part-day switching atweekends). Someelectro-mechanical timeswitches are not preciseenough to enableswitching to be set tothe nearest 10 minutes.

• Install a 7 day electronic time switchto permit different settings for eachday and individual settings of 10minutes or less.




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PAYBACKDo you carry outperformance testingon your boilers?

Combustion depositscause an increase influe gas temperaturesand result in more heatbeing lost through theflue. Water-scale build-up can also cause fluegas temperatures to increase.

• Consider installing a flue gasthermometer.

• The boiler is ready for cleaning againwhen the maximum temperature ofthe flue gases rises by over 4°C sincethe last service.

HVAC

££ Less than £99

46 Are all heatdistribution pipes,valves and flangesinsulated?

Heat losses from pipescan be reduced by over70% by insulation.Significant heat is lostfrom valves (typicallyone valve will lose thesame amount of heat as1m of pipework) andflanges (equivalent to0.5m of pipework).

• Check all the pipes, valves and flangesaround the boiler area.

• Insulate all distribution pipework that is not contributing useful heat to work areas.

• Insulate all valves and flanges (50mm orlarger) with quick release valve jackets.

££ Less than £99


47 Are all of yourboilers correctlyinsulated?

Boilers that are notinsulated lose heat intosurrounding areas. Thiscan be a significantwaste of money.

• Check that boilers are adequatelyinsulated (minimum 50mm thickinsulation).

• If they are not adequately insulated, fit50mm thick mineral fibre mat with foillaminate to the inside of the boilercasing (many manufacturers can supplypurpose made boiler insulating units).

Note: Make sure that the insulation does not interfere with the burner or air supply to the boiler.

££ Less than £99




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PAYBACKIf there are areas in your buildings that are sometimesunoccupied, does theheating automaticallyadjust to meet thereduced demand?

Reducing thetemperature in theseareas during unoccupiedperiods will save money.2 stage thermostats canprovide much moreflexible control.

• Fit a 2 stage electronic thermostatlinked to an occupancy sensor.

HVAC



49 If you have radiantheaters, are theycontrolled by black-bulb thermostats?

Conventional thermostatsare inappropriate forradiant heating systems.Black-bulb thermostatsgive better control andconsequent energysavings.

• For radiant heater systems, replaceconventional thermostats with black-bulb thermostats. The radiant heatingsupplier should be able to provide asuitable thermostat.

££ Less than £99


50 Are all your externaldoors fitted withdoor closers?

People often fail toclose doors properly,resulting in significantheat losses.

• Fit spring-loaded door closers. ££ Less than £99


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MOREHave you checkedthat the airflowsfrom your ventilationsystems are notexcessive?

It is very common tofind excessive rates ofventilation that wasteboth heat andelectricity.

• Measure ventilation systems airflowsand opportunities for reductions, suchas closing dampers, changing fanpulley sizes, changing motors.

• Also consider the use of variable speed fans.

HVAC



52 Have you checkedwhether some partsof your buildings areregularly too hotwhile other parts areonly just warmenough?

Overheating can causea lot of discomfort andwastes money.

• Check the heat levels in the differentparts of your site.

• Use the information to re-balance yourheating system.

• You may need to fit additionalthermostats/sensors to operate localzone valves.




53 Are all roofs properlyinsulated?

Some roofs will have avery high rate of heatloss. These includeroofs made of singleskin corrugatedasbestos or corrugatediron. Losses can be asmuch as 15 timesthat of a modern, well-insulated roof.

• Look at the possibility of insulatingroofs that suffer high heat losses.Suitable methods include lining, over-spraying and under-spraying.

££££ Over £1,000



54 Are cavity wallsinsulated?

Heat loss throughcavity walls can bereduced significantly(up to two thirds) byinstalling cavity wallinsulation.

• Install cavity wall insulation whereappropriate.

££££ Over £1,000




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MOREHave you consideredinstalling suspendedceilings in buildingswith high ceilingswhich are only heated?

Suspended ceilingsreduce the volume of air to be heated.They provide additionalinsulation against heat losses. Installingsuspended ceilings may also reducelighting running costs.

• Look at the possibility of installingsuspended ceilings.

• Seek professional advice.

• In buildings which need cooling, it maybe appropriate to leave the structureexposed to absorb excess heat.

HVAC

££££ Over £1,000




56 Have you installedsecondary glazingunder rooflights?

Heat losses will bereduced by up to a half. Comfort will beimproved by eliminatingdown-draughts.

• Investigate opportunities to installpolycarbonate secondary glazing under rooflights.


57 Are all windows fittedwith double orsecondary glazing?

Fitting double orsecondary glazing can halve heat lossesthrough windows.

The comfort of peopleworking near windowsis improved.

Noise levels fromoutside areconsiderably reduced.

• Look for opportunities to fit double orsecondary glazing.

Note: This option should be consideredwhen upgrading a heating system orreplacing windows as the extra cost ofadditional glazing cannot normally bejustified by energy savings alone. Mayalso be a Building Regulationsrequirement.


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MOREHave you looked atways of reducingdraughts coming fromloading areas?

Loading bay doors area source of heat loss.Draughts from largeopen doors are likelyto cause discomfortand can result in theuse of additionalexpensive heaters.

• There are a number of options whichyou might consider, including: usingpartitioning to create a draught lobbywith inner and outer doors; fittingrapid action automatically closingdoors; fitting plastic strip curtains;installing air curtains; fittingpneumatic seals to wrap around goodsvehicles; installing wind breaks if theloading bay faces the prevailing wind.

££££ Over £1,000

59 Have you consideredinsulating flat andpitched roofs duringre-roofing work?

Older types of flat andpitched roofs oftenhave poor standards of insulation.

• Take the opportunity to install additionalinsulation to both flat and pitched roofsduring re-roofing operations.

HVAC

££££ Over £1,000


60 Is your heatingsystem zoned?

If you divide yourheating system intozones, you can ensurethat heat is providedonly when and where it is needed and avoid waste.

• Fit zone valves with time andtemperature controls where appropriate(make an allowance for frost override).

££££ Over £1,000


61 Does your heatingsystem incorporatean optimum startcontroller?

Heating can be turnedon later on mild days asshorter warm-up timesare required.An optimum startcontroller adjusts starttimes automatically andgives typical fuelsavings of 10%.

• Install an optimum start controller.

Note: Most optimum start controllers willalso provide features such as optimumstop, day economy and automatic frostprotection.




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MOREDo you use weathercompensatedcontrols for radiator systems?

A weather compensatoradjusts the flowtemperature in theheating system to matchvariations in outsidetemperature. Weathercompensators savemoney by preventingoverheating in milderweather conditions.

• When heating floor areas of over1,000m2, fit a weather compensatorand motorised valve. For smallersystems, a compensator cansometimes directly control the boiler.This is a much cheaper option andavoids the expense of installing amotorised valve.

• Compensators can be combined withother energy saving features includingoptimum start, day economy and frost protection.

HVAC



64 Have you thoughtabout using localisedheaters for areaswhere/when generalspace heating is notneeded?

Spot heating of alocalised area is often amuch cheaper optionthan trying to heat alarge area.

• Install localised radiant heaters,controlled with a push-button run-on timer.


63 Have you consideredapplying solar film towindows in airconditioned areas?

Heat is gained throughwindows not fitted withsolar film. Theadditional heat meansthat the airconditioning has towork harder and costsmore to operate.People can suffer fromboth glare and heat inrooms that face the sunand are not fitted withsolar film.

• Investigate opportunities to fit solarfilm to windows receiving directsunlight in air conditioned areas.

Note: Fitting solar film reduces lightlevels and may result in an increaseduse of artificial lighting.



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MOREIs a weathercompensatedcontroller fitted toyour off-peakelectric storageheater system?

Off-peak controllersregulate the amount ofheat stored by relatingthe start of thecharging period to theoutside temperature.This saves money andincreases comfort byreducing overheating,particularly in autumnand spring.

• Install a central weather compensated controller.


66 Have you checkedwhether extractionfans are taking awayheated air fromworking areas?

Extraction fans oftentake heated air fromworking areas, which isa waste of money.

• Where equipment is fitted withextraction fans, try to arrange for theprocess to be carried out near to anoutside wall. This will facilitate theinstallation of a fresh air inlet near tothe extractor. The fresh air inlet willprevent draughts and discomfort in themain area of the room and reduce theloss of heated air.

• Consider recovering heat from thewarm extracted air.


67 Do your ventilationsystems incorporateair recirculation?

If the system is‘straight through’ largequantities of fresh, coldair have to be heated.By limiting the fresh airto the minimumrequired significantsavings can be made.

• Where possible, modify generalventilation systems to incorporatere-circulation of extracted air.

HVAC




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MOREAre heating and hotwater supplied fromdifferent boiler plants?

Where possible, hotwater and heatingshould be supplied from different boilers.Dividing the systemallows the boilers used for heating to be switched off in the summer and saves money.

• Check your existing installation.

• Consider the possibility of installing a dedicated hot water boiler or a hotwater generator.


69 Have you comparedthe operatingefficiency of yourexisting boiler with a new boiler?

Older systems areusually less efficientthan modern systems(10 to 30%).

• Check your present boiler plant.

• If it is an older system, consider thebenefits of replacing or updating it.

HVAC

££££ Over £1,000


70 Is your boiler plantthe right size to meetthe current needs ofyour site?

You may have movedinto premises thatalready had a boiler.

Having a boiler largerthan necessary wastesmoney.

• Check whether your boiler is the rightsize to meet your current needs.

• Consider replacing plant that is too big for your needs.

• Consider installing a smallersupplementary boiler to meet periodsof lower demand.

££££ Over £1,000


71 Have you consideredusing a condensingboiler?

Condensing boilers aremore efficient as theyrecover as much of theheat as is practicallypossible from the flue gases.

• Check whether you have a condensingboiler. Look at the possibility of fittingcondensing gas boilers when existingplant is due for replacement.

Note: To gain the full benefits of acondensing boiler may require changesto the existing heating system.





Lighting

Lighting

In offices lighting can account for up to50% of the money spent on electricity.

Lights switched on first thing in themorning are often left on all day – even if they arenot needed.

Turning off lights when they are not needed is an effective way of saving money.

This section deals with the way you lightyour premises and shows various actionsyou can take to reduce the cost oflighting.The saving you can make bydeveloping an awareness of efficientlighting practices will contribute to theincreased financial performance of yourorganisation.

Very few organisations spend much timelooking at the way they light theirpremises. However, even small changes to lighting can make big improvements to the working environment and, at thesame time, save money.

Remember, the workforce is generally theorganisation’s most valuable resource, soinvolve them fully in the plans – simplyreducing lighting at the expense of work output does not make sense.

The actions outlined in this sectionshould form part of a comprehensiveprogramme to help you save energy andmoney. You can carry out as many or asfew of these actions as you choose – themore you do, the more you save!





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NOW!Do you encouragepeople to turn offlights when theyleave an area?

It is cheaper to turn off lights than to leavethem on. Improvingawareness of energywasted can save up to15%. Note: Some typesof lighting, e.g. HighPressure Sodium,cannot be quicklyturned off and back on again. In these casesfurther investigationmay be required to find the best solution.

• Use promotional materials (posters,booklets, etc.).

• Use team and staff meetings as ameans of raising energy awareness.

Lighting

£0 No cost


2 Have you thoughtabout setting up anawareness campaignto encourage peopleto make savings bybetter use of lighting?

You can make savingsof around 15% just bymaking people aware ofthe need for switchingoff unnecessary lights.

Awareness of the needfor energy efficiencyneeds to be continuallymaintained.

• Use a personal approach – briefingmeetings, in-house posters, etc. – todemonstrate the importance of goodlighting discipline.

• Use ‘switch off’ stickers, promotionalbooklets and posters.

• Remember appropriate levels of lightvary between individuals, so involveyour people.

£0 No cost

3 Can everyone easilyidentify whichswitch controls his or her lights?

Very often, individuallights are controlledfrom banks of switches.When multiple switchesare fitted, it is not easyfor people to find theright switch.

• Label light switches.

• Make sure that everyone knows whichswitch controls his or her lights.

£0 No cost


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NOW!Are you sure thatlights are switchedoff when thepremises are not occupied?

A lot of money is wastedwhen unnecessary lightsare left on out of hours.

Security lighting can besupplied by a smallernumber of appropriatelight fittings.

• Carry out an ‘out-of-hours’ survey.

• Talk to cleaning and security staff.

• Set up an arrangement for switchingoff lights – this may mean making oneperson responsible for switching offthe lights, or having a policy of “lastone out, switches off!”

Lighting

£0 No cost

5 Are you making the best use of thedaylight comingthrough yourwindows and roof lights?

Most people prefer towork in natural light.

Interior lighting will beused less whenadequate daylight isavailable, providedpeople switchoff unnecessary lights.

Care needs to be takenwith Visual DisplayUnits (VDUs) to avoidglare problems.

• Check how often and how well yourwindows are cleaned; get the cleanerin more often, if necessary.

• Make sure that all window blinds areopen in daylight hours – except whenneeded to reduce glare, or solar gain(see HVAC section).

• Move any objects (filing cabinets,plants, etc.) that are obstructingwindows.

• Review location of people. If glare andsolar gain can be avoided move peoplecloser to windows.

• Check that any roof lights are beingused effectively.

£0 No cost



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NOW!Have you reviewedthe level of lighting inall your work areas?

Non-critical areas(e.g. corridors) arefrequently over lit.Areas that are usuallyhighly lit (drawingoffices, shops, etc.) can have their lightingreduced for out-of-hours activities such ascleaning. The generallevel of light in highlylit areas can often bereduced to a moderatelevel of general lightingenhanced by lightingfor specific tasks.

• Look at the lighting levels in all workareas – involve people in this activity.

• Decrease lighting in non-sensitive areasby selectively removing tubes frommulti-tube installations or disconnectingsurplus lights.

• Encourage people to turn off unnecessarylights in out-of-hours periods.

• Use localised lighting for specific jobs.

Lighting

£0 No cost




7 Are your light fittingscleaned annually?

Dirty diffusers orshades greatly reducelight output. This mayresult in more lightsbeing switched on.

• Ensure that light fittings are cleaned at least once a year.


8 Do you use slimlinefluorescent lighttubes?

New slimlinefluorescent tubes(26mm diameter)use 8% less electricityand cost the same asthe older type.

• When replacing tubes, only buy slimline tubes.

• Best used with High Frequency Ballasts.

Note: Slimline tubes will not operate in a few older fittings. Try buying one newtube to make sure that it works in your fittings.


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PAYBACKAre lights in storecupboards alwaysswitched off whennot needed?

Store cupboards areoften fitted withordinary switches that are left on whencupboards are not in use.

• Fit automatic, push-button switches instore cupboards.

Lighting

£0 No cost


10 Have you checkedwhether the diffusersand shades on yourlights are discoloured?

Discoloured diffusersand shades substantiallyreduce light output. Thismay result in more lightsbeing switched on.

• Discard discoloured items and replace. £ Less than £10

11 Have you got enoughlight switches?

To keep installationcosts low, a single switchoften controls banks oflights – this means thatworking spaces areoften lit on an “all or nothing” basis.

• Install pull cord switches to enableimproved control of individual lightfittings or groups of light fittings.

££ Less than £99

12 Are lights alwaysswitched off in plantrooms or other areasthat are normallylocked whenunoccupied?

Locked areas are oftenlit when not in use.

• Install key/tag-operated switches inplace of standard light switches inlocked areas.

Note: Consider health and safetyrequirements.

13 Do you use photocellsto automaticallycontrol interior lights?

Photocells canautomatically turn offlights when there isadequate natural light.

• Fit photocells to switch off interiorlights when daylight is adequate.

Note: This will usually be cost effectiveif you have areas with banks or rows oflights containing more than 10 tubes.

££ Less than £99


££ Less than £99



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PAYBACKIs your exteriorlighting alwaysswitched off whenit is not needed(including perimeterlighting, car parks,etc.)?

Exterior lighting shouldbe limited to hours of darkness.

It may not be necessaryto have all exteriorlighting operatingcontinuously throughthe night.

• Look carefully at your exterior lighting needs.

• Fit photocells to restrict exteriorlighting to hours of darkness.

• If exterior lighting is not required allnight, also fit a time switch to allowseparate settings.

• Fit movement detectors to securitylighting.

Lighting



15 Have you replacedtungsten filamentlamps with CompactFluorescent Lamps?

Compact FluorescentLamps (CFLs) use 75%less electricity, lasteight times longer andreduce maintenancecosts because of lessfrequent replacement.

• Replace conventional tungsten lampswith Compact Fluorescent Lamps(CFLs).

• If dimming or automatic securityswitches are used, CFLs may be not be suitable.

£ Less than £10



16 Are lights switchedoff in areas that arenot used frequently?

Little thought is givento lights in areas whichare not used all thetime (for example,toilets, corridors,locker rooms, storerooms and canteens)

• Fit passive, infrared presencedetectors to allow automatic controlin areas that are not in permanent use(also can be used for controllingfacilities such as urinal flushing andextractor fans, making them evenmore cost effective).

£ Less than £10


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MOREIf you are installingnew lighting, haveyou consideredspecifying highfrequencyfluorescent lighting?

Energy costs can bereduced by around25%. Mains hum andflicker (which maycause headaches andeye strain) can beeliminated. Starting ismore reliable and thelife of tubes is longer.Where rotatingmachinery is used, high frequency lightingwill also eliminate the ‘strobe’ effect.

• Use high frequency fluorescent lightsfor all new applications and whenreplacing old fittings (don’t forgetoffice, workshop, plant and communal areas).

Lighting

££ Less than £99


18 If you still have twin-tube fluorescentfittings, do you usemirror reflectors?

Removing 1 tube andfitting a mirrorreflector will probablyreduce effective lightoutput slightly – thismay well be acceptable.

Reflectors are availableas a retrofit for manypopular fluorescentlight fittings.

• It is worth seeking advice.

• Check whether the existing light levelsfrom fluorescent light fittings aresatisfactory.

• Find out whether mirror reflectors areavailable for your fittings.

• Try fitting a mirror reflector in a smallarea on a trial basis.

• Check whether new light levels aresatisfactory and, if they are, considera replacement programme for all twin-tube fluorescent fittings.

• It should be possible to reduce thenumber of tubes by up to 40%.

Note: This opportunity is only practicalwhere existing lighting levels aresatisfactory and is only worth doing ifthe fittings to be replaced have a lifeexpectancy of more than 5 years.

££ Less than £99



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19 In warehouses, orother (high bay) areaswith high (4.5m)ceilings, are you using high pressuredischarge lighting?

High pressure dischargelighting is more energyefficient than mostfluorescent systems.

Higher wattage lampsmean fewer fittings andlower installation costs.

• Use high pressure (SON) or lowpressure (SOX) sodium lighting inwarehouses or other areas with highceilings. Use fluorescent lamps forlights that are only occasionally usedor need frequent turning on and off.

Note: SON/SOX lighting is not suitablefor office use. Also, SON/SOX lights taketime to warm up to full output and thismay limit the use of presence detectorsand photocell controls. Colours usuallylook different in SON/SOX lighting andthis may limit their use in some areasof activity (printing, etc.). SOX lightsare the most energy efficient butproduce very poor colour rendering -you will know them as standardyellow street lights.

Lighting



20 Have you consideredreplacing existinghigh pressuremercury fluorescentsystems?

High pressure mercuryfluorescent lamps aremore expensive to runthan comparableSON/SOX dischargesystems.

SON/SOX dischargelighting will give higherlight output and lowerrunning costs.

• Check whether SON or SOX lightingwould be suitable for your application.Some systems will require a change offitting, others only the bulb.

• Seek advice from a lighting supplier.

Note: Difference in appearance ofcolours between mercury and SON/SOXsystems must be taken into account.



MORE


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MOREHave you replacedTungsten Halogenfloodlights withdischarge lighting?

Tungsten Halogenfloodlights are veryexpensive to run.

Replacement withdischarge lighting willgive lower runningcosts, particularlyin areas where lights are switched on for long periods.

• Check whether your Tungsten Halogenfloodlights are switched on for longperiods. Check whether SOX or SONlighting would be suitable for yourapplication.

• Seek advice from a lighting supplier.

Note: Tungsten Halogen floodlights areideally suited to intermittent use (e.g.security lighting controlled by presencedetectors).

Lighting




Electrical andoffice equipment

Electrical equipment

Electricity is an expensive energysource and needs to be well managed.

For a typical factory over 60% of theelectricity used is used by motors.

Electricity can be easy to control andsome simple measures will lead todramatic savings.

This section deals with the many waysyou use electricity and shows variousactions you can take to reduce waste.The savings you can make by moreefficient use of electricity will contributeto the increased financial performance ofyour organisation.

Electricity is both easy to use and easy towaste. However, some quite simple, no-cost actions will help you to save money.

The actions outlined in this sectionshould form part of a comprehensiveprogramme to help you save energyand money. You can carry out as manyor as few of these actions as youchoose – the more you do, the moreyou save!


PAYBACKWill require money to be spent buthave been shown to provide acceptablepaybacks – typically less than twoyears.



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NOW!Are people encouragedto turn off electricalequipment when it is idling?

Most equipmentconsumes a significantquantity of energy evenwhen in an idling mode.

It is not unusual for anidling plant to use over30% of the full powerloading.

• Make people aware of the cost ofleaving machinery (conveyors, presses,lathes, machine tools, etc.) runningwhen not needed.

• Set up a procedure to ensure thatmachinery is switched off duringstoppages (lunch, production breaks, etc.).

Note: Check that the remote starting orstopping of equipment does not presenta hazard.


£0 No cost


2 Are all computers,printers andassociated equipmentswitched off when notin use?

Leaving computerequipment switched onfor long periods when itis not in use wastesmoney. The heat givenout by equipment whenswitched on mayencourage the use ofelectric fans and add toair conditioning costs.

• Identify equipment, which can beswitched off when not in use.

• Use green and red labels to indicatewhich equipment can be switched offand which must be left switched on.

• Make the appropriate people awarethat green-coded equipment should beswitched off when not in use.

£0 No cost

May apply to the home

3 Are photocopiersswitched to stand-bymode when not in usefor long periods?

Many photocopiershave a stand-by mode(sleep mode) that will reduce the powerwithout switching offthe machine.

• Encourage people to switchphotocopiers to stand-by mode duringlong periods when they are not in use.

• Where possible enable automatic useof stand-by mode.

£0 No cost


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NOW!Are fans, pumps andconveyors switchedoff when theequipment theyserve is not in use?

Ancillary equipmentcan account for asignificant proportionof energy costs.

• Check the ancillary systems areswitched off when plant is idle.

• Items to check include: extraction fans(e.g. in paint spray booths); local dustextraction fans; cooling water pumps;vacuum pumps; wash water pumps;conveyor systems.

• Fix notices to plant indicating which associated systems should be switched off.


£0 No cost


5 Do you alwaysspecify HigherEfficiency Motors?

Higher EfficiencyMotors (HEMs) can costno more than standardefficiency motors.Motors can consumetheir purchase price inelectricity in just thefirst month or two ofuse. For a continuouslyrun motor its initialcost is only 1% of its10-year life cost. Justsmall improvements inefficiency can yieldlarge savings.

• Have a written policy to ensure thatyour organisation always specifiesHigher Efficiency Motors. Between1.1kW and 90kW and these willtypically be Eff Class 1 motors.

• HEMs may qualify for Enhanced CapitalAllowances. Check the EnergyTechnology List at www.eca.gov.uk

£0 No cost



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NOW!Do you checkregularly whetherthere is any use ofunauthorised portableelectric heaters?

Portable electricheaters are veryexpensive to run.Generally, they do nothave time switches orthermostats and areoften left runningcontinuously.

Added problems canoccur if the area theyare in is air conditioned.

• Check regularly for use of unauthorisedportable electric heaters.

• If people are regularly using portableelectric heaters, check the heatingarrangements for that area.

Note: There may be an issue withPortable Appliance Testing in thatunofficial heaters may not have been tested.


£0 No cost


7 Is a regular checkmade on thecondition of seals onfridges and freezers?

Worn or damaged sealsincrease refrigerationcosts by allowing warmair to enter intorefrigerated space andcold air to leak out.

• Set up a programme for regularinspection of seals.

• Replace all seals that show any signsof wear or damage.

£0 No cost


8 Is welding equipmentswitched off whennot in use?

Arc weldingtransformers continueto use electricity evenwhen welding is notbeing carried out.

• Check routines for arc weldingoperations.

• Instruct operators to switch offtransformer units when welding taskshave been completed.

£0 No cost


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NOW!Are forklift truckbatteries chargedover night?

Charging forklift truckbatteries using cheapnight tariffs savesmoney.

• Check whether off-peak tariffs areavailable.

• Set up a system for charging forklifttruck batteries during the cheap night period.

• Identify any other significant batterycharging that can use off-peakelectricity.

Note: It may be worth fitting a timeswitch to start the charging process atthe beginning of the off-peak period(usually around midnight).


£0 No cost

10 Have you reviewedthe type and grade of lubrication usedon machinery?

Use of the wronglubricant can add 5% toenergy costs. Some highperformance lubricantscan reduce energy costsby 5% or more.

• Identify what your lubrication needsare and discuss with equipment andlubricant suppliers.

11 Have you consideredmanaging yourelectrical loads toavoid periods of high cost?

With more complicatedtariffs it can be worthscheduling activity toavoid periods of highcharges. To do this youneed to have a fullunderstanding of yoursupply tariff.

• Identify what your lubrication needsare and discuss with equipment andlubricant suppliers.

£0 No cost




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PAYBACKAre automaticcontrols fitted whichwill turn off idlingelectrical plant?

Automatic controls aremore reliable thanmanual controls.

Automatic controls can be set to switch off plantafter a predeterminedperiod of idling, thereforesaving money in bothterms of energy and wear.

To increase startingfrequency and reducestarting wear you might want to look atelectronic ‘soft starters’.

• Check which machines are suitable forautomatic switches and fit whereappropriate.

• For example, the current to a powerpress can be used to detect when it is idling and controls can be installedwhich will turn off the press after apreset period of idling.




13 Are chiller strips ornight blinds fitted torefrigerated displaycabinets?

Chiller strips and nightblinds reduce cold airlosses from displaycabinets.

• Install chiller strips or night blinds torefrigerated display cabinets.


14 Have you checkedthat tea urns are not left boilingcontinuously?

Continuous operation of tea urns is generallyunnecessary and wastes money.

• Check the way that tea urns are used.

• Install instantaneous water boilerswhere possible.


15 Have you replacedold metal kettleswith modern jugkettles?

Older kettles cannotheat a small quantity ofwater. If you boil twicethe amount of water youneed, it will cost twice as much.

• Replace older kettles with new jugtypes if small quantities of water arebeing heated.

££ Less than £99

May apply to the home


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MOREHave you thoughtabout specifyingenergy efficientcomputers and officeequipment?

The energy efficiencyof equipment varies –some models use muchless energy thanothers. Someequipment can beswitched to stand-bymode when not active.

• Make sure that energy efficiency isalways included in purchasingspecifications.


£0 No cost


17 Do fans, pumps,conveyors and similaritems switch offautomatically whenthe equipment theyserve is not in use?

Ancillary equipmentcan often account fora significant proportionof energy costs.

• Investigate opportunities to installinterlocks – these will automaticallycontrol ancillary equipment.

• Examples are: Electrical interlocksthat only allow conveyor systems tooperate when the plant they serve isfunctioning. Air pressure switch fittedto spray guns to detect when paintbooths are not in use. Controls can belinked to operate extraction fans andwash water pumps.

££ Less than £99


18 Have you consideredfitting Variable SpeedDrives (VSDs) tocentrifugal fansor pumps?

Using dampers andthrottling valves tomeet variable loads isinefficient. Using a VSDto reduce the speed ofa fan or pump by 20%can halve the energyconsumption. Forcentrifugal fans orpumps running doubleshift or more, and mostof this time at 80% orless of rated flow, VSDscan give paybacks in 6-24 months.

• Carefully analyse operationalrequirements, to see if the actualair/fluid flow requirement could besuitable for a VSD.

• Contact a VSD supplier for furtheradvice – many offer free software thatyou can use to quickly estimate theenergy savings.




Hot and cold water

Hot and cold water

Water could be costing yourorganisation over 1% of turnover.

Do you know that you pay for watertwice? When it enters your site andwhen it leaves as effluent!

Also if the water is hot water you alsopay for the energy to heat it.

Many people think that the cost ofwater stays the same no matter howmuch you use.

A systematic approach to waterreduction can achieve savings in theregion of 20 – 50%.

This section deals with the way you usewater and shows various actions you cantake to cut down on the cost of bothwater and effluent. The savings you canmake by using water more efficiently willcontribute to the increased financialperformance of your organisation.

Further information on reducing wateruse is available from Envirowise – call 0800 58 57 94 or visitwww.envirowise.gov.uk






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NOW!Are people aware ofthe need to preventwater being wasted?

Taps that are notproperly turned offwaste costly water.

Hot water taps leftdripping also wastemoney in heat energy.

• Initiate a “good housekeeping”campaign to encourage people to turn off taps completely.

• Use promotional materials (posters,stickers, booklets, etc.) to raiseawareness.

• Use team briefings and meetings as a way to raise awareness of watersaving actions.

Hot and cold water

£0 No cost


2 Are people awarethat your watersupply is metered?

Many people areunaware thatcommercial/industrialwater supplies areusually metered.

Raising peopleawareness of the costof water will help to promote moreefficient use.

• Use promotional materials (posters,stickers, booklets, etc.) to raiseawareness.

• Use team briefings and meetings as a way to raise awareness of the costof water.

£0 No cost


3 Have you carried outa water use audit?

Water costs are anincreasing element ofutility costs and usageis often taken forgranted. In manyprocesses, trackingwater use may alsotrack energy use. Awater use audit canalso form part of anenvironmentalprogramme.

• Walk round your site, identifyingwhere and how much water is used in each area.

• Target areas of high usage as part ofreduction programme.




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NOW!Are all dripping tapsrepairedimmediately?

Dripping taps areobviously inefficientand costly. Also, if theyare not repairedimmediately, thecredibility of yoursavings campaign willbe diminished. Hotwater taps left drippingalso waste money inheat energy.

• Carry out regular checks on all outlets.Act on all reports of dripping tapsimmediately – you can’t expect peopleto behave responsibly if you don’t setan example!

• Fit new washers to dripping tapsimmediately – washers cost only a few pence.

Hot and cold water

£0 No cost


5 Do you checkregularly for leaks inyour water systemsincluding sectionsrunning underground?

Leaks in visible pipesare obvious butunderground leaks cango undetected for years.

£0 No cost


• Carry out regular checks on visiblewater pipes.

• Read meters, particularly at thebeginning and end of unoccupiedperiods.

• Encourage people to report any visibleleaks immediately.

• Leaks can also be identified byobserving a difference in plant growth- e.g. straight lines of greener grass,or by wet or boggy ground, or in somecases by noticing clear running waterin the drainage systems.

• Consumption during periods of non-usesuggests leakage somewhere andshould be investigated immediately!


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NOW!Have you checkedthe temperature ofyour hot water?

Many companiesoverheat their hotwater – every10°C reduction in hotwater temperaturesaves 15% energy.

• Reduce immersion thermostat settingsto 60°C.

IMPORTANT. If you are using atemperature regime to controlLegionella you will not be able toeffectively reduce the temperature tobelow 60°C. However, if you are usingan approved non-temperature controlregime then you may be able to reducetemperatures to around 45°C.

Hot and cold water

£0 No cost



7 Do you always switchoff hot water systemsduring holiday periods?

Hot water is alwaysmore expensive toproduce than coldwater. Hot water issometimes used wherecold water would beequally effective (forexample, washingfloors and rinsing).

• Check the different ways that hotwater is used in your organisation.

• Always use cold water for cleaning andprocess duties unless hot water isabsolutely necessary.

£0 No cost



8 Have you checkedwhether hot water isused unnecessarily?

Hot water is alwaysmore expensive toproduce than coldwater. Hot water issometimes used wherecold water would beequally effective (forexample, washingfloors and rinsing).

• Check the different ways that hotwater is used in your organisation.

• Always use cold water for cleaning andprocess duties unless hot water isabsolutely necessary.

£0 No cost


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NOW!Are your hot watercontrols set correctly?

A lot of heat can be lost from boiler anddistribution pipes.Running a boiler all dayis usually uneconomical.Many electric immersionheaters are set to switchoff at the end of dailyoccupancy.

• Reset time switches to match hotwater demand, switching the heater onto ensure it is up to temperature whenit will be first needed and switchingoff before the end of the day to makeuse of the water whilst it is still hot.Check you are not overheating thewater and that water is supplied at asafe temperature for the application.

• If you are using a temperature regimeto control Legionella, this needs to betaken into account.

Hot and cold water

£0 No cost



11 If you use electricimmersion heaters togenerate hot waterduring the summer,have you checkedthat the circuit fromthe heating boiler isisolated?

Water heated by animmersion heater canpass heat to the boilerand its water, whichwastes money.

• Check the pipework that links theboiler to the hot water cylinder duringsummer. If the pipes are warm, isolatethe primary circuit. (Boiler plant tohot water storage cylinder). Carefullylabel and record all valves that havebeen closed.

Note: It is possible to fit a non-returnvalve; however, there will be a cost forthis action – seek advice.

• An alternative is to install local waterheaters where required.

£0 No cost


10 Do you encouragecatering staff to usewater economically?

‘Good housekeeping’routines in kitchens can significantly reducewater consumption.This can save bothwater and energy andresult in cost savings.

• Initiate and encourage ‘goodhousekeeping’ routines for efficientuse of water in kitchens.

£0 No cost


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NOW!If you are usingseveral hot waterstorage cylinders inthe same location,have you checkedwhether their numbercan be reduced?

Storing lots of hot wateris generally wasteful.

• Check how many hot water storagecylinders are necessary.

• Check that storage is not required tomeet peak demands – e.g. end of shift showers.

• If it is possible to reduce the numberused, identify, isolate and drainredundant cylinders.

Hot and cold water

£0 No cost


13 Are cooling watersystems run whennot required?

Running systems whennot required can wastemoney on unnecessarypumping.

• Check that cooling water pumps areonly run when needed.

• Consider fitting a time clock.



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PAYBACKAre all hot waterpipes insulated?

Insulating pipes canreduce heat losses by 70%.

• Insulate all hot water pipes, you may beable to claim an Enhanced CapitalAllowance for this. See www.eca.gov.uk



Hot and cold water

15 If you are on an off-peak electricitytariff, have youconsidered heatingwater overnight?

Night unit electricityusually costs less thanhalf the daytime price.Off-peak storage isparticularly suitablewhen a large storagecylinder is installed.

• Investigate the use of off-peakelectricity. If appropriate, install anoff-peak controller with a daytimetop-up facility.

££ Less than £99


16 Are all electricimmersion heatersfitted with timeswitches?

A time switch can beused to ensure that hotwater is generated onlywhen required.

• Install an immersion heater time switch.

• If you are using a temperature regimeto control Legionella, this needs to betaken into account.

££ Less than £99



17 Are hot watercirculating pumpstime controlled?

If secondary circulatingpumps are run at night,any heat stored in thecylinder is lost. Moneyis also wasted inrunning the pump.

• Check whether secondary pumps needto run at night. If not, fit a timeswitch to prevent night running.

££ Less than £99


18 Are flush controllersinstalled on urinalsystems?

Uncontrolled urinalsnormally flush at leastonce every 20 minutes –often wasting money.Controllers can limitflushing to periods whenthe building is occupied.

• Install electronic urinal flushcontrollers incorporating passiveinfrared (or similar) presencedetectors to trigger a flush cycle.

Note: Presence detectors can also belinked to lighting and extraction fans.



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PAYBACKDo all your WCcisterns hold only 7 litres of water?

Excessive capacity in WCcisterns wastes water.

• Fit water dams or volume reducers inWC cisterns to reduce the volume ofwater to 7 litres.

Note: These should not be used wheredual flush devices are installed orwhere there has been persistent drain blockage.

£ Less than £10


20 Are all washroomtaps turned offproperly?

Taps left dripping willwaste costly water. Hotwater taps left drippingwill also waste heatenergy.

• Consider converting to push-buttontaps to provide an automatic cut-off.

££ Less than £99

21 Have you fitted taprestrictors?

Many taps give anunnecessarily high rateof flow after only aquarter of a turn.

• Fit flow restrictors to all taps or to thesupply pipes.

££ Less than £99


22 Are hoses alwaysturned off immediatelyafter use?

Hoses left on after usewaste a lot of water.

• Fit spring-loaded pistol grips to hoses to provide automatic cut-off to the flow.

££ Less than £99

23 Are all your hot waterstorage cylinders wellinsulated?

Insulating unlaggedstorage cylinders willreduce heat losses by 75%.

• Insulate all hot water storage cylinders. ££ Less than £99

Hot and cold water


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MOREDo you heat water atpoints close to whereit is used?

Long pipe lengths resultin significant heat losses.

It is often cheaper toheat water where itis used.

• To provide small quantities of hotwater (for hand wash basins, etc.),use wall mounted, electric waterheaters.

• To provide larger quantities of hotwater (for kitchen or process use), usefree-standing, gas-fired water heaters.



Hot and cold water

25 Have you consideredreplacing yourexisting hot waterstorage cylinder witha plate heatexchanger?

Plate heat exchangersare very efficient andproduce rapid response.They have minimal heatlosses, reduce the riskfrom Legionella and arecheaper to run.

• Consider installing plate heatexchangers when replacing obsolete or failed storage cylinders, or in newinstallations.

££££ Over £1,000


26 If mains water isused for coolingpurposes, have youlooked at anyalternatives?

It is very inefficient to use mains water only once for coolingpurposes, it also wastes money.

• Consider installing cooling watersystems using recycling through aclosed system fitted with an air-blastcooler.

• Re-use cooling water as feed water inanother part of the process or asmake-up water.

££££ Over £1,000



Compressed air

Compressed air

Most people are unaware of the highcost of compressed air – it costs tentimes more than electricity!

A leak the size of a match head uses1kW of compressor power.

In an Action Energy survey the averageleakage rate measured was 39%.

For every £100 spent on supplyingcompressed air £30 could be saved bysimple cost effective measures.

This section deals with the ways youproduce and use compressed air andshows various actions you can take toreduce losses. The savings you can makeby more efficient use of compressed airwill contribute to the increased financialperformance of your organisation.

Simple routines to check and repair leakswill lead to dramatic savings.

You should also consider if you reallyneed to use compressed air – can the job be done directly with electricity?






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NOW!Do people know ofthe cost of producingcompressed air?

Producing compressedair is very expensive(typically, around50p/kWh). It takesmore than 10 units ofelectrical power toprovide one unit ofcompressed air.

• Use team briefings and meetings as ameans of raising awareness of the highcost of compressed air.

• Use promotional materials (posters,booklets, etc.) to remind people thatleaks in compressed air systems wastemoney. These may be available fromthe Action Energy helpline.

Compressed air

£0 No cost

3 Do you have aneffective system forreporting leaks?

Leaks should berepaired quickly tominimise losses and to demonstrate yourcommitment to making savings.

• Set up a system for reporting leaksand make sure staff are aware of it.

• Make sure that all leaks are repairedimmediately.

£0 No cost

2 Do you have aregular leak test andrepair programme?

Leaks are responsiblefor the largestproportion of waste(typically, about 40% of all losses), but aresimple to control.

Losses through a1.6mm diameter hole(a matchhead) require1kW of power tocompress the air lost.

The TransportableGases and PressureSystems Regulationsdemand regularinspections.

• it is easier to check for leaks duringperiods when the compressor is runningbut there is no demand for air.

• During quiet periods, listen for loudand obvious leaks and repair themimmediately.

• Smaller leaks can be detected using a soap/water solution. For the largersystem use of an ultrasonic leakdetector may be warranted. Mark all leaks and arrange for repairs.

• Check all joints, plug-in connectors,gauges and other fittings.

• Inspect all flexible hoses.

• Check pneumatically operatedcylinders for worn seals.

• Schedule a quarterly leak test/repairprogramme.

£0 No cost


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NOW!Are automatic draintraps checkedregularly?

Faulty drain traps canwaste large quantitiesof compressed air.

• Check that drain traps are notcontinuously passing air.

• Check that drain traps have not been bypassed.

Note: Compressed air condensate is oily water and needs to be disposed of appropriately.

Compressed air

£0 No cost



5 Is unusedcompressed air pipeworkpermanentlyisolated?

Redundant pipework isa potential source ofsignificant leakage.Unless it is correctlyisolated, it has to bepressurised at the startof each shift. Thiswastes money.

• Identify redundant pipework.

• Where possible permanently blank off or remove redundant pipework.Isolating valves alone can be unreliable,as they may not give complete shut off.

£0 No cost



6 Is compressed airgenerated at theminimum requiredpressure?

More energy is neededto generate air at high pressure. If yougenerate compressed airat lower pressures, yousave money! Typicalgenerating pressure is100psi (7 bar); however,if a pressure of 85psi (6bar) is sufficient, costscan be reduced by about4% to 7% depending onthe exact plant.

• Check all compressed air applications for minimum pressure needs.

Note: The pressure on some compressorscan be easily adjusted. If in doubt, seekprofessional advice from Action Energyon 0800 58 57 94.

£0 No cost



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NOW!Do you avoid the use of blowgunswherever possible?

Due to the high cost ofgenerating compressedair and meeting healthand safety requirements,the use of blowgunsshould be avoided.

• Use alternatives such as industrialvacuum cleaners or even a dustpanand brush.

Compressed air

£0 No cost

8 If you must useblowguns, are theyoperated at therecommendedpressure?

The Health and SafetyExecutive recommendsthat blowguns shouldnot be operated above30psi (2 bar).

Reducing blowgunoperating pressure to30psi from a generalsystem pressure ofaround 100psi willreduce operating costs by 60%.

• Check the operating pressure on allblowguns. Adjust pressure regulatingvalves on blowguns to 30psi (2 bar)maximum.

• Clearly label blowguns to show themaximum permissible operating pressure.

• It may be worth considering a separatepressure reduced supply for all blowguns.

£0 No cost

9 Are compressorsalways switched offwhen there is nodemand for air?

Running compressorsfor long periods whenthere is no demand forair wastes money!

• Check that compressors are switchedoff at the earliest opportunity.

• Check that compressors are switchedoff during lunch breaks if there is nodemand for air.

• Check that compressors are notswitched on earlier than necessary.

• Regularly check time switch settings.

Note: Ensure that automatic shuttingdown of compressed air will notadversely affect plant.

£0 No cost



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NOW!Is the intake airdrawn directly fromoutside?

Compressors operatemore efficiently usingcool air.

Operating costs coulddrop by up to 3% if airis drawn from outsidethe building.

• Where practicable, arrange for air tobe drawn from outside the building. Ifusing louvres, ensure there isadequate free area for airflow. If usingpiping to extend the intake filter,ensure the minimum pressure drop orthe potential savings will be lost. Ifusing ducting to bring air to thecompressor, don’t forget to takeaccount of any fan energy required.

Compressed air

£0 No cost

11 Are air inlet filterschecked andreplaced regularly?

Dirty filters result inpressure losses andwaste money.

• Set up a system for checking air inletfilters regularly.

• Clean re-usable filter elements andreplace disposable elements.

£0 No cost

12 Is the air treatmentsystem inspected andmaintained regularly?

Lack of regular, correctmaintenance of the airtreatment plant canincrease compressedair costs by as much as 30%.

• Check that pre-filters and after-filtersare cleaned and replaced at regularintervals.

• Check that condensate traps areoperating correctly.

• Check the efficiency and performanceof air dryers and controls.

• Check that heat exchangers are clean.

££ Less than £99

13 If you use air-knives,are they operating atthe minimumpressure?

Air-knives should berun at low pressure;excessive pressurewastes money!

• Check that air-knives are operated atthe minimum pressure required.

• Consider changing from compressed airto a blower. Blowers can produce therequired pressure of air at a muchlower cost than a compressor.

££ Less than £99


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PAYBACKHave you replacedmanually operateddrain valves?

Manually operated drain valves are aninefficient way ofremoving water. Theyare often opened forexcessively longperiods, or even leftpermanently open.

• Check whether manually operatedvalves are still being used.

• Fit and regularly maintainautomatically operated drain valves.


15 Do all the areasserved by yourcompressed airsystem have thesame operatinghours?

Areas that are not inuse all the time may be separated from themain system by zoning.

Zoning will reducewastage by leakage andpossible misuse.

• Check whether there are anysignificant areas that are not in usewhen the site is working.

• Where appropriate, install zonevalves. These can be either manuallyoperated or automatically controlledby a time switch.

• Check that automatic operation ofvalves will not lead to plant damage.



16 Do all the areasserved by yourcompressed airsystem need thesame pressure?

The whole system maybe operated at a highpressure just to meetthe needs of a fewappliances. Reducingthe pressure in the restof the system willreduce air consumptionand wastage.

• Consider zoning the system to supplyhigh pressure only where required.

• Where possible, install pressure-reducing valves to supply lowerpressure to the rest of the system.


17 Have you lookedat alternatives tocompressed airdriven tools?

Electrically poweredtools are around 90%cheaper to operate thancompressed air tools.

• If it is safe and convenient to do so,consider replacing compressed airpowered tools with equivalentelectrically powered tools.


Compressed air


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MOREDo you knowwhether all pipeworkis the correct size?

Undersized pipeworkresults in energy lossesdue to increasedfriction. Air has to begenerated at a higherpressure to compensate.This wastes money.

• Seek professional advice on sizing yourpipes for efficient operation.

£ No cost


Compressed air

19 Are all your aircompressors operatedon a ‘demand-controlled’ basis?

Compressors can use asmuch as 70% of on-loadpower when idling.

• Some compressors can be set to switchoff automatically after a set period of idling.

• You may need to talk to yourcompressed air distributor, orcompressor manufacturer.

£ No cost



20 If you have a multi-compressorinstallation, are thecompressorssequenced tomeetthe demand?

It is more efficient torun the minimumnumber of compressorsat near full load than torun extra compressorson part load.

• Seek advice on the various optionsavailable to run multi-compressorinstallations.

£0 No cost


21 Have you consideredinstalling a localisedair compressor forequipment thatrequires a significantlydifferent pressure or is operating for longerperiods than the restof the system?

It may be moreeconomical to install adedicated compressorto serve appliances thatneed higher pressuresor have longeroperating periods thanthe rest of the system.

• Carefully monitor the operation of all appliances.

• Look for opportunities to installdedicated compressors where demandshows significant variations from therest of the system.

££££ Over £1,000



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MOREWhen choosing a newcompressor, do youconsider theefficiency over itsexpected operatingrange? If you have avarying air demand,consider a variablespeed compressor.

Compressors varyconsiderably. Selectionof the most suitabletype will have asignificant influence onfuture operating costs.

• Make sure that energy efficiency is a key selection criterion.

• Seek advice on both new andreplacement plants.

Compressed air

£ No cost


23 Have you reviewedthe size of your airreceivers?

An undersized airreceiver can result infrequent loading andunloading.

• Seek advice on whether an increase inair receiver capacity is needed.



24 Have you checkedthe quality of airtreatment?

Excessive levels of airtreatment increaseoperating costs. Thereis little point inspending money totreat air to a higherstandard that isactually required.

• Determine the minimum acceptablelevel of air quality.

• Consider changing the treatment plantif it is currently over treating the air.

£ No cost


25 Do you vary the levelof air treatmentaccording to theapplication?

Not all applicationsneedthe same level ofair treatment. Costs canbe reduced by providinga higher level of airtreatment to specificappliances and providingbasic quality air for thegeneral system.

• Check the air quality requirements forall appliances.

• If requirements vary, considerproviding basic quality air to thegeneral system and installing highquality treatment plant for specificapplications.

£ No cost


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MOREHave you consideredfitting a heatrecovery system toyour compressor?

Over 90% of the energyused by a compressor isturned into heat – thisis usually wasted!

• Look at the possibility of recoveringthe heat generated by the compressorfor space heating or for water heating.

• Consider ducting warm cooling airfrom a compressor to a nearby workingarea to supplement the main heatingsystem during the winter.

• Consider whether water cooled oilcoolers can be fitted to yourcompressors to generate hot water.

Compressed air



27 If you use air-kniveshave you installedlocal blowers tooperate them?

Blowers are muchcheaper to operatethan compressors forlow-pressure dutiessuch as air-knives.

• Investigate the possibility of installingair blowers for low-pressure duties.This will involve monitoring presentlevels of energy use, accuratelypredicting future use and making acareful analysis of replacement costs.

• Carefully analyse operational needs.




Vehicles

Vehicles

The cost of vehicle fuel forms asignificant percentage of theexpenditure of many organisations –money can be saved by introducing afew simple measures.

Fuel costs will inevitably increase in thefuture and you should look carefully atyour fuel management controls now.

This section deals with the way youcontrol transport and makes suggestionsboth for personal vehicles (company cars, etc.) and for carrying goods. It shows various actions you can take to save money.

Don’t forget that alternative transportstrategies could yield considerablesavings, but will probably require somelong-term planning. The savings you canmake by more efficient use of fuel willcontribute to the increased financialperformance of your organisation.

This section concentrates on techniquesrather than technology. In nearly allcases, you don’t have to make any capitalinvestment to save money. However, allthe techniques involve people and, in

order to be successful, you will probablyhave to spend some time gainingtheir support.

Further information on controlling fuelcosts is available from Transport Energy –Call 0845 602 1425 or visitwww.transportenergy.org.uk






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NOW!Do you carefullymonitor theperformance ofeach vehicle?

Carefully monitoringthe performance of allvehicles helps toidentify problems inindividual vehicles(these may be dueto faults, poormaintenance or poordriving). In largerfleets, you can comparethe performance ofdifferent types/makesof vehicle. This mayhelp with futurepurchasing decisions.

• Set up a monitoring system to recordthe fuel consumption of each vehicle.

• Prepare a ‘league table’ based onmiles travelled per litre.

• Investigate the worst performers first.

• Consider installing fuel monitoringequipment.

Vehicles

£0 No cost

2 Do you monitor theperformance ofindividual drivers?

Monitoring theperformance ofindividual drivers willhelp to identify moneywasted through poordriving techniques.

• Set up a monitoring system to recordthe fuel consumption achieved by each driver.

• Prepare a ‘league table’ based onmiles travelled per litre.

• Investigate the worst performers first.

£0 No cost

3 Are tyres regularlychecked for signs of wear?

Significant tyre wearoccurs when steering is misaligned.Misalignment increasesfuel consumption. Onedegree of misalignmentincreases consumptionby 3%.

• Ensure that tyres are checked for wear weekly.

• Ensure that non-symmetrical wearisnoted and arrange for steering to berealigned immediately.

Note: Misaligned steering is alsopotentially dangerous.

£0 No cost




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NOW!Do drivers check tyrepressure regularly?

Under-inflated tyresincrease fuelconsumption andoperating costs (forexample, a drop of 2psi increases fuelconsumption by around3%). Over-inflated tyreshave a shorter life andcan be dangerous.

• Ensure that all drivers check tyrepressure at least weekly. This includesboth cars and commercial vehicles.

• Clearly mark the correct tyrepressures on vehicles.

• When replacing tyres consider the“energy saving” tyres offered by somemanufacturers.

Vehicles

£0 No cost


5 Do drivers removeunnecessary weightfrom their vehicleswherever possible?

As the weight of thevehicle increases, fuelcosts rise.

• Ensure that drivers remove allunnecessary items from their vehicles.

£0 No cost


6 Do drivers removeroof racks fromvehicles when theyare not needed?

Roof racks increase airresistance and fuelcosts.

• Encourage drivers to remove roof rackswhen they are not needed.

£0 No cost


7 Do all your vehicleshave the mosteconomical enginespeed marked ontheir rev counters?

The most economicalengine speed variesfrom vehicle to vehicle.

On some vehicles, theeconomical range isshown in green on therev counter.

• Obtain information on vehicleperformance characteristics fromdealers or suppliers.

• Ensure that drivers know theperformance characteristics of their vehicles.

• Mark the most economical range onrev counters using green tape.

£0 No cost


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NOW!Is the best possibleuse made of yourvehicles’ carryingcapacity?

Carrying the maximumpayload in all possiblecases reduces overallcosts.

Running ‘empty legs’increases costssignificantly.

• Make sure that the loading figures forall vehicles are known.

• Set up a system to ensure thatschedules make the maximum use ofall available vehicles.

• Avoid ‘empty leg’ running whereverpossible by rescheduling loads orgetting ‘return loads’.

Vehicles

£0 No cost

9 Does yourorganisation actively encourage ar sharing?

Car sharing schemeshave both financial andenvironmental benefits.

• Develop and encourage the use ofcar sharing.

• Review your “green” transport options.

£0 No cost


10 Does yourorganisation have aregular vehicleservicing and tuningprogramme?

Regular servicing,including tuning, willsave money and reduceexhaust emissions.

90% of inefficientvehicles can be re-tuned in 15 minutes!

Arguably, regularservicing is required forsafety and reliability, soany fuel saving is anadded benefit.

• Set up a schedule for servicing all vehicles.

• Record data from service sheetsincluding service intervals. Data fromyour service programme can be usedto determine the operating efficiencyof different makes/types of vehicle.This information can be useful forfuture purchasing.



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PAYBACKAre all vehicle routesplanned?

Planning vehicle routeswill help to minimisetravelling times andreduce costs.

Fuel costs can doubleon short journeys.

• Ensure that all routes are planned tominimise costs.

• Consider using a computer-basedjourney planner to optimise routing.


12 Do you make use ofthe informationprovided bytachographs?

Tachographs provideuseful information tohelp you save money.Excessive speed, whichwastes money, caneasily be seen.

• Set up a system to monitor andanalyse tachograph disks regularly.

• Discuss results with drivers.

£0 No cost

13 Are all driverstrained in economicaldriving techniques?

Poor driving techniquescan increase fuel costsby 20% or more.

• Set up a training programme for driverawareness.

• Drivers should be made aware oftechniques to reduce fuelconsumption: starting the engine onlywhen ready to commence journeys;releasing the choke as soon aspossible; gentle acceleration; gentlebraking; knowing the most economicalspeed for all conditions; turning offthe engine when the journey iscompleted.


Vehicles


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MOREHas your organisationlooked at ways to avoid peopleneeding to travel to meetings?

Information Technologycan reduce the needfor face-to-facemeetings, saving timeand money.

Some largeorganisations havemade significant savings by using video conferencing.

• Look at alternatives to travelling.These include telephone, video andinternet conferencing.

£0 No cost

15 If you providecompany cars, doyou reimbursedrivers for the actualmileage rather thanpaying fuel bills?

Paying mileage ratesrather than meeting allfuel costs canencourage economicaldriving techniques, as long as the rightmileage rates are used.

• Set up a system to reimburse travelcosts by paying mileage rates.Information on appropriate mileagerates can be obtained from motoringorganisations.

• Have only one rate – paying higherrates for larger cars encourages waste.

• Consider tax implications foremployees and remember you canpay mileage rates for cycling.

£0 No cost


16 If truck drivers sleepin their cabs, haveauxiliary overnightcab heaters beenfitted?

Idling the engine toprovide heating is awaste of money andcan damage the engine.Fuel savings of over90% can be achieved byusing auxiliary heaters.

• Fit diesel powered cab heaters whereappropriate.


Vehicles


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MOREIs fuel economy amajor factor whenpurchasing vehicles?

There is a significantdifference in theperformance ofapparently similar typesof vehicle (as much as40%). Vehicle economydepends on a range offactors includingpayload, type andlength of journey,required running speedand aerodynamiccharacteristics.

• Clearly establish the vehicle’s planneduse (including payload, type of route,length of journey, average speedrequired) and its aerodynamicefficiency.

• Vehicle economy depends on a rangeof factors including payload, type andlength of journey, required runningspeed and aerodynamiccharacteristics.

• When considering a new vehicle addfuel efficiency to the specification.

£0 No cost



18 Have you evaluatedthe use ofaerodynamic aids oncommercial vehicles?

Improving theaerodynamic profile ofcommercial vehicles cansave fuel and money.

Normally, a vehicleneeds to travel regularlyat speeds in excess of40mph for an acceptablepayback fromaerodynamic kit.

It is important that theaids considered arespecifically designed forthe vehicle and havebeen subject to windtunnel testing.

Most new commercialvehicles have a degree of aerodynamictreatment as part of the basic design.

• Seek advice on making aerodynamicimprovements using purpose-designedmodifications.



Vehicles


Reference

PublicationsReference

Lighting

GPG300 The Installers Guide to Lighting Design

GPG160 Electric Lighting Controls – A Guide for Designers; Installers and Users

Compressed Air

GPG126 Compressing Air Costs

Motors

GIL056 Energy Saving from Motor Management Policies

Process Control

GPG215 Reducing Energy Costs in Industry with Modern Control Technologies

FL120 Everyones Guide to Saving Energy with Improved Control

Transport

GD0041 Travel Plan Resource Pack for Employers

Ventilation

GPG257 Energy Efficient Mechanical Ventilation Systems

Heating

GPG132 Heating Controls in Small Commercial and Multi-Residential Buildings

GPG188 Maintaining the Efficient Operation of Heating and Hot Water Systems – A Guide for Managers

Most of the issues listed in FOCUS are explored in greaterdetail in one of our range of publications, such as:-

For a quick and easy guide to energy savings you should look at Better Business - Guide to Energy Saving (GPG367)

For information on Action Energy Loans order your copy of ‘A Loan that makes you money’. (FLI38)

PublicationsReference

Action Energy also publishes a series of ‘getting started’Factsheets on specific technologies and business sectors:

For information or to order any of the above publications pleasecontact the Action Energy Helpline or visit the Action Energy website. Remember, all of these publications are free of charge.

Business Sector SpecificGeneral Issues and Opportunities

• General Buildings – FSSB014

• Industrial Buildings – FSSB017

• Building Fabric – FSSB010

• Lighting – FSSB029

• Heating – FSSB015

• Air Conditioning – FSSB006

• Refrigeration – FSSB033

• Building Regulations – FSSB011

• Enhanced Capital Allowances(ECAs) – FSSB004

• Office Equipment – FSSB027

• Boilers – FSSB022

• Compressed Air – FSSB023

• Ventilation – FSSB021

• Food and Drink – FSSB024

• Engineering – FSSB016

• Offices – FSSB003

• Care Homes – FSSB012

• Hospitality – FSSB002

• Primary Health Care – FSSB018

• Chemicals – FSSB005

• Rubber and Plastics – FSSB032

• Small Leisure Centres – FSSB001

• Minerals – FSSB030

• Non-Ferrous Metals – FSSB028

• Textiles – FSSB025

• Retail – FSSB019

• Transport – FSSB007

• Schools – FSSB020


Climate Change LevyReference

Climate Change Levy (CCL) wasintroduced in April 2001. It is a levyon the supply of electricity, naturalgas, LPG and coal. (Fuel oils areexempt).

The purpose of CCL is to encourageorganisations to reduce their energyconsumption and so help the UKmeet its targets for reduction ingreenhouse gases.

CCL is collected by HM Customs &Excise through the energy supplier andapplies to the business use of energy.As general guidance if you pay fullrate VAT on your energy supply thenyou will be liable for CCL.

At the time of writing the full CCLrates are:

Electricity 0.43 p/kWhNatural gas 0.15 p/kWhLPG 0.96 p/kgCoal 1.17 p/kg

The levy is designed to be ‘revenueneutral’ with the levy being‘recycled’ by means of a reduction in National Insurance, and funding ofthe Enhanced Capital Allowancesscheme and Action Energy. ‘Energyintensive’ industries can enter intoNegotiated Agreements with 10-yeartargets – in return they benefit froman 80% rebate in CCL.

To find out if you could be part of an agreement, talk to you TradeAssociation or contact the ActionEnergy Helpline 0800 58 57 94.

Some processes are exempt from CCL – for example some electrolysisprocesses.

Further information on ClimateChange Levy can be found on the Customs & Excise website:www.hmce.gov.uk

The Energy Technology List (ETL) hasbeen set up to identify those productsqualifying for Enhanced CapitalAllowances (ECA) that allow a 100%write off against expenditure in thefirst year of purchase. Additionally theETL can help businesses and non taxpaying organisations identify energyefficient products and technologiesthat can save money on long-termoperating costs.

The benefit to businesses of EnhancedCapital Allowances is a potential cashflow boost resulting from the reductionof the business’s tax bill of the year inwhich the investment is made. Inaddition, selecting energy productsfrom the ETL opens up potentialenergy savings year after year.

In order to claim an ECA, all abusiness needs to do is fill in therelevant box on its tax return for theperiod during which the expenditureis incurred and return it to the InlandRevenue. For a claim to be acceptedthe item purchased must have beenon the approved Energy TechnologyList at the time of purchase. The listcan be accessed on the ECA website:www.eca.gov.uk

Small to medium sized companieslooking to upgrade or replace existingequipment but lacking sufficientfunds for energy efficient products,can also apply for an interest-freeAction Energy Loan, ranging from£5,000 to £50,000.

Action Energy Loans are part of a £10million government-backed initiativecommitted to reducing energy usewithin UK business. You may beeligible for an Action Energy Loan if the savings you will make on yourenergy bills are estimated to fullycover the cost of the loan within 5years - which means it will effectivelycost you nothing. Any project that isestimated to payback in less than the48 month repayment schedule, willincrease profits from day one.

For more information call the Action Energy Helpline on 0800 58 57 94 or visit:www.actionenergy.org.uk.

Enhanced Capital Allowances and Action Energy LoansReference

Action Energy provides free, impartial help andadvice on implementing energy efficiencymeasures and on cutting energy costs across thespectrum of UK business and public sectororganisations, regardless of function and size ofindividual organisations. The programme hasalready helped thousands of organisations frommajor multinationals to small and medium sizedorganisations reduce their energy consumptionand CO2 emissions, using a wide range of energyefficiency techniques, many of which involvelittle or no cost.

The expert, tailored services include:

• A free Helpline on 0800 58 57 94

• Free onsite energy surveys to identifyopportunities for energy savings

• Online information at www.actionenergy.org.uk

• Publications on energy saving measures

• Interest-free Action Energy Loans of between£5,000 and £50,000 for small and medium-sizedcompanies in England, Wales and NorthernIreland investing in energy saving projects


Action EnergyReference

UNITS

The standard unit used for energy is the Joule, this is quite small, somultiples are needed for everyday use.

1,000 Joules = 1 Kilojoule (kJ)

1,000 kJ = 1 Megajoule (MJ)

1,000 MJ = 1 Gigajoule (GJ)

1,000 GJ = 1 Terajoule (TJ)

The standard unit for power rating is the Watt.

1 Joule/second = 1 Watt

As the Watt is also quite small,multiples are required for everyday use.

1,000 W = 1 Kilowatt (kW)

1,000 kW = 1 Megawatt (MW)

1,000 MW = 1 Gigawatt (GW)

1,000 GW = 1 Terawatt (TW)

If a load of 1 kW is run for one hour,then the energy used is 1 kWh, 1 kWfor 10 hours = 10 kWh as does 5 kWfor 2 hours.

CONVERSION FACTORS

Below are some basic conversion factors to help you. If your gas supplier quotes therms you can use these to convert to kWh. You can also convert from MJ to kWh. If you have oldmotors rated in horsepower

1 kWh = 3.6 MJ = 3,412 Btu

1 therm = 100 000 Btu = 29.31 kWh

1 horse power = 745.7 Watts = 0.7457 kW

Units and factorsReference

Useful contactsReference

Websites

ACTION ENERGYwww.actionenergy.org.uk

ENHANCED CAPITALALLOWANCESwww.eca.gov.uk

ENVIROWISEwww.envirowise.gov.uk

CARBON TRUSTwww.thecarbontrust.co.uk

DEFRA – Department ofEnvironment Food & Rural Affairswww.defra.gov.uk

OFGEM – Office of Gas & Electricity Marketswww.ofgem.gov.uk

Direct access to Action Energycan be made by telephone orwebsite


Documents

Energy Advice - Focus on Energy - East Ayrshire · 2014. 9. 2. · Action Energy gratefully acknowledges the contribution of these organisations. Direct access to Action Energy can