More and more, reducing energy consumption is becoming a key focus for organisations across all sectors. The benefits of investing resources in this area are numerous – not only is it essential for companies hoping to improve their corporate sustainability credentials, but it can also lead to significant financial savings. It’s quickly become something that companies can’t afford to ignore.
However, despite how essential energy consumption reduction is seen to be, for many it can seem like an insurmountable task. Energy has become such a multi-faceted area that it can be hard for companies to manage all aspects of it across a single building, let alone several ones for larger, multi-site organisations. As a result, it is common for this area to be under-resourced; in many cases it’s simply assigned as a secondary duty to someone with other responsibilities, such as a Health and Safety manager. It then gets pushed down their priority list and is never actioned properly.
Considering these hurdles, the most effective way for organisations to reduce energy consumption is to partner with an energy expert. Working with an external company that knows the right questions to ask and how to resolve common issues will reduce costs, time, and stress.
How has companies’ energy consumption changed in recent years?
The way that businesses across all major sectors operate has changed enormously over the years, and because of this so has the way they use energy. One example of this can be seen in the way new buildings are designed. Many of them are now constructed with energy consumption optimisation firmly in mind, with features such as motion sensor LED lights and improved thermal performance helping combat both costs and carbon emissions. Automation technology and smart controls – allowing businesses to control energy use in more ways than ever before – also play a significant role.
But in some ways, technological advancements are a double-edged sword when it comes to energy reduction. Energy consumption has never been more complex; businesses have more factors than ever to consider. From the lighting arrays used in a building to solar PV panels, there are a huge amount of things companies need to consider if they want to bring down their energy spend as much as possible. And the truth is, many simply don’t have the inhouse expertise to explore the issue effectively.
What approach should be taken to reducing energy spend?
For the reasons mentioned above, it’s essential for companies to implement an over-arching, comprehensive plan when it comes to reducing their energy spend. While self-contained plans can make significant savings alone – for example, investing in LED lighting retrofits – they really only scratch the surface of what’s possible.
You need to collaborate with a company that lives and breathes energy; one that will consider all the data streams available to them when carrying out an energy audit, making use of all the resources available to them. ETS always aims to work with hard data – everything from HH and AMR meter & submeter readings, BMS and sensor data, to actual paper energy bills – to provide companies with a clear picture of how they use energy and, in turn, a clear solution.
What steps should businesses take?
In order to make sure their energy use is at an optimum level, organisations need to establish clear targets by making use of historic and present data, alongside industry and best-practice benchmarks. Almost every organisation can afford to cut their energy spend further, even if they feel as though they’ve already exhausted all the options available to them.
ETS has the level of expertise needed to guide you through the process. We can assist your company in identifying the most effective tactics to generate substantial results and savings.
Questions about energy management technology?
If you have any questions regarding the energy needs of your business, our expert team at ETS are always here to help. You can contact us by calling 0117 205 0542, emailing us at firstname.lastname@example.org or you can submit a contact form.