# 7 Steps towards ESOS Accreditation

- Link: https://imserv.com/news-and-events/7-steps-towards-esos-accreditation/
- Published: 2019-10-01T18:04:50+00:00

### ⏎ The deadline for ESOS Phase 2 compliance is 5th December 2019, however, companies are urged to start putting their plans into place now.

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In 2012 the UK Government incorporated ESOS, the ’Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme’,
as its approach to the EU Energy Efficiency Directive. The mandatory scheme requires
large organisations to record energy usage and carry out energy audits to identify
improvements.  .

ESOS regulations apply to any large UK business that employs 250 or more people 
and has a turnover of greater than £38.9million.  While ESOS goes some way to ensuring
that the larger users audit their energy, there is little in the way of statutory
enforcement when it comes to doing anything about the results – it’s up to businesses
and their energy partners to turn recommendations into energy-saving actions.  The
Environment Agency is urging businesses to start taking the necessary steps to compliance
sooner rather than later to avoid hefty fines ranging from £500 per day for late
submissions up to £50,000:

**Step 1Appoint a Lead Assessor

This can be an employee or external party, provided they are listed as a member 
of an ‘Approved Professional Body’. Approved professional bodies are available on
the [BEIS website.](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/energy-savings-opportunity-scheme-esos#approved-registers-of-esos-lead-assessors)

**Step 2Measurement & Data Analysis

By performing a measurement and data analysis exercise, your organisation will be
able to account for its energy impacts in either energy kWh or in monetary terms.

**Step 3Record Keeping

It is vital to keep a record of building energy information for electricity and 
gas. This can either be done through automated metering, or if you are part of the
Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRCEES), you may already have
data gathering activities in place.

**Step 4Assess Significant Energy Consumption

Once data collection is completed, the ESOS audit assessment should focus on those
activities or assets that consume 90% of the energy consumption; often referred 
to as ‘significant energy’.

**Step 5Consider Base & Peak Energy Load

The audit needs to consider building energy in terms of base and peak load to identify
areas or times of potential waste. From this, common savings opportunities in buildings
are likely to be achieved by changes to outputs such as heating, ventilation and
lighting.

**Step 6Plan wider audits

Organisations must identify where energy is being used, for example refrigeration
or  machinery. In addition, fleet records may also offer indications on driver fuel
performance, route planning and maintenance.

**Step 7Life Cycle Cost Analysis

The audit report needs to record the opportunity benefit for energy savings in terms
of ‘Life Cycle Cost Analysis’ – rather than simply payback period.

In energy terms, organisations know opportunities exist in all buildings and in 
many processes. The challenge for each participant is to identify, understand and
promote the benefits of energy and emission reduction over time, within the boundaries
of their business activity and budget.

IMSERV has long been central to UK electricity measurement and management activity.
The company helps organisations make intelligent use of their energy via Half Hourly
and Non Half Hourly data collection technology and specialist AMR meter, sub-meter
and data logger installations.

Peter Leggett explains:

“IMSERV is already involved in various measurement and process activities, which
actively place data at the heart of management. Our meter and data services collect
25% of all UK electricity consumption every day, providing web access via EDV for
energy managers.

_“Against a recent backdrop of rising utility prices, large organisations should,
by default, be investing in metering, utility management analysis and solutions.
One can argue that it should not need intervention of legislation to enhance existing
business processes, but ESOS will endorse historic projects that may otherwise not
have been started and will open the door to new reduction opportunities. We expect
businesses to look beyond simple percentage savings or 24 month payback, to the 
longer term advantages and sustainability benefits that exists.”_