With energy regulator, Ofgem and energy firms such as SSE recently warning of the possiblity of the UK facing a blackout as a result of reduced energy generation, it’s even more critical for UK companies to get a handle on their energy management.
But, according to Paul Akrill, Operations Director at IMServ Europe, one of the UK’s largest independent energy management providers, organisations are being too complacent when it comes to energy management.
Paul Akrill explains:
“Installing smart metering has been at the heart of many UK organisations’ energy management policies and this has resulted in huge volumes of data, but unfortunately businesses are doing nothing with this intelligence.
“My team collects energy data from over 200,000 individual meter points; with each of these points producing one or more readings per half hour – that’s 7 billion meter readings in our systems per year. Put into context, 80 billion units of electricity worth £10 billion is billed using the data we collect.
“The problem is that despite organisations having the information, energy management is still falling down the business agenda for too many companies. Primarily this is because there has been less focus on energy management as a result of the recent simplification of CRC (Carbon Reduction Commitment)and also due to the fact that energy management is seen as a non-essential discipline in many organisations, especially for SMEs.
“There are, of course, some organisations that are using their energy data, analysing it, using the information gained to understand their consumption patterns and then using that data intelligence to make investment decisions and change behaviour. But, in our experience – and we work closely with many FTSE 200 organisations – less than half the data we collect is used in any meaningful way to drive best practice energy management.
“This not only represents a huge waste but, more importantly, huge potential. However, this can only be realised if there is a significant shift in behaviour.
“The Government has a major push on smart meters, rolling out 53million meters by 2019 to all premises, but the lack of sustained interest in energy management is a big obstacle that has to be addressed.
“Unfortunately, these complacent organisations are often the most energy intensive users. Business and public sector organisations are much more energy intense than homes, and also more spend focussed. And, yet, if these organisations are not using metering effectively to cut costs and make energy savings then is it realistic of the government to expect domestic smart metering to work?
“Smart metering can only bring about energy and financial savings if organisations use the data to make changes. There is no point in the government investing billions of pounds and pushing smart metering if the data collected is going to sit unanalysed and no behavioural or infrastructure changes implemented.”
IMServ has put together five tips to help organisations with energy management:
- Be clearer within the organisation as to who is responsible for energy spend
- Look at the data and ensure it makes sense
- Understand what you’re looking at and if you don’t, get training
- Assess where the energy is going and how it is being used
- Introduce more metering to aid better understanding, consider automation and control solutions, staff awareness programmes, energy dashboard and reporting packs
For help, support or advice on your organisation’s energy management please contact contactus@imserv.com
Editor’s Notes
About IMServ (www.imserv.com)
IMServ Europe Ltd is one of the UK’s largest independent energy data management providers. The company offers carbon and energy management solutions, helping organisations across all sectors to save energy, reduce costs and control carbon emissions.
IMServ offers an all-inclusive portfolio that covers data collection, analysis, reporting and carbon management. To date over 180,000 sites in England, Scotland and Wales are benefiting from its solutions.
Follow IMServ here on Twitter
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KISS Public Relations
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justine@kisscom.co.uk
laura@kisscom.co.uk
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