Save energy

energy efficiency advice for business customers

For most businesses, the main reason for saving energy is financial. However, there are many other reasons why you should consider being more energy efficient, including minimising harm to the environment.

This guide details a number of actions your business could take to become more energy efficient. Having read through them, draw up an action plan with the 10 priority items listed for attention. Use a table like the one shown in appendix 1 to identify what youre going to do, who will do it and when. Its not always necessary to spend money to save energy, but where there is a cost it can often be minimal and repaid very quickly from the resultant savings. Nor does saving energy need to be complicated or take a long time to achieve. Many energy savings can be delivered quickly and simply. SmartStart benefits Managing your energy Lighting Office equipment Space heating Buildings Air conditioning Electric motors Compressed air Boilers Refrigeration Process plant Combined heat and power Renewable energy Funding sources How npower business can help Enquiries and complaints Sample action plan & energy policy 45 67 8 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39

energy efficiency advice for business customers

Benefits of SmartStart Money matters (financial)

There has always been a good financial case for saving energy, even before the sharp increases in energy prices that have taken place recently. By minimising overhead costs, the profitability of any business could improve. So by using less energy, or by gaining more from the same energy use, your business will operate more efficiently. This will lead to lower costs and higher productivity respectively. The cheapest unit of energy is the one you dont use - but thats not all. Electricity and gas bills have VAT added. By using less energy youll also save on VAT, particularly useful if you arent VAT registered or if your business is unable to fully reclaim all of the VAT. If you pay VAT at 17.5% youll most likely be paying the Climate Change Levy* too, which adds even more to your bills. This provides an even greater incentive to use less. For some businesses, energy savings of up to 30% may be achieved.# This could lead to much lower bills, without the need to spend lots of time or money to achieve them. And savings could be ongoing year after year.

Mother Earth (environment)

Oil, coal and gas are the main fossil fuels. When burnt directly (e.g. as in a gas boiler) at your premises, or indirectly (e.g. in a coalfired power station at a remote site), they produce harmful by-products such as carbon dioxide (a so-called greenhouse gas). Carbon dioxide is widely accepted as one of the main causes of climate change. Climate change concerns us all as it can have dramatic effects on our climate and weather patterns. Theres a direct link between burning fossil fuels and the production of carbon dioxide. By saving energy, harmful emissions are also reduced. At the Kyoto Earth Summit, the Government agreed to binding targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by certain dates. In order to help deliver on these targets, npower business has produced this Guide to Saving Energy for its business customers. A companion guide for domestic customers is also available.

Big Brother (regulation)

In the UK and more widely throughout the European Union, regulations can apply to the way businesses use energy. This includes processes covered by the Integrated Pollution, Prevention and Control Regulations. Small businesses may be affected by the amendments to the Building Regulations as detailed in Part L2 of the regulations. These amendments cover new build and certain refurbishment work, all with the aim of increasing energy efficiency.

There is a direct link between burning fossil fuels and the production of carbon dioxide, so by saving energy, harmful emissions are also reduced.

Quality Counts (quality)

Many businesses operate under a quality assurance scheme such as ISO14001 (Environmental Management), either because they recognise the benefits themselves or because their customers or suppliers insist upon it. Part of the quality assurance process requires each business to look at its energy use and find ways to improve efficiency.

* Heavy users of energy and those operating within certain designated business sectors may be eligible for a discount against the Climate Change Levy in exchange for a commitment to reduce energy consumption by agreed amounts over time. These agreements are generally made via the sector trade associations, where further information and eligibility conditions can be determined.
#

The Carbon Trust Better Business Guide available at www.carbontrust.co.uk

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Managing energy Responsibility

Depending upon the scale and complexity of a business, managing energy could involve a team of people or it could be the part time responsibility of just one person. However, it does need to be defined, so that everyone understands their responsibility for energy management.

Policy
Once the responsibility for managing energy is established, you should put in place a policy that best suits the business. For a small business with limited energy use, the policy shown at Appendix 2 may be appropriate. However for more complex businesses or those with more demanding energy needs, a bespoke solution may be needed.

The role of managing energy needs to be defined, so that everyone understands their responsibility.

energy efficiency advice for business customers

Lighting Check lighting levels

You may have more light than you need. Removing an unnecessary 100 Watt incandescent bulb could save about 20 a year.

Turn off fluorescent lights when not needed

A popular myth is that its not worth turning off fluorescent lights for short periods. This isnt true. Turning off a single 65 Watt fluorescent fitting at break times could save around 4 per year.

Turn off unnecessary lights

Each twin 58 Watt fluorescent fitting costs about 23 a year to run.

Rewire lighting controls for small groups of lights, or even individual lights
Better control over what light you use is energy efficient. Each twin 100 Watt fluorescent fitting costs about 44 a year to run.

Fit a time switch to control fixed hours of lighting

Each 70 Watt lamp lit all night, when part night operation would do, costs about an extra 14 per year.

Label light switches

Only turning on lights that are needed will save money a fitting with 4 x 18 Watt lamps will cost about 17 a year to run.

Fit daylight and/or occupancy sensors to lights

For a group of 6 x 80 Watt fluorescent fittings, savings in the order of 51 per year could be achieved.

Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs

Standard incandescent lamps (bulbs) are inefficient 10% light and 90% heat. A 20 Watt low energy lamp in place of a 100 Watt incandescent lamp could save you around 16 a year.

Use task lighting rather than light the whole area Simple steps to saving energy
A single 18 Watt task light instead of an overhead fluorescent light with 4 x 18 Watt tubes could save about 12 per year enough to cover the cost of the task light.

Lighting
Every business needs lighting in one form or another and uses a significant amount of energy simply so that people can see to move around, operate machines, play sports, etc. Retail outlets need display lighting so that their goods are correctly lit to make them visible and appealing. Lighting is used everywhere and comes in a variety of forms, some more energy efficient than others. Many will agree that the best lighting comes from natural daylight. However, natural light isn't available in every situation nor is it available at a constant level, so artificial light is here to stay. The need for artificial lighting can vary from hour to hour and day to day. This is because of atmospheric conditions, which are constantly changing and affecting the available natural daylight and because of the relative position of the sun. Also many businesses have changing needs throughout their work hours. To be more energy efficient with lighting, you need a system that produces the maximum amount of light for the input power and is flexible and responsive to changing circumstances. The control system is therefore crucial.

Replace 38mm fluorescent tubes with 26mm tubes

For each 65 Watt lamp substituted with a 58 Watt lamp, savings of 3 per year will result more than the cost of the lamp. This will usually work with lamps that have starters excluding 8ft fittings. If in doubt, try one first. Fluorescent fittings have been around a long time but modern technology has improved the energy efficiency of the fittings significantly increasing the lamp life. At the same time, colour appearance has been improved and flickering eliminated. Some can even be dimmed.

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Lighting continued Consider whole life cost approach when buying lighting
By replacing twin 80 Watt fluorescent fittings with new twin 58 Watt high frequency fluorescent fittings, energy savings in the order of 13 per fitting will result. Plus, youll have the benefit of lamps that last twice as long and operate flicker-free.

Replace or remove flashing fluorescent tubes

A 100 Watt fluorescent tube flashing every couple of seconds could waste 72 worth of energy in a year.

Consider turning off external lighting

Rather than leaving lights on all night, fit motion sensors. For a typical 300 Watt tungsten halogen lamp, you could save up to 20 a year, which is about the cost of a fitting. Where lights are required to be lit all night, choose discharge lighting a 70 Watt high pressure sodium lamp rather than a 300 Watt tungsten halogen lamp saves around 42 over the year.

Consider: does external lighting need to be on all night? Why not opt for sensor activated security lights?

Need to know more about lighting?

The following organisations can all help with queries about internal and external lighting and the various methods of control:

The Carbon Trust www.thecarbontrust.co.uk/energy Tel 0800 085 2005 UK Lighting Manufacturers' Trade Association www.lif.co.uk Tel 020 8675 5432

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Office equipment Only switch on what you need

A photocopier left on unnecessarily could increase your energy bill by up to 194 a year.

Consider whole life cost approach when you buy equipment

An energy star compliant laser printer could reduce your energy bill by over 19 per year.

Turn off computer monitors when you leave

A 17 tube monitor left on unnecessarily could cost up to 37 per year.

Save up photocopying until you have a batch

Photocopiers use a lot of energy when theyre first switched on and when theyre left on because they need to be warm to work. For best performance, save up copies into a batch and then turn the copier off again. This could save you up to 194 a year.

Avoid copying documents unnecessarily

Cutting down on paper, toner (or ink) and energy could lead to a saving of around 50 per year.

Enable energy saving features on all equipment

Power consumption could be reduced by up to 80%. Enabling power save on a laser printer could save up to 11 per year or more.

Once equipment has been used, turn it off if its not needed again soon.

Avoid using screen savers as they rarely save energy

Sometimes screen savers use more energy. Turning off a screen saver and activating the power save function on a computer monitor could save 25-45 per year.

Keep photocopiers outside air conditioned spaces

This may save up to 200 per year for each copier.

Avoid printing emails

You can save paper, toner and energy by not printing documents and the energy alone could be worth 6 or more per year, per printer.

Office equipment
Many offices have an abundance of equipment that uses energy. This can include computers, printers, faxes, photocopiers, fans, etc. Typically an office can be responsible for up to 30% of the energy used in some small businesses, so keeping this under control can make a significant difference.

Need to know more about office equipment?

The following organisation can help with queries about office equipment and the various methods of control:

The Carbon Trust www.thecarbontrust.co.uk/energy Tel 0800 085 2005

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Space and water heating Ensure thermostats are set to the desired temperature
For every 1C of extra heat your heating bill increases by 8%. For warehouses, 16C is acceptable and 20C is usually acceptable for offices. For hot water, between 60C and 65C is usually suitable for catering and washing to avoid Legionella.

Reset timers after clock change from BST to GMT

If the space heating goes off an hour early, you could be paying for an extra hour of heat made up from portable heaters up to 95 per heater per year.

Ensure radiators are unobstructed

Using portable heaters to make up for insufficient heat can be expensive and costs up to 95 per heater per year.

Fit thermostatic radiator valves

If your radiators are on full without any form of regulation, you could be overheating a room and increasing your heating bill.

Get a new boiler

If your boiler is over 20 years old and you spend 1,100 a year on your heating bill, you could save around 330 simply by fitting a new condensing boiler.

Have boilers professionally serviced

Maintaining your boiler could save you up to 120 per year, if you currently spend 400 on space heating bills.

Fit insulation material behind radiators on outside walls

This could save you around 10 in a year, although circumstances do vary.

Turn off boilers during the summer months

Using an immersion heater during the summer could save 20 per year, although circumstances vary.

Ensure hot water cylinder (calorifier) is well insulated

If you spend 160 per year on hot water this could be halved with an insulated cylinder.

Ensure adequate insulation on all hot water pipes

Insulate all hot water pipes, flanges and valves to prevent heat loss and cut down on your hot water bills.

Space heating
You need space heating to regulate the temperature for people (and sometimes for perishable stock) while theyre in the building. You should match your space heating to the occupancy of the building and regulate it to maintain the desired temperature.

Hot water
Hot water for catering and washing should be heated to 60 65C to avoid Legionella. The temperature should be no higher to reduce excessive heat loss and limit limescale build-up.

Need to know more about space and water heating?

The following organisations can all help with queries about space heating and hot water and the various methods of control:

The Carbon Trust www.thecarbontrust.co.uk/energy Tel 0800 085 2005 The Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association www.hvca.org.uk Tel 020 7313 4900
(provides information on local contractors)

The Combustion Engineering Association www.cea.org.uk Tel 02920 400670

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Buildings Seal external doors and windows with draught excluders

By fitting self-adhesive draught excluders to outside doors and windows you could save 2040 on a typical heating bill of 400.

Keep doors closed between heated and unheated areas

This could reduce your energy bills by 2040 on a typical cost of 400.

Add a lobby to cut down on heat loss

If your reception costs 100 per year to keep warm, 25 could be wasted by allowing heat to escape through a frequently used door.

Fit automatic sensors on loading bay doors

If your loading bay costs 160 per year to keep warm, you could save about 40, depending upon how many times the door is opened, by adopting this measure.

Insulate cavity walls and roof spaces

Prices will vary depending on circumstances but your investment could be recouped within 5 years.

Ensure room temperatures are thermostatically controlled

If you spend 600 per year on space heating, you could reduce your energy bill by about 48 for each degree the temperature is reduced.

Draught excluders can reduce heat loss by around 10%.

Dont heat unoccupied rooms

Check to make sure that radiators are turned off in unused rooms.

Buildings
Effective insulation and draught proofing is essential to reduce heat loss from buildings and to limit noise and airborne pollution. Most buildings have scope for improvement. Good insulation is best fitted during the construction or refurbishment of buildings when it is more cost effective and less disruptive. However, there are still changes that you can make to existing buildings that arent due for major overhauls.

Need to know more about buildings?

The following organisation can help with queries about buildings and the various methods of control:

The Carbon Trust www.thecarbontrust.co.uk/energy Tel 0800 085 2005

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Air conditioning Ensure thermostats are set to the desired temperature

For every 1C below 24C, you could be adding 8% to your air conditioning bill so check regularly that your room temperature thermostats are set correctly. Cooling to 23C or 24C is normally quite acceptable.

Reset timers after clock change from BST to GMT

If the air conditioning comes on an hour early because the timer is set wrong, you could be paying for cooling before its needed. An extra hours cooling each day adds around 9% to your air conditioning bill.

Avoid simultaneous heating and cooling

If you spend 40 heating a space in winter and a further 60 cooling the same space in the summer, your annual bill is 100. But if the systems are both running simultaneously it could add up to 25.

Check humidity controls

Unnecessary humidity control could double the energy required.

Replace air handling unit dampers with variable speed drives

Variable speed drives could pay back within 3 to 5 years.

Use the right filters and keep them clean

Blocked or incorrect filters could be adding to your energy costs and lowering the overall efficiency of your air conditioning plant.

Keep condensers clean

Blocked, damaged or dirty condensers could add to the cost of your air conditioning bills by as much as 25% and may lead

If you have air conditioning, for every 1C below 24C, you could be adding 8% to your energy bill!

to inadequate cooling.

Remove or insulate all heat sources in air conditioned spaces

Identify and eliminate all heat sources uninsulated hot pipes, photocopiers, etc.

Minimise the use of other office equipment that generate heat

One 17 desktop PC monitor left on unnecessarily could cost around 74 per year in direct energy costs plus a further 20 per year for additional air conditioning costs. Circumstances vary.

Minimise solar gain

Control excessive heat from the sun by using blinds or shades.

All chilled water pipes should be well insulated

By insulating chilled water pipes you could be saving on your energy bills, as the chiller plant could operate more efficiently.

Air conditioning
Air conditioning is usually required to regulate the temperature for the benefit of people, but its only needed for as long as theyre in the building. You should match the operation of the air conditioning to the occupancy of the building and regulate it to maintain the desired temperature.

Portable air conditioners should reject heat directly outside

Maximising the efficiency of portable air conditioners could save as much as 50 per year for each externally ducted unit.

Need to know more about air conditioning?

The following organisations can all help with queries about air conditioning and the various methods of control:

The Carbon Trust www.thecarbontrust.co.uk/energy Tel 0800 085 2005 The Heating and Ventilating Contractors' Association www.hvca.org.uk Tel 020 7313 4900
(provides information on local contractors)

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Electric motors Prevent unwanted motors running

A 4kW motor turned off for an hour a day could save about 100 a year. A 50kW motor turned off for an hour a day could save over 1,200!

Slowing down a motor could make significant energy savings

Fitting variable speed drives could lead to significant energy savings with paybacks between 3 and 5 years. A motor taking 14kW at 1,500 rpm and costing 1.19 per hour to run could only take around 1kW at 750 rpm and cost about 9p per hour to run.

Use direct drives rather than belt drives

A 12kW motor driving a pump directly, rather than via a belt, could save about 260 throughout the year.

On belt driven systems, ensure pulleys are properly aligned

A 10kW motor driving a pump with pulleys that are not properly aligned could add 220 to the annual energy cost.

Changing pulley ratios on fixed speed motors could lead to significant energy savings
Slowing a motor down by simply changing the pulley ratio is very cost effective for fixed speed motors and could achieve paybacks in under a year. A motor taking 6kW at 3,000 rpm and costing 51p per hour to run could take less than 1kW and cost less than 7p per hour to run at 1,500 rpm.

Connect oversized motors in permanent star configuration High efficiency motors are not much more expensive than standard motors and could save around - 3% on your energy bills.
An oversized motor costing 200 per year to run normally could cost 180 if connected in permanent star formation.

Use high efficiency motors

A high efficiency EFF1 rated motor used in place of a 25kW basic motor running continuously all year, could save about 400.

Electric motors
Electric motors are major users of electricity in industrial plant and commercial premises. Motive power accounts for almost half the total electrical energy used in the UK and for nearly two thirds of industrial electricity use. Consider what the motor is actually doing. Is it doing useful work? If not, turn it off.

Need to know more about motors?

The following organisation can help with queries about motors and the various methods of control:

The Carbon Trust www.thecarbontrust.co.uk/energy Tel 0800 085 2005

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Compressed air Consider heat recovery

It could yield up to 40% of the compressors input power as a free heat source.

Ensure compressed air is used appropriately

As an energy source, compressed air costs 10 times that of electricity (90% is wasted as heat in the compressor) so it should be used sparingly. Using compressed air to dry products when a simple 3kW blower would do, means that you could be wasting more than 2 for each hour of continuous use, maybe as much as 4,000 in a year.

Locate and fix air leaks

If you have a 30kW compressor running on load for 8 hours per day and 40% is wasting away, then you could be losing the equivalent of 1,600 per year.

Switch off compressors when not needed

A 30kW compressor running offload over lunchtime all year round, could be costing you over 200 a year.

Maintain compressors properly

A 15kW compressor running inefficiently could be costing you over 850 a year.

Reduce compressed air generation pressure You could save up to 30% by implementing a few very easy measures.
Compressors that cost 1,500 a year at 7 bar pressure could only cost around 1,400 at 6 bar.

Avoid unnecessary filtering or drying

Providing ultra clean air when basic filtered air is all that is required could be costing you dearly in energy and filters. Drying also costs significant amounts as the air has to be cooled to separate the moisture. Ensure that you are filtering and drying to the required standard and no more as this could lead to good financial savings.

Ensure that multiple compressor installations are properly sequenced

Exact savings will depend on your own system.

Ensure air inlets are clear and unobstructed

If your 40kW compressor is drawing air from within a room with an ambient air temperature of 33oC, you could be adding about 4% to the running cost, which could mean an extra 800 per year, based on a 40 hour week.

Isolate redundant pipework to areas that no longer need compressed air

Exact savings will depend on your own system.

Compressed air
Compressed air is a convenient and often essential utility, widely used in industry. However, it takes a lot of energy (usually electricity) to generate compressed air and consequently its very expensive. For example, it costs up to ten times more to run air tools than their electric equivalent, because only 10% of input energy to a compressor is doing useful work. The other 90% is rejected as heat. Up to 30% savings could be possible by some simple good housekeeping measures, often achievable at no or low cost.

Need to know more about compressed air?

The following organisations can all help with queries about compressed air and the various methods of control:

The Carbon Trust www.thecarbontrust.co.uk/energy Tel 0800 085 2005 British Compressed Air Society www.britishcompressedairsociety.co.uk Tel 020 7935 2464

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Boilers Replace old boilers

All modern boilers have a better efficiency than their older counterparts so replacing an old boiler with a new one could save as much as 30% depending upon individual circumstances.

Downsizing a boiler could lead to savings

Boilers were often oversized, so there may be an option to downsize, which could lead to additional savings. However, replacing a boiler can be an expensive option and may cause considerable disruption, so it may be worth considering other measures first.

Insulate all hot water pipes, flanges and valves

Insulate all hot water pipes, flanges and valves to prevent heat loss and you could save up to 10% of supplied energy.

Ensure the boiler is only running when it needs to Ensure the boiler is only heating to the required temperature Deal with variable needs for heat
Where theres a variable need for heat in particular areas, ensure that the steam or hot water pipes can be isolated when not needed.

Check for water or steam leaks and rectify as necessary Ensure servicing of boilers
Boilers should be professionally serviced at least once a year to ensure optimum efficiency.

Insulate boiler casing

Insulate (or add extra insulation) to the boiler casing. Consult an expert.

You could save up to 10% of supplied energy by insulating all hot water pipes, flanges and valves.

Act to detect problems with boilers

Regularly monitoring flue gas temperatures and the composition of the flue gas itself can lead to early detection of a problem with the boiler. Use an expert, or have automatic monitoring equipment fitted.

Ensure that a minimum number of boilers are running

In multiple boiler installations, a sequencing control device should be used to ensure that the minimum number of boilers are running fully loaded, rather than all boilers running on part load.

Maximise condensate
Maximise the amount of condensate being returned to the boiler, as this could save heat energy and save on water treatment costs. Consult an expert.

Boilers
Many boilers are small and compact and are used for space and water heating applications, particularly in the smaller commercial and retail business sectors. Some larger buildings and many industries will have much bigger boilers (or a combination of boilers) and these need to be considered more specifically than the smaller, individual packaged boilers. Larger boilers may be providing heat in the form of hot water or steam, depending upon the need, and they tend to be located in specific plant rooms. Its worth noting that not all of the heat produced by a boiler is useful. Some is lost up the flue, some through the boiler case and some through leaks in the system. With steam boilers heat will also be lost during blowdown (a process that helps to prevent the boiler clogging up with particles left over when water is converted to steam). Further losses will occur if the condensate (whats left when the steam turns back into water) is not collected and re-used.

Position new boilers effectively

If youre considering getting a new boiler, site it as near to the heat demand as possible.

Need to know more about boilers?

The following organisations can all help with queries about boilers:

The Carbon Trust www.thecarbontrust.co.uk/energy Tel 0800 085 2005 The Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association www.hvca.org.uk Tel 020 7313 4900
(provides information on local contractors)

The Combustion Engineering Association www.cea.org.uk Tel 02920 400670

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Refrigeration Is cooling really needed?

A freezer cooling 2C lower than necessary and costing 190 a year to run could be wasting around 30.

Minimise the number of times that doors are left open

Each time the door is opened the cold air escapes and warm moist air enters, both of which lead to greater energy use. The warm moist air has to be cooled down and in the process ice forms, leading to more frequent defrosting as the ice builds up.

Keep evaporators and condensers clean and unobstructed

If your freezer costs 1,500 a year to run, then it could cost you an extra 150 if you allow the evaporator temperature to rise by 3C, twice this amount if the condenser temperature also rises by 3C.

Fix all refrigerant leaks

Refrigerant gas is expensive and lack of it will severely limit the performance of your system and add to the running costs.

Keep door seals in good condition

Replacing a bad door seal with a good one will often pay for itself in less than 12 months.

Insulate refrigerant pipes

Pipe insulation is very good value for money and will keep running costs down. Often the outlay can be recovered

At little or no cost, your business could save up to 20% off your refrigeration energy consumption costs.

in less than 2 years.

Ensure adequate insulation around the cooled space

Insulation is very good value for money and will keep running costs down. Often the outlay can be recovered in less than 3 years.

Refrigeration
Refrigeration energy consumption costs British industry some 300 million a year and rising. In certain sectors notably food and drink, chemicals, food supermarkets and cold storage, it accounts for a significant proportion of overall site energy costs. A small percentage reduction in refrigeration energy could represent huge financial savings. Many refrigeration plants can be improved to save up to 20% of their energy consumption. Much of this can be done at little or no cost with paybacks on investment of well under two years being the norm.

Need to know more about refrigeration?

The following organisations can all help with queries about refrigeration and the various methods of control:

The Carbon Trust www.thecarbontrust.co.uk/energy Tel 0800 085 2005 The British Refrigeration Association www.feta.co.uk Tel 0118 940 3416 The Institute of Refrigeration www.ior.org.uk Tel 020 8647 7033

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Process plant Shut down unnecessary plant

Preventing any unwanted plant from running will save the full input power to the plant. For example, a 15kW kiln turned off at night when not needed could save over 2,000 in a year.

Plan for energy efficiency in new installations

An investment in energy efficiency at an early stage could yield good results in the longer term.

Ensure plant is used at its optimum level

Its always better to run plant at its optimum, as this is when efficiency is greatest. At quiet times, it may be better to shutdown the plant and allow for the workload to build up again.

Monitor energy performance of key processes

Monitoring consumption patterns on a regular basis will help keep track of costs, but may also give an early indication of equipment failure, as increasing consumption is often associated with imminent plant failure.

Ensure plant is properly maintained

Poorly maintained plant could use up to 30% (sometimes more) energy for the same production and is more likely to break down.

Why leave plant switched on when its sitting idle?

Consider options for improved controls for existing processes

A control system that maximises throughput but minimises costs is the ideal set-up and could lead to savings.

Consider opportunities for heat recovery

This could yield up to 40% of your compressors input power as a free heat source.

Process plant
Process plant covers a diverse range of equipment, including dryers, furnaces, baking ovens, mixers and blenders, crushers and grinders, tanks and vats, treatment booths and many others used for specialist jobs in industry. Process plant is often overlooked when people are thinking about energy efficiency because its seen as too specialist. Also product quality comes first and theres often a great reluctance to change anything in case the product is affected.

Need to know more about process plant?

The following organisation can help with queries about process plant and the various methods of control:

The Carbon Trust www.thecarbontrust.co.uk/energy Tel 0800 085 2005

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Combined heat and power

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is the simultaneous generation of heat and power, usually electricity, in a single process. Because the heat is recovered and used, the overall efficiency of the process is much greater than the more traditional methods of generating electricity where the waste heat is generally discarded. The Government is promoting CHP as a key technology and is looking to substantially increase both the output and the number of plants operating by 2010. Generally, CHP plant produces twice as much heat as power, so where theres a need for heat (or cooling) and power in the ratio 2:1 for long periods (typically 4,500 hours per year or more), CHP may be a valid option. The heat doesnt need to be used directly where the CHP plant is located. However, the further it needs to travel, the greater the costs become and the overall efficiency will also drop. By using absorption chillers, its possible to produce cooling from heat but this will add to the cost. Most CHP plants run on natural gas and fuel inputs. Electricity outputs from Good Quality CHP are exempt from the Climate Change levy. CHP plant is available in a wide range of sizes and therefore can be tailored to many applications. CHP plant is capital intensive. In the right circumstances energy services companies may fund the plant in exchange for long term contracts to supply heat and power from the plant.

By utilising waste heat, CHP is a more efficient process than traditional generation methods.

Need to know more about CHP?

The following organisations can all help with queries about CHP and the various methods of control:

The Carbon Trust www.thecarbontrust.co.uk/energy Tel 0800 085 2005 Combined Heat & Power Association www.chpa.co.uk Tel 020 7828 4077 Combined Heat & Power Club www.chpclub.com

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Renewable energy
Renewable energy is the name given to energy sources that occur naturally and continuously in the environment such as energy from the sun, wind, biomass, river flows, waves, currents and tides. They tend to be inexhaustible supplies of energy, which are mostly non-polluting. Renewable energy hasnt been widely available in the past but its a developing area and will continue to grow into the future. Renewable energy is exempt from the Climate Change Levy.

Renewable energy is exempt from the Climate Change Levy.

Need to know more about renewable energy?

The following organisations can all help with queries about renewable energy and the various methods of control:

The Renewable Power association www.r-p-a.org.uk Tel 020 7747 1830 The Energy Saving Trust www.est.org.uk Tel 020 7222 0101

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Funding for energy efficiency Own resources

Many energy efficiency opportunities cost nothing to implement and others can be done at minimal cost, making them very attractive propositions. The payback period can also be quite short. However, some energy efficiency improvements may require greater investment (time and money) so will require more careful consideration. When your own resources are not sufficient to cover all of the cost, there may be help available from the following sources: Grants Grants are available to assist with the capital costs of an energy efficiency investment. All have eligibility criteria, so not all businesses will qualify. Grants may be for specific customer groups, particular types of investment projects, or only available in certain areas of the country. A good starting point for information on grants is the Energy Saving Trust visit www.est.org.uk or call 020 7222 0101. Loans Interest free loans for energy efficiency investments may be available, particularly for Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs), where the loan is repaid from the energy savings realised. The amount available from The Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme The Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme offers tax incentives to businesses that invest in energy saving equipment and enables them to claim 100% first year capital allowances on investments in approved energy saving equipment. Businesses are now able to write off the whole cost of their investment against their taxable profits for the period during which they make the investment. The energy technology list contains all of the equipment that qualifies for the ECA scheme. The list is updated regularly. The technologies that currently appear on the Energy Technology List include: air-to-air energy recovery, automatic monitoring and targeting, boilers, combined heat and power (CHP), compact heat exchangers, compressed air equipment, heat pumps for space heating, HVAC zone controls, lighting, motors, pipework insulation, refrigeration equipment, solar thermal systems, thermal screens, variable speed drives, warm air and radiant heaters. For full details visit the schemes website at www.eca.gov.uk or call The Carbon Trust Energy Helpline on 0800 085 2005.

Where greater investment is required there are many sources of funding.

The Carbon Trust scheme is currently 5,000 to 100,000 at 0% interest and no fees. More details are available on their website at

www.thecarbontrust.co.uk/energy/pages/page_72.asp

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Help from npower Business

npower business has an energy efficiency helpline that provides access to industry experts who are skilled in a wide range of energy-related disciplines. They provide informed and up-to-date energy efficiency advice for business customers we can answer your questions and provide details of other specialist organisations that may be able to help further. npower business energy efficiency helpline

Help from other organisations

The Carbon Trust has been established by the Government to provide a range of programmes and initiatives to help businesses exploit commercial opportunities available by moving towards a low carbon economy. The Carbon Trust is the UKs principal energy efficiency information and advice programme for organisations in both the public and private sectors. The Carbon Trust provides information, advice, practical help and financial support to help businesses save energy. They promote best practice through free publications and The Energy Saving Trust (EST) is the UKs leading organisation working towards the sustainable and efficient use of energy by households and small organisations. The EST runs a network of local Energy Efficiency Advice Centres (EEACs) providing free, impartial and bespoke advice to small businesses and households throughout the UK. EST provides practical assistance and advises on potential sources of grant funding to help SMEs realise the cost and environmental benefits available from the adoption of energy saving measures. The EST is a non-profit organisation funded by government and the private sector. For further information on these issues or advice on energy efficiency measures, contact: The Energy Saving Trust

ESTA

www.esta.org.uk or phone 07041 49 20 49

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) produces a range of publications (there may be a charge) on energy efficiency issues related to buildings. CIBSE also offers professional training, education and membership services. For further information contact: CIBSE

0845 070 4019

www.cibse.org or phone 020 8675 5211

The Energy Institute provides individuals and organisations with professional training, education and membership services in energy and environmental management and awareness. It is an NVQ delivery centre and accrediting body for a variety of company and university courses. For further information contact: The Energy Institute

Residential
npower has a booklet called Using Electricity and Gas Efficiently in your Home which you can get by calling our free energy efficiency helpline line. We can also provide fact sheets containing low-cost hints and other ways to use energy efficiently. Customers may also be able to get advice on grants towards a range of energy efficiency measures. This may include financial help towards insulation, replacement boilers and heating controls, energy efficient appliances and low energy lighting. npower residential energy efficiency helpline

events. They also encourage action with advice and support at every stage from planning to design, implementation and management. For further information on these services or for advice on energy efficiency measures, contact: The Carbon Trust

www.est.org.uk or phone 020 7222 0101

www.thecarbontrust.co.uk/energy or phone 0800 085 2005

Contact the Carbon Trust to access the following services:

Other sources of information:

Further information on the Climate Change Levy and Climate Change Agreements can be found on the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and HM Customs and Excise websites:

www.energyinst.org.uk or phone 020 7467 7100

The National Energy Foundation manages the Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme which provides independent verification of the achievements of organisations implementing energy efficiency and management measures. For further information contact: The National Energy Foundation

0800 02 22 00

Free information and advice, whether basic or technical Professional, independent and objective advice about energy efficient and environmentally conscious building design

For more advice on energy efficiency measures for your business and home visit npower.com

www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/index.htm www.hmce.gov.uk/business/othertaxes/ccl.htm
The Energy Systems Trade Association (ESTA) is an energy management trade association, focusing on demand side energy efficiency of buildings, building services and process services in the non-domestic sector. ESTA represents over 100 suppliers of products and services covering the energy efficient monitoring, control, operation and management of buildings, building services and process services. For further information contact:

Free on-site energy surveys, conducted by a professional energy consultant who will draw up an action plan showing how your business could save money, save energy and reduce emissions (usually for larger customers spending over 50,000 per year on energy and subject to availability and eligibility criteria)

www.nef.org.uk or phone 01908 665555

Possible funding for energy efficiency improvements (subject to availability and eligibility criteria)

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Appendix 1 Action Plan

Item 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 What will be done Ensure all computer monitors are turned off at night Fit door closer to external door Change T12 fluorescent tubes to T8 Undertake compressed air leak test Check thermostat settings on space heating Who will do it All Fred Bill Harry Bill When will it be done Every night By 20 March By 25 March By 2 April By 25 March

Enquiries and complaints

You should contact npower business in the first instance if you have a problem. You can find our contact numbers on your energy bills together with details about our complaints procedure. In the unlikely event that we havent been able to resolve your complaint, you can contact energywatch for advice. energywatch is an industry watchdog, set up by Parliament to offer free impartial help and advice about complaints. Consumer Helpline: 08459 06 07 08 email: enquiries@energywatch.org.uk Fax: 020 7799 8341

Appendix 2, sample energy policy XYZ Co Ltd Energy Policy

XYZ Co Ltd is determined to conserve all forms of energy to reduce operating costs and to minimise damage to the environment. With fuel prices set to rise by significant amounts over the next 5 years, it has become imperative that we all seek to use less energy. As well as moving towards more efficient use of energy, XYZ Co Ltd will strive to source its energy needs from renewable sources, which will further protect the environment. It is hoped that over the next 10 years XYZ Co Ltd will have saved a minimum of 10% of its energy use by the adoption of best practice, modern engineering solutions and by the encouragement and commitment of its employees to use less energy. These savings can be channelled into further energy saving initiatives and front line services in support of our main business activities. Well renew this energy policy at regular intervals and update it to take into account changing circumstances and to ensure it provides opportunities for continuous improvement. The responsibility for overseeing the energy policy and for subsequent reviews has been delegated to Mr Somebody, who will be supported by Mrs Someone. Please give them your whole hearted support. Presidents, Chairmans or Chief Executives signature Date

Energy Policy Statement

This document sets out the goals, objectives and targets for the sustained reduction in energy use throughout the XYZ Co Ltd organisation. This energy policy forms the basis of a 10 year energy saving plan, which will lead to environmental benefits and lower operating costs. The energy policy will run between August 2008 and July 2018 and will be reviewed every 6 months to ensure the goals, objectives and targets are on track and to incorporate any necessary changes. It is the intention of XYZ Co Ltd to: Publish our corporate energy policy Purchase environmentally friendly energy, where we are not disadvantaged by so doing Adopt a whole life costing approach to purchases, where particular attention is paid to energy efficiency Reduce energy consumption, and thus reduce carbon emissions Improve overall energy efficiency Engineer solutions for saving energy rather than rely solely on manual intervention Encourage and motivate employees to save energy Publicise these objectives Ensure all items identified in our action plan have been implemented Introduce energy conservation into the induction process for all new employees

www.energywatch.org.uk
Textphone for deaf or hearing impaired consumers:

18001 08459 06 07 08

Targets
XYZ Co Ltd has agreed to a sustained reduction in energy consumption, year on year, by the adoption of the 10 year energy saving plan. The individual targets for reductions in gas and electricity are detailed below. The base year for statistical purposes will be 2008 and all targets will be set and measured against this.

Gas
For gas, the 10 year plan will be for a sustained reduction in use of around 1% per annum, leading to a reduction overall of 10% by 2018. The preferred measure will be kWh/m2 adjusted by degree day data to take account of changing weather conditions.

Electricity
For electricity the 10 year plan will be for a sustained reduction in use of around 1% per annum, leading to a reduction overall of 10% by 2018. The preferred measure will be kWh/m2. Signature (Mr Somebody) Date Signature (Mrs Someone) Date

Fact

your business could profit from intelligent use of energy!

For further information go to npowerbusiness-energyefficiency.com

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