Northfield Ecocentre

Reducing Bills Project2012-2013

Introduction

Outline of Session:- Why Northfield Ecocentre?- Explanation of how assessment was developed- Reading Thermal Imagery- Review of findings- Top issues and recommendations- Going forward

Why Northfield Ecocentre?

- Non-profit Organisation based in Birmingham- Impartial advice organisation- Extensive experience with domestic and non domestic projects- Part of Birmingham Green Commission- Part of European Union Climate KIC Programme- Able to offer environmental, energy and cost saving measures

Initial Assessment...

Environmental Assessment

- Project called ‘Reducing Bills’- Mainly to reflect time of budgetary restraints- Prior discussions found interest of wider impacts- Cost reduction strategies from other issues- Interest about Green Business Tourism Award- Aim to establish a ‘Baseline Figure’- Used Unofficial Display Energy Certificate- Aim to provide recommendations- Another review in 2 years time to review progress

Baseline Figures Explanation

Based on Information Provided:- Electricity Consumption

- Displayed in kWh- Gas Consumption

- Some sites provided in m³- Converted to kWh

- Carbon emissions data- Electricity - used information from providers- Gas – used information from Env Agency- Displayed in tonnes of CO²

-Water figures displayed in litres- Not all site data available

Baseline Display Energy Certificate

- Some sites provided with a Display Energy Certificate-This is NOT OFFICIAL- Cannot to be displayed or communicated outside of this project- Purpose - to allow comparison including ‘Degree Day Data’- To make sites aware of how useful tool is

Thermal Imagery

- Some sites provided with thermal imagery- Mainly done on sites earlier in the year- Needs to be a high temperature difference between inside and outside- Unnecessary on some buildings due to size, age, scale- Shows differences in temperatures within image- Temperature differences are relative- Used effectively inside and outside on some buildings

Reading Thermal ImageryInternal:

Heat Losses from plant:

Reading Thermal ImageryInternal:

Drafts or heat loss:

Reading Thermal ImageryExternal:

Heat Loss from Fabric:

Findings...

Baseline Figures Outline

- All museums now provided data for figures- Some reports being finalised

Totals for Entire Project are as followed:- Electricity- Gas- Carbon Footprint

Baseline Figures Individual Outline?

Top Common Issues...

Staff Behaviour – Low Cost

- Most museums visitors wore outside clothing- Heating therefore mainly for staff/collection- Some staff/volunteers in tshirt’s/shirts- Tread carefully – they are a key resource

Example:- Staff-led awareness- Engage with staff on what they think- Empower staff to come up with ideas- Publish results- Maybe small nudge on areas

Heating Controls – Low Cost

- Most museums had some control over heating- Evidence of heating being left on over summer- Heating levels too high in some places- Most museums collected room data

Example:- Turn boilers down to 60 degrees- If rooms are hot, turn down/off heating, don’t open windows- Consider a system based on room temperature readings

Draft Proofing – Low/Medium Cost

- Many sites had drafts around doors, windows- Even Grade 1 Listed Buildings can reduce drafts- Think reversible systems – English Heritage Advice- Will reduce energy consumption and raise comfort

Example:- Low cost compression strips around doors- Can be done in a way that can’t be seen- Will reduce requirements on heating system - Make staff/volunteers more comfortable

Lighting – Medium Cost

- Most museums still used high energy lighting- Were extensively over lit- Includes Tube lights, filament bulbs, halogen- Lighting upgrades = quick win- Upfront investment

Example:- 35w incandescent spotlights- Replace with 5w LED lights £10 each- Uses 1/7 of the energy- Lasts 5x as long- Payback usually 1.5 years

Going Forward...

Environmental Management System

-‘Management System’- ‘Framework of processes and procedures used to ensure an organisation can fulfil all tasks required to achieve objectives’ –straight from Wikipedia!- Think H&S and Visitor Feedback- Ultimately formalising a system of checks- Can be as little or as complicated as you want- Its how organisations of all sizes reduce env impacts- ISO 14001 an international standard

Environmental Management System

Begin with a policy to set direction:- Get top decision makers involved- Enshrine a staff green champion/team- Set areas of focus- Don’t make it too sky high - ‘we want to stop climate change’- Consider how sustainability can be integrated to core strategy

Environmental Management System

Environmental Programmes:- From policy areas of focus- Plan, do, check, act

Eg. Energy- Year 1: Start monthly energy monitoring programme- Green Champions/Manager ‘X’ Responsible- Review meeting every 3 months- Not working? Why?- Year 2: Reduce energy by 10% on Year 1...

Environmental Management System

Environmental Programmes:- From policy areas of focus – choose 2-3 to focus on- Plan, do, check, act

Eg. Energy- Year 1: Start monthly energy monitoring programme- Green Champions/Manager ‘X’ Responsible- Review meeting every 3 months- Not working? Why?- Year 2: Reduce energy by 10% on Year 1...

Environmental Management System

Environmental Programmes:- From policy areas of focus – choose 2-3 to focus on- Plan, do, check, act

Eg. Energy- Year 1: Start monthly energy monitoring programme- Green Champions/Manager ‘X’ Responsible- Review meeting every 3 months- Not working? Why?- Year 2: Reduce energy by 10% on Year 1...

Environmental Management System

Communicate to Stakeholders!

- Tell staff/volunteers how they’re doing- Tell the world how your doing!- Consider using reporting as a motivation