More Bright IdeasA Smarter Business Guide to Energy Efficiency
Foreword
1 Key Steps to Energy Efficiency •AppointanEnergyChampion
•UnderstandYourESBBill
•MonitorUsage
•ReviewYourOperations
•PlanandImplementImprovements
•MonitorandReviewProgress
4 Key Areas for Change •Lighting
•Heating
•Air-Conditioning
•OfficeEquipment
6 Business Electricity Prices – Tariffs for Business
•YourGuidetoElectricityPrices
forYourBusiness
8 Additional Services
9 Ireland a ‘Hot Bed’ for Global Energy Efficiency
ForewordNomatterwhattypeofbusinessyouarein,reducingyourelectricityconsumptionmeansbecomingenergyefficientandsavingmoney.Asmoreandmorebusinesseslookforwaystoimproveperformancebothenvironmentallyandfinancially,ChambersIrelandandESBhaveteameduptoshowbusinesseshowthiscanbedonesimply,byintroducingpracticesthatuselesselectricityinallpartsofyourbusiness.
Giventhesignificanceofenergyusagebybusiness,theroleofindividualcompaniesandtheirstaffinimprovingenergyefficiencyisvital.Moreover,increasedproductivity,areductioninpollution,lowerconsumptionofnaturalresources,andimprovedfinancialperformancecanallbedelivered.
More Bright Ideas: A Smarter Business Guide to Energy Efficiencyexploresthekeystepstoenergyefficiency,howyoucanunderstandyourenergyusage,identifieskeyareasforchangeandprovidesusefulinformationforhowyouthecustomercanbetterunderstandtariffsandbillsinordertomaximisesavings.
Ian Talbot, Susan Kinane, ChambersIreland ESB
Contents
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Saveenergy,savemoney, savetheenvironment.Whateveryourbusiness,usingenergyefficientlywillhaveanumberofbenefits.Notonlywillyoubereducingyourenvironmentalimpactbybecomingenergyefficient,youwillalsobesavingyourbusinessmoney,addingtoyourprofitsandimprovingyourbottomline.
Nomatterwhattypeofbusinessyouhave,therearealwaysopportunitiestoreduceenergyconsumption.Yourcompanycanstartsavingmoneybyfollowingthesesixeasysteps.
• Appoint an Energy Champion• Understand Your ESB Bill• Monitor Usage• Review Your Operations• Plan and Implement Improvements• Monitor and Review Progress
1. Appoint an Energy ChampionNominatesomebodyinyourbusinesstoberesponsibleforenergymanagement.Make surethatitispartoftheirjobandnotataggedonextra.
WhoeveryourEnergyChampionis,itisimportanttorememberthattheydonotnecessarilyneedtobeanexpertinenergymanagement.Theywillneedthesupportofseniormanagement.
Onceinplace,yourEnergyChampionshoulddeviseandimplementanenergymanagementplan.Itshouldincludehowandwhereenergyisused,howcurrentpracticescanbeimproved,identifyareasforimprovement,offersolutionsandputthesesolutionsintopractice,briefstaffontheirroleinreducingusage,andreviewandreportonperformancetoseniormanagement.
TheEnergyChampionwillbethepointofcontactforESBonenergyefficiency.RemembertheESBBusinessCentrewillbetheretohelpyourEnergyChampionwithadviceandinformationasrequired-business@esb.ieortelephone1850372787.
Key Steps to Energy Efficiency
For general queries/advice: Phone: 1850 372 787 Email: [email protected]
Web: www.esb.ie/business
For sales enquiries: Phone: 1850 30 50 70 Email: [email protected]
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2. Understand Your ESB BillAllESBbusinesscustomershaveatarifforpricingstructurethatappliestotheirsupplyagreement.Inallcases,businesscustomersareeitherontheMaximumDemandorononeoftheGeneralPurposetariffs.
Eachtariffhasadifferentmake-up,andunderstandingyourtariffandthebasisforyourenergychargesisakeysteponthewaytoreducingyourcosts.
Understandingyourtariffmaypresentsavingsopportunitiesthatyouwerenotpreviouslyawareof.Forinstance,ifyouareontheGeneralPurposetariff,andyoumoveaslittleas12percentofyourcurrentorpotentialelectricityusagetonight-time,youmaybenefitfromESB’sNightsavertariff,whereusagechargesarealmost50percentcheaperthandaytime.
Formoreinformationvisitwww.esb.ie/business/bill
3. Monitor UsageYourEnergyChampionshouldbegintakingandrecordingmeterreadingsonadailybasis,whichwillgiveyouanindicationofhowmuchelectricityisbeingusedduringthedayandatnight.
Oncedailyconsumptionhasbeenidentified,recordreadingstoestablishweeklyand seasonalpatterns.
YourEnergyChampionshouldprepareasummaryspreadsheetchartingelectricityusagepatterns,whichwillidentifytheequipmentthatisusingelectricityandthus,givingyouthestartingpointfromwhereyoucanmakesavings.
AfullexplanationonhowtoreadallESBmetertypesisavailableatwww.esb.ie/business/meter
4. Review Your OperationsOnceyouhaveestablishedausagepattern,lookforthewaysyourbusinessoperationuseselectricityandidentifytheequipmentthatisusinglargeamountsofelectricity.Foreverypieceofequipmentusingelectricity,considerwhetherornotrunninghourscanbereduced,whethercontrolscanbefittedtoswitchoffwhennotinuse,andiftheequipmenthasafullserviceandmaintenancehistory.Allequipmenthasaspecificationplatefromwhichyoucanseewhatitusageperhouris(seeTable1).
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Getyourstaffinvolvedhere.Afterall,itis likelythattheyusetheequipmentmostregularlyandthereforetheycanhelptoimplementimprovements.
5. Plan and Implement ImprovementsObjectivestoreduceconsumptionshouldbecarefullyplannedandtargetsshouldbesetagainsteverythingthatyouhopetoachieve.
Afullactionplanforimprovementsinallidentifiedareasshouldbemadecleartoallmembersofstaffandshouldinclude
improvementsforeachoftheareasthatuseelectricity.Forexample:
• Lighting–Fitenergyefficientlampsandintroducea‘switchoff’programmefor staff;and
• Officeequipment–Fullyswitchoffallequipmentwhennotinuse.
Introducingthesesimplestepscansetaprecedentamongstaffandallowyoutointroducemorefocusedmeasureslateron.
Whenbuyingnewelectricalequipment ensurethatthedecisiontopurchaseisbased ontheprojectedlifetimeenergyandmaintenancecosts.
6. Monitor and Review ProgressStartyourenergyefficiencyprogrammewithacelebratoryeventandmakesuretoincludetheentireteam.Onceit’supandrunning,keepstaffengagedbyplacingenergyawarenessmessagesatstrategiclocationsthroughouttheoffice/buildingandbybeginningthecostcuttingmeasuresinyourchosenareaimmediately.
Andremember,involvingasmanypeopleaspossibleintheplanwillgenerategoodsuggestionsandfeedback.
TABLE 1
Duty 2.6kW9,000btu
Air Flow 300m3/hr
Power Supply 230v1ph50hzRun7A
Noise Level 55dba@1mtr
Weight 35kg
Dimensions WxLxH 380x480x830mm
Control Remore+AutomaticThermostat
Power Consumption
1.6kWperhour
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Inmanybusinesses,thereisacommonthreadinareasofenergyconsumption.Theseareasincludelighting,heating,airconditioningandofficeequipment.Here’s howyoucanstartmakingsavingsineachoftheseareas.
Lighting• Installingoccupancysensorstoavoidlightsbeingleftonunnecessarilycanprovidesavingsofupto10-80%.
• Replaceordinaryincandescentbulbswithlowenergyequivalents.Thesegiveoutthesamelightbutconsume80%lesselectricityandlast10timeslonger.
• WhenrefurbishingfitT5fluorescentfittings.Theseuse20%lesselectricitythanconventionalT8fittings.
• Useindividualtasklightinginpreferencetoincreasingilluminationoveralargearea.
• Reflectorsandlouversthatarenotcleanedregularlywillreducelightoutputbyupto20%.
• Planacompletelampreplacementprogramme.Standardfluorescentlampsshouldbereplacedafter8,000hoursofuse.Oldlampsgiveabout50%offulloutput.
• Alwaysswitchoffinteriorandexteriorlightswhennotneeded.
• Fittimeswitchesandphotocellstoautomaticallyswitchonandoffexteriorlights.
Heating• Ensurefrostprotectionthermostatsarenotsettoohigh.
• Useelectronicthermostatsinsteadofmechanicalonesastheyprovideafasterresponsetochangingtemperatures.
• Ensureonlyoccupiedareasareheatedandthatheatingisreducedduringnon-workinghours.
• Ifpre-heatinglargeareas,switchoffanyunnecessaryventilationfirsttoavoidunnecessaryheatloss.
• Insulationcanreducetheheatlossthroughanuninsulatedceilingbyupto20%.Insulatingfloorsisjustasimportant.
• Considerinstallingaset-backsensortocontrolheatinginareassuchasconferencerooms.Set-backsensorscostaslittleas€30butcouldsaveyouapacket!
• Ifasensorislocatedoveraheatingsource, thentheairconditioningwilloperatefor longerandusemoreenergythannecessary.
Key Areas for Change
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Air-Conditioning• Ifoverheatingoccurs,turndowntheheating.Donotopenwindows.
• Checkair-flowrates–fanscanconsumea largeamountofenergysoyouneedtolook forwaystoreduceair-flow.
• Mechanicalventilationandextractioncanaddsignificantlytoyourenergycosts,notonlyinrunningcostsbutalsoinair-conditioningandheatingcosts.
• Setair-conditioningandheatingcontrolsso thattheydonotconflictwitheachotherandwasteenergy.Ideally,setheatingat19ºCandair-conditioningat24ºC.
• Locateheat-generatingequipment(photocopiers, vendingmachines,factorymachinery,displaylighting,etc.)awayfromair-conditionedspaces.
• Ensureair-conditioningunitsare servicedregularly.
Office Equipment• Computers–Atypicalcomputerwilluseapproximately€216ayearinenergyifleftonallthetime.Usinga‘sleep’modecanreducethisby65%,whileturningacomputeroffcompletelyafterworkhourscutsenergyusageby75%.
• Photocopiers–Leavingyourphotocopieronstandbyovernightcosts18cpernight,or€73peryear.What’smore,aphotocopierleftonstandbyovernightusesenoughenergytoprintover1,500A4copies!
• Printersandfaxmachines–Investigatewhetheryourprintershaveadouble-sidedmodeandactivateitifitisavailable,preferablysettingdouble-sidedprintingasthedefault.Ifitisnotavailable,encouragestafftoselectdouble-sidedprintingeachtimetheyprintadocument.Theenergysavingmodeshouldalsobeactivated,allowingthemachinetoautomaticallypowerdownafterasetamountoftime.
• Vendingmachinesandwatercoolers–Vendingmachinesoftenrun24/7soitiswisetoinstall7-daytimecontrolstoensurethatthemachinesarepoweredoffwhennotinuse.Also,ensurethatthewatercoolerisplacedinasuitablelocation–awayfromasunnywindow–formaximumefficiency.
DID YOU KNOW?Electronic thermostats provide a faster
response to changes in temperature
than mechanical thermostats.
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Twotypesofelectricitytariffs(pricing)applytobusinesscustomers(SMEs)withESB.
General Purpose TariffsSuitssmallbusinessesthatareopen9amto5pm,withamaximumimportcapacitycontractwithESBNetworksforlessthan50kVA.Itcontainsafixedstandingchargeandblock1andblock2unitcharge.
TheGeneralPurposeNightsavertariffsareavariationoftheGeneralPurposetariffsandarebestsuitedtobusinessesthatcanusemorethan12%oftheirdailyelectricityloadatnighte.g.hotelsandpubs.
ComparedwiththeGeneralPurposetariffsbusinesseswiththeNightsavertariffshaveanincreasedstandingcharge,slightlyincreaseddayunitchargeandtocompensatenightunitsarechargedatroughlyhalfthepriceofdayunits.
Maximum Demand TarrifSuitsmediumsizedbusinesseswitha maximumimportcapacitycontractwithESBNetworksforgreaterthan50kVA.
ThistariffismorecomplicatedthantheGeneralPurposetariffasitcontainselementssuchascapacityanddemandcharges.Italsocontainspenaltychargessuchasexcesscapacityandwattlessunitcharges.
Onthepositiveside,abusinessownerusingthemaximumdemandtariffhasmorecontrolovertheirelectricityspend.
Some important Points
Maximum Import Capacity (MIC)ItisthelevelofelectricalcapacitycontractedbetweenyourbusinessandESBNetworks. TheunitofmeasurementforMICisthekilovoltampere(kVA).AllcustomershaveanMICcontractwithESBNetworksbutrightnowcustomersbelow50kVAontheGeneralPurposetariffdonotpaycapacitycharges.
Thisthresholdof50kVAisveryimportant.IfyourMICistoolowitmaycausetechnical/safetyproblemsforyourbusiness.
Itissuggestedthatyouconsultyourelectricalcontractorifyourelectricaldemandincreasesordecreasessignificantly.ItmaythenbeprudenttoseekachangeinyourMIC.
Business Electricity Prices – Tariffs for Businesses
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Wattless ChargesInlargecommercialorindustrialpremises,therearelikelytobeitemsofelectricalequipmentthatrequirewattlessenergytooperate.
Wattlessenergyismeasuredseparatelyfromyourgeneralunits,andifyouexceedacertainlimit,itwillgiverisetoaseparatecharge.
Wattlessenergycanberemoved.Youshouldcontactyourelectricalcontractortofitpowerfactorcorrectionequipment.Thiswillreducetheamountofreactivepoweryouconsumeandhelptoavoidwattlesschargesonyourbills.
Winter Demand Reduction Incentive (WDRI)ThisincentiveisofferedonlytocustomersontheLowVoltageMaximumDemandtariff.
MaximumelectricitydemandbetweenNovemberandFebruaryisusuallymeasuredbetween8am-9pm,MondaytoFriday.
WithWDRI,yourdemandisonlymeasuredfortwohourseachday,5pm-7pm,MondaytoFriday.Soifyoureduceyourmaximumdemandduringthosetwohours,you’llsaveonyouroverallenergycosts.
ESBwritestoallitsmaximumdemandcustomerseachyearinOctobertoadvisethemofthescheme.Customerscannotlosebyavailingoftheincentive.
Estimated BillsIfyoureceiveanestimatedbillthatissubstantiallymorethanwhatyouexpected–youcanhaveitadjustedbysubmittingameterreadingonlineatwww.esb.ie/business/meter
DID YOU KNOW?
Since October 1st 2010, ESB have a
range of competitive tariffs to suit most
business needs.
Why not contact us at 1850 30 50 70
or email [email protected]
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Manage Your Account OnlineDidyouknowthatyoucansubmitmeterreadings,signupforpaymentoptionsandviewpastbillsonline?
Energy ExtraFindouthowEnergyExtra,afreeonlineenergymanagementserviceforbusinesscanhelpyoumanageyourelectricityneeds. Visitwww.esb.ie/business/energyextra
Group Energy ManagerDoyouhavefiveormoreESBbusinessaccounts?GroupEnergyManager(GEM)isauniqueweb-basedapplicationtohelpyoumonitorenergycostsacrossyourbusinessandidentifyareasforpotentialsavingscouldberightforyou.
Virtual Lighting GuidesAnimated3Dvirtualguidesthattakeyou
throughexteriors,receptionareas,offices,
corridorsandhigh-bayfacilitiestoshowyou
thebestlightingequipmenttouseforsafety,
security,andenergyefficiency.
Forfurtherdetails,visitwww.esb.ie/businessor
contactESBon1850372787
Additional Services
DID YOU KNOW?
By simply lowering
your heat setting by 1ºC,
you can save up to 8%
on your next energy bill.
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IrelandiswellaheadoftherestofEuropeindevelopinganindustryaroundenergymanagement,accordingtotheNationalStandardsAuthorityofIreland(NSAI).
TofurtherstrengthenIreland’sleadershiprole
intheenergymanagementindustry,NSAIand
SustainableEnergyAuthorityofIrelandhave
collaboratedintheestablishmentofajoint
EnergyStandardsConsultativeCommittee,
whichwilldevelopworld-classstandardsinthe
fieldofenergymanagement.
Oneoftheprimaryaimsofthecommittee,
whichwaslaunchedinJuly2009,istouse
Ireland’svastexperienceinenergymanagement
topositionIrelandasa‘hotbed’forthe
developmentofenergystandardsandinnovative
approachestoenergymanagement.
Thecreationofthecommitteecoincidedwith
therecentpublicationoftheEuropeanenergy
managementstandard,whichprovidesa
frameworkforalltypesandsizesofcompanies
tohelpthemestablishsystemstoimprovetheir
energyefficiencyandsignificantlyreduce
energycosts.
Irish-basedcompaniesusingthesestandards
andotherenergymanagementtechniques
savedmorethan€40milliononenergycosts
in2007andevenbiggersavingsare
expectedin2010.
Ireland a ‘Hot Bed’ for Global Energy Efficiency
DID YOU KNOW?
Companies based in Ireland
saved more than €40 million
on energy costs in 2007.
www.chambers.ie
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