Gebs Energy Management

ISO50001 Consultants - Reducing your Energy Consumption

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
info@gebsenergy.co.uk
0800 468 1967
  • Home
  • ESOS
  • ISO Standards
    • Environmental ISO14001
    • ISO 50001
    • ISO 50001 FAQ
  • Energy and Environmental Solutions
    • Energy Management
      • Why Manage Energy
      • Is It Right For You
      • How Can We Help
      • Implementation
    • Industry Energy Management Solutions
      • Hospitals & Healthcare
      • Manufacturing
      • Office Buildings
      • Retail
      • Schools
      • Warehousing & Distribution
  • Landlord & Homeowner EPC
  • Our Services
  • About us
    • About Gebs
  • Blog
  • Contact

ESOS, THE UK’s MECHANISM TO COMPLY – PARIS 2015?

View from boat

A Tropical Paradise

Yesterday I visited the Grand Turk and Caicos Isles where I started thinking about Climate Change and the implications of rising sea levels; not just on this beautiful archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean but other vulnerable outposts and nations in our small and beautiful world.

Rising Sea Levels

Increased temperatures, leading to rising seas, would mean a mass movement of people, populations and nations. The catastrophic results of our inability to control our Greenhouse Gas emissions, CO2 levels and globally embrace carbon reduction, wholly and unilaterally has a direct effect. Even those countries looking smugly on, believing perhaps it is something ‘happening to other people’, will not be unaffected. They will see unprecedented numbers of refugees and survivors moving towards safe havens until borders are forced to close, public opinion sours and politicians debate how many thousands of people will be allowed to settle in their “unaffected” country.

UN Climate Change Talks Paris 2015

Today, 10th December 2015 the UN Climate Change Talks in Paris, came to a historic agreement to limit global warming to 2 Degrees, with a target of a 1.5 Degrees, monitored over a 5 year reporting cycle to ensure that all is on track. This is historic. Since all 220 countries in attendance have agreed in principle with the targets on the table then, once ratified, this will become law around the globe.

How Will The UK Comply?

Thinking ahead and musing out loud, what impact would it have on the UK, if this agreement is ratified by the world’s nations, and how would we comply with the legal and binding target? The area with the greatest impact on our CO2 levels is our energy consumption and is undoubtedly where the biggest opportunities for savings will come. If the UK ratifies this treaty, our programme of generating energy from renewables might get an injection of enthusiasm, from an otherwise lukewarm and hitherto pro-gas administration.

However, the first and most fundamental step would be to understand how much, as a country, we are currently consuming and thus where the reductions can be made. Presently, we have various mechanisms and diverse methods of accounting for our CO2 and energy consumption. Many businesses view this as a laborious box ticking, time consuming, toothless, data reporting exercise to comply with red-tape. With the most recent piece of environmental and energy legislation being “The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme” which, I can vouch personally, has been received by some within the business community with much rolling of eyes, tutting and, in some cases, baulking at the need to provide evidence of compliance.

Legislation Review 2015

However, during November 2015, the Government quietly carried out a review of the current legislation for energy consumers and the mechanisms for reporting and collection. They said that they wanted to understand whether the current methods were too complex and could be simplified. The suggestion was that ESOS could be used as a vehicle, adapted to catch commercial energy-consumption data.

Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme?
For those who are unfamiliar with it, ESOS is a formal UK energy consumption reporting mechanism, in full compliance with current EU regulations. Companies with UK-based operations involving more than 249 employees, or a balance sheet of in excess of 38m euros, are all affected.

Companies meeting these criteria must carry out a formal energy assessment of their business, identify where energy is paid for by them and report this to the Environment Agency. To support this submission, an evidence pack must be produced which shows how the figures were calculated. This includes energy-profiling and audits of consuming operations, buildings, plant equipment and transportation. It is expected that they identify areas of opportunity to reduce their consumption and the cycle for reporting is once every 5 years.

Vehicle for Compliance?

Sound familiar? The Climate Change agreement hammered out at Paris, December 2015 has a challenging clause to reduce global warming by 2 Degrees with a target of no more than 1.5 Degrees. Nations which ratify this treaty will have to report every 5 years on their position against the agreed target. ESOS is a legal reporting requirement on a 5 year collection cycle which collects current consumption and areas for improvement and reduction.

Energy Consumption Accounting, the Future?

I am speculating but, given the fact that the government has recently carried out a ‘consultation’ exercise to look at the effectiveness of current UK energy and environmental reporting legislation, it seems not unlikely that ESOS will become the preferred mechanism for reporting business consumption. However, this would be need to be conducted regardless of the size of the business and be appropriate to any business, within the UK, paying for energy directly.

Could there be a new strand of corporate returns and taxation based around Energy Accounting? We wait to see.

Filed Under: business, Climate Change, COP21, Energy, Energy Effiiciency, Environment, News Tagged With: climate change, COP21, Energy Management, Energy Saving, Environment, ESOS, Government Policy, legislation, UK Governement

MKEx Energy Consumption Survey

This is a very short survey about energy efficiency and attitudes in your workplace

Please click HERE

 

Filed Under: News

Total UK Energy Consumption by Sector and Fuel Type

energy at point of use 2013

Source Digest of UK Energy Statistics  2014

Filed Under: News

Take Control Of Your Commercial Energy Supply

Shocked businessmanF

What To Consider:

For your Commercial Energy Supply, there are some simple things to consider to ensure you get the best deal and then manage it effectively:

  • How many Units are you buying?

When you have signed that contract make sure you regularly record your consumed units from your meter, otherwise you won’t know when you have used your agreed quota of kWh’s (See point number 2).

  • What are the penalty charges?

Understand the cost, per unit, if you use more or less than any agreed upper and lower limits, respectively, in the timeframe of your contract. Like the excess mileage on a rental car, these can be quite steep and again it can be where they hide their profit.

  • Cost of the standing charge

Some suppliers, both domestic and commercial, charge a low kilowatt hour rate BUT have an additional higher Standing Charge rate, per unit. This enables them to say they have cheaper energy charges but they compensate via this other per unit cost and this is often again where they hide their profit.

  • Don’t go ‘out of contract’

Make sure you know and remember when your contract is up for renewal and don’t go over it. Make sure you renegotiate or change your supplier before you roll over to their Standard Tariffs. Out of Contract supply is the most expensive way to buy your energy and many of our business clients save money immediately by going back into a fixed-term contract.

  • Not all brokers are the same

As in all walks of life, there are good brokers and bad brokers. Some have specialised and dedicated experts who understand their client’s requirements and operating pressures. Then there are others who are just agents of a franchise and know as much about energy and energy markets as you do about piloting a spacecraft.  I met someone recently whose main job is as a freelance training provider but they also act as a broker for a well-known, utility supply franchise. In this instance, they may be able to reduce the cost of supply kWh but it isn’t really in their interests to help clients reduce their consumption. It’s all about commission and acquiring another sale. If you do go to a broker do some research and see whether brokering supply and cost reduction is their main specialism (Linkedin is good for that) rather than ‘something else they do’ and don’t forget to ask about the financial penalties for reducing usage.

  • Buy in the Summer Time

The best time to buy energy is before January and ideally in the summer months.

  • Good Housekeeping Counts

Finally, if you are paying your energy costs directly and they are not included in the rental of the premises, remember it is all about good housekeeping. Track your usage, identify and eliminate excess energy waste, make savings through behaviour change, non-negotiable processes and procedures and considered equipment purchases.  If you have a simple routine right from day one, then wasting energy is less likely and you won’t need to pay unnecessary costs (which is direct profit) and less Climate Change Levy.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: energy, energy efficiency, Energy Management, Energy Policy, Energy Saving, energy savings, Energy Strategy, Save Energy, Save money, utilities, utility bill

Fuel Poverty and Food Bank Link

Woman Calculating Invoice At Desk

Fuel Poverty and Food Bank Link

The UK has one of the highest levels of housing costs in Europe, while between 2010 and 2013 energy prices for households rose by 37 per cent. This has, according to The Trussell Trust been a major contributing factor to households going hungry and are frequently turning to FoodBank.

Turn2us, a service that helps people with financial difficulties, state that two-fifths or 40% of low income households and nearly half, 47%, of people with disabilities who are on low incomes have had to cut back on food or skip meals, because of difficulties with paying energy bills  - (Turn2us’ Fuel Poverty campaign 2014, a survey of low income households).

Day to Day Living Costs Rise While Wages Fall

Managing energy consumption is increasingly being recognised by business as a necessity but it is equally crucial at home, where rent, mortgage, utility costs, food and general day-to-day living costs have been rising.  Meanwhile wages, in real terms, have been at best stagnating and at worst reducing.

Many councils and housing associations have been pro-active and recognised that their tenants are vulnerable and have implemented housing stock energy efficiency improvements, such as cavity wall insulation, UPVC window replacement, upgrades of heating and water systems. In some cases they have taken advantage of the financial incentives in place and installed Solar PV for power or Solar Thermal to heat the water. However not all householders are in this position, they may own their own properties, privately rent or just haven’t had the helping-hand of a council or Housing Association energy efficiency programme.

How much does my Appliance cost me in a year?

What can be done? Well, control and measurement can have a significant impact – reduce your consumption and reduce your costs. However, if you don’t know what you are using, you can’t take effective steps to reduce and prioritise consumption. By measuring, the consumer can make decisions on usage based on how much it might cost.

The table below shows Average consumption of Typical Rated Equipment and Appliances.

 

To calculate the cost of usage, multiply the number of units by the per Unit Cost and/or Standing Charge per Unit Cost

 

1 Unit = 1 Kilowatt Hour (kWh)

 

Kitchen/Utility Room Appliances

Average Unit Consumption per day/per session/per annum

Freezer

About 1 to 1.5 Units per day

Fridge/Freezer

About 1.5 Units per day

Fridge

Less than 1 Unit per day

Dish washer – one full load

About 1.5 Units

Tumble dryer – full load of cottons

About 3.5 Units

Tumble dryer – full load of synthetics

About 2 Units

Washing machine – cottons @ 60C

About 1 Unit

Washing machine – synthetics 40C

Less than 1 Unit

Cooker & hob

1.5 Units average per day

Kettle

1 Unit per 12 pints boiling water

Microwave (850W) 20 mins on full

Less than 0.5 Units per day

Toaster

1 Unit per 60 slices of toast

Other Appliances

 

Electric blanket

Less than 1 unit, for approximately 1.5 hrs a night for a week

Extractor fan

1 to 2 units per 24 hrs

Hair dryer (500w)

1 Unit per 10/12 Min sessions

Iron

0.5 to 1 unit per hr

Filed Under: News Tagged With: appliance consumption cost, energy, energy efficiency, Energy Management, Energy Saving, energy savings, energy waste, foodbank, fuel poverty, Next Steps, reduce consumption, Save Energy, Save money

Social Landlords: Simplified Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (RHI)

Casa ecologica a risparmio energetico

Changes to the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme

Changes to the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive  Scheme (RHI) have recently been announced. The adjustments have the capacity to remove the barriers to energy efficiency upgrades for some of the most vulnerable consumers in the country.

RHI is a financial incentive scheme encouraging and promoting the installation of heating systems that use naturally replenished energy. It is expected that it will help the UK reduce its carbon emissions and is applicable for both Non- Domestic and Domestic Buildings.

From Spring 2015

From Spring 2015 registered Social Landlords will be able to apply for the RHI Scheme if they have an Energy Performance Certificate which is less than 2 years old. There will no longer be a requirement for a Green Deal Assessment if this criteria is fulfilled.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) states that the reasoning behind the changes is that  ‘Social landlords often provide homes for some of the most vulnerable people and by making the RHI more accessible, tenants will enjoy warmer homes and lower bills’.

What’s In It For Me?

The RHI will pay the following tariffs per unit, for energy generated, over the next 7 years.

 

Technology

Tariff

Air-source heat pumps 7.3p/kWh
Ground and water-source heat pumps 18.8p/kWh
Biomass-only boilers and biomass pellet stoves with integrated boilers 12.2p/kWh
Solar thermal panels (flat plate and evacuated tube for hot water only) 19.2 p/kWh

Source UK gov.uk – Updated Nov 2014

 

Goodbye Oil, Hello Renewable Energy

The DECC says that 365,000 people live in fuel poverty and a further 2.28 million are in fuel-poor households. A large percentage of those who struggle with fuel costs live in ‘off the gas grid’ properties, relying on oil and electricity to heat their homes.

Additionally, many of these households have to pay up-front fuel costs, through pre-payment electricity meters or oil deliveries. Removing the need for a Green Deal Assessment paves the way for homes to be made warmer and lower heating costs for some of the most vulnerable people.

Barriers to change

Landlords in the rental sector both domestic and non-domestic are still somewhat reluctant to embrace energy efficiency, due to the perceived cost of upfront investment required. A large percentage of the UK rented housing stock is still Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Rated E-G. Private and Commercial tenants often do not have the influence or the appetite to push for property efficiency improvements. There is a thought that if they rock the boat they will be asked to leave.  On the other hand, understandably, Landlords think ‘what’s the benefit to me?’ and so do ‘just enough’. Whilst there are many exceptional landlords out there, who understand the importance of energy efficiency in their properties, there are still as many who need to need to be persuaded.

Simplified RHI Funding

Making the RHI funding and improvement process simpler, at least in the Domestic rented sector, should mean only good things for the tenant, the landlord’s property portfolio and the UK’s Carbon Emissions targets.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: carbon reduction, crc, energy, energy efficiency, Energy Efficiency in the rented sector, Energy Saving, energy savings, Landlords, Property Rentals, reduce consumption, renewable heat incentive, RHI, Save money

Writing An Energy Policy

Best Practice, Erfolgsmethode

Your Energy Policy

A documented and published Energy Policy will show to your stakeholders that Energy Management is an organisational core value. It will allow you to commit the business to an energy efficiency strategy which will lead to increased profitability and a reduced environmental impact.

How Do I Start?

So you have your policies in place, HR, Finance, Purchasing, IT, Fleet, Security but what about Energy?

An effective energy policy can be as little as a few sentences, or as much as a number of paragraphs, but, it should be documented and publicised.

What Should It Include?

The Energy Policy should establish top management commitment to energy performance improvement and state the company’s energy priorities. Key though, is that the policy is documented and all staff, suppliers and customers are able to understand it.

  • who has accountability
  • what the organsational overall energy targets are
  • how progress will be monitored and reviewed.
  • human resources and training commitments
  • how energy management will be integrated into wider business processes
  • economic investment criteria
  • integrating energy efficiency into  existing capital investments
  • reporting procedures
  • links to other energy/carbon reduction programmes

 

SAMPLE ENERGY MANAGEMENT POLICY

EXAMPLE Company Ltd Energy Policy

Date:

 

EXAMPLE Company’s corporate mission is to provide:

  • The best possible productsand highest level of customer service our customers
  • Maximum value to our shareholders
  • A rewarding work environment to our employees

 

In pursuit of this mission, EXAMPLE Company will strive to achieve a world-class reputation for energy management.  We are committed to using energy in the most efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible manner possible.

 

Energy management will play a key role in our organisation, across all business functions.  It will support our plan to maximize profitability, strengthen our competitive position, and provide customers with the highest quality of services.  Our efforts to reduce energy use and reduce our carbon footpring will also support our commitment to our employees, the environment, and the communities in which we are a part.

 

Toward this end, EXAMPLE Company shall work towards continuously improving energy performance.  We will establish specific implementation plans by [date/timeframe], and will have made significant achievements in this area within [X] years’ time.

 

EXAMPLE Company’s objectives as related to this policy are the following:

 

  • Provide the best possible environment for occupants of our facilities, while simultaneously maximising energy performance
  • Reduce operating expenses and increase profit by actively and responsibly managing energy consumption
  • Make available staff, funding and , tools and equipment for projects with a proven energy efficiency value.
  • Demonstrate commitment to our community and leadership in the [insert industry] by reducing our carbon output associated with energy use

 

EXAMPLE Company will endeavor to meet or exceed the following energy management targets in service to these objectives: [Select or modify an appropriate, realistic set of targets]

 

  • Reduce energy consumption in existing buildings by [insert %] over a 5-year period
  • Reduce energy intensity [insert kWh target] by [insert %] in existing buildings over a 5-year period
  • Achieve and maintain ISO5001 certification within our organisation by [insert date].
  • Ensure all capital purchases consider energy efficiency and achieve [insert %] energy savings.
  • Reduce carbon emissions associated with energy consumption by [x%] by [year]
  • Continually measure and improve our energy performance against our baseline of [insert baseline consumption] [insert date]
  • Reinvest savings from our energy efficiency programmes into additional energy efficiency projects.

 

This policy shall apply to all of EXAMPLE Company Ltd’s, sites, business units, employees, and contractors in service to our organisation.

 

Approved by:

 

Name     CEO/COO/Chairman of the Board_____                   Date ______________________________

Filed Under: News Tagged With: business strategy, energy, energy efficiency, Energy Management, Energy Management Roadmap, Energy Policy, energy savings, ISO50001, reduce consumption, Save Energy, write an energy policy

What is ESOS? What’s it all about then?

Compliance Guidelines Regulations Concept

ESOS Why?

Energy Saving Opportunities Scheme, or ESOS, is the vehicle that the UK is using to comply with the European Union 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive, Article 8. It is designed to improve business profits, enhance competitiveness, whilst reducing impact on the Environment and Climate Change.

It is estimated that there are energy efficiency savings of around £2bn still to be made by UK business. Most organisations can save 20 to 25% through simple energy efficiency measures alone.

Does ESOS Apply to my Business?

If your business has a physical presence in the UK and that entity meets the ESOS criteria, you will have to take steps to account for your energy consumption and identify savings opportunities.

Does My Business Fit the ESOS Criteria?

Large businesses must make an ESOS return to the Environment Agency. Organisation’s are designated as ‘Large’ if they:

  • Employ more than 250 people

Or,

  • Have a turnover of in excess of 50 million Euro’s or a balance sheet of in excess of 43 million Euro’s.

Or,

  • Has a presence in the UK and the above tests apply.

 

Public Sector organisation’s will not normally be subject to ESOS. Although some Universities, if  they fit the criteria above and are not subject to the Public Sector Contract Regulations 2012, in England Scotland and Wales, or Public Sector Contract Regulations 2005 in Scotland.

Key ESOS Dates

 

  • 6 December 2011 – 5 December 2015: First compliance phase
  • 31 December 2014: Qualification date for first compliance phase
  • 5 December 2015: Last date to submit formal notification for first compliance phase through the online notification system

 

 The ESOS Criteria Applies To My Business, what should I do?

To comply with the regulations, a ‘Lead Energy Assessor’ will need to conduct an ESOS Assessment to:

  • Measure your total energy consumption for buildings, industrial processes and transport
  • Identify areas of significant energy consumption, accounting for at least 90% of your total energy consumption
  • Identify cost-effective energy efficiency recommendations for areas of significant energy consumption;
  • Report compliance to the Environment Agency by December 2015
  • ESOS Audits must be repeated out every 4 years

 

What does an ESOS Assessment Look Like?

The assessment period must include 31st December 2013 and end by December 2015. Energy Savings identified and managed continuously up to and including this period is acceptable, but the deadline is December 2015,

The ESOS Assessment has no prescribed format but the Lead Assessor must confirm that it meets all the parameters and reports in all data as required by ESOS.

At least one site visit is required to ensure assessments are not theoretical Organisation’s with a number of similar sites or assets can take a proportionate approach, applying recommendations from one audit across the wider portfolio. If all cost saving energy improvements have been made in smaller sites, using  the Assessment criteria from authorised agencies and no significant changes by way of output, refitting or upgrading have been made then New Assessments do not have to be made (although advice in this instance should be taken).

Exemptions from ESOS

Organisation’s which are fully covered by ISO50001 have an exemption from ESOS. In addition, businesses which have had Green Deal Assessments (GDA) or have Display Energy Certificates (DEC) in place may be excluded from this process. However GDA or DEC may not be sufficient so guidance should be sort from the Department of the Environment.

 

 

 

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Business Structure, carbon reduction, energy, Energy Audit, Energy Legislation, Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme, ESOS, ESOS Lead Assessor, ISO50001, reduce consumption, Save Energy, UK Governement, what is ESOS?

Energy Management First Steps – Simple Energy Audit

Expertise

What to consider in a DIY Energy Audit

A simple and useful Energy Audit is a good start to bring together all factors to give you a clear picture of how you consume your energy within your organisation. It’s a bit like being a detective and will identify the Strengths Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats to your organisational energy consumption. What you will need to ascertain is:

  • What Energy is being used at the site
  • Meter Readings
  • Site Plans/Building Layout
  • Location of Sub Meters, Plant Room
  • Who are the main consumers of Energy (if known)
  • A list of main plant and equipment, lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and age
  • What Control Systems are in place
  • What temperature are your thermostats set to?

Does Energy Consumption Match Day To Day Operations?

If your business is not currently recording and monitoring energy usage you may be able to obtain half-hourly consumption data from your energy supplier. This can show clearly how the energy is being used and from this you can define your optimum required consumption based on occupancy levels or operating shifts and minimise consumption spikes and sporadic uncontrolled energy usage. To maximise the integrity of the data and analysis you will need to know:

  • Half Hourly consumption data and sub- metering info (where applicable)
  • The staffing levels for the period, working hours or shift patterns
  • An understanding of the day to day operations
  • If available, historical weather conditions and bank-holiday/seasonal shut down dates.

Take a look at the Building

Understanding the building and the management of the in-situ environmental plant, is also crucial to a decent audit. What is the age of the building and is it maintained in good condition. Consider the condition and controls of the environmental plant. The older the systems and the built form for example, then the less energy efficient it will be. Or, if your building has ill- fitting doors or windows, damaged insulation on hot water carrying pipework, possibly single glazing, holes in the external walls and poor insulation then your energy costs will be higher.

Are the Environmental Plant and Controls in Good Condition?

This also applies with the environmental plant, if it isn’t serviced regularly and is as installed in the building on day 1 of operations then the amount of energy consumed, against the benefits to the occupants will be greatly reduced. Just ask yourself, just how many layers of paint are on those radiators and how may room thermostats are sitting next to the print-centre or over a heat source. A simple tip at the end of the day if anything is buzzing, hissing, bleeping, glowing or flashing it is often consuming unnecessary power.

What about Air-Flow?

Also think about air-flow, often we feel think we’re lethargic and tired due to being hot. Often we have seen that it is because air flow has been interrupted within the premises. Over the years, partitions for meeting rooms and offices may have been installed which has blocked the free flow of fresh air.

Speak To The People

Also speak with the employees often they know where energy can be saved because they work with it day to day. Their behaviours and housekeeping impact energy consumption massively, there is a train of thought that most buildings are energy efficient until you introduce people. The users also know that, really, the setting they may have on their workstation is always ‘in that position’ not because it is the most efficient setting but because ‘they can’t be bothered to adjust it’ or waste the time ‘turning it on or off’.

Simple Steps = Savings

If you start your energy auditing journey with these simple considerations, you will start to take control of your consumption and start making measurable reductions. It is a key part of the strong foundations for a robust energy management system and can provide meaningful data for a more in-depth and detailed study which will return more substantial consumption savings and carbon reduction.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Business Structure, carbon footprint, carbon reduction, Carbonfootprint, carbonreduction, energy, Energy Audit, energy efficiency, Energy Management, Energy Saving, energy savings, Energy Strategy, Energy Survey, energy waste, reduce consumption, Save money

Make Simple Changes, Save Money on your Domestic Energy Utility Bill – We Have!

Thermostat mit Geldscheinen und kleinem Haus

Changing how we use our domestic electricity saved £278

Today we found out that we’d saved £278 pounds on our domestic quarterly energy bill through changing the way we use it within our home. We live in a property which does not have mains gas. We don’t have oil and instead run our heating and water from an Air-Source heat pump. Whilst this technology is deemed energy efficient it is certainly more costly to run than with a Ground-source Heat-Pump as we don’t have solar thermal or solar PV as an to generate electricity or provide hot water.

Don’t just change tariff

We have been in the property for 2½ years, it is a 500 year old barn conversion and has a high standard of insulation and glazing. However our monthly electric bill was still £555pcm. We have taken steps to fix our energy prices but are keenly aware that the price we are paying now will most likely be increased when we renegotiate our terms and conditions in 12 months and we wanted to see how much energy we could save and what, more importantly, the impact would be on our purses.

Steps to save domestic energy

We decided that we would put into practice what we preach and start to change the way were using the energy at home, so what did we do?

  1. We turned the heating off in rooms which are unoccupied – if we have visitors we will turn the heating back on, it only takes an hour for it to get up to temperature
  2. We turned unnecessary lights of – our home no longer looks like the titanic beaming out over the dark Bedfordshire countryside.
  3. We heat the house to temperature in the early hours – our heating system is like a large storage heater, it is designed to release its heat throughout the day. So we heat the required rooms between 3am and 6am, when electricity is cheap.
  4. We adjusted the room thermostats to reflect times of occupancy. We have programmed a boost period for those rooms where we spend most time in the evenings (sitting room and sons’ bedrooms) No longer is our thermostat programmed to heat the room from 4pm to 9pm, it is set to warm when we are in the room and switch off an hour before we go to bed.
  5. We reduced the room-stat temperatures by between 1 and 3 degrees. Our halls are now heated at 19 Degree’s which is perfectly adequate, not to mention our boys’ rooms are set at 2 degrees cooler since they have the normal teenager electronic gadgetry in there which increases the temperature in their room space.
  6. We put Hot Water on once a day – we get our hot water through an immersion heater. It now comes on once a day between 4am and 6am when it is time for cheap electricity. If we want a shower we manually switch on the hot water system, it takes about 15 mins to get to temperature.
  7. We invested in draft excluders. This stops the warmth escaping through the external doors. We have also used them to seal bottom of the internal doors in empty rooms, to stop cold air escaping and hot air leaking in.
  8. We now ensure all appliances, except for fridges and freezers, are switched off at the mains at night.
  9. We shut the curtains at night, they act as a barrier for heat escaping through the glass.
  10. 10. We bought family onesies! – who needs heating when you’ve got your Wolf, Monkey, Skeleton or Reindeer all-in-one?

Energy savings, equal 20% of bill, don’t ‘worry’ make the change.

So over a 3 month period we have saved just under 20% of our house hold energy bill through changing our behaviour. Our own Gebs Energy Survey showed that, despite recent energy price increases and growing concern, most of our respondents had not taken any steps to reduce the way they consumed energy in their homes. Using our experience as an example we can honestly say there are some great savings to be had.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: electricity, energy, Energy Companies, energy efficiency, Energy Saving, energy waste, Gas, light levels, Oil, reduce consumption, Save Energy, Save money, utilities, Utilitybill

Next Page »
Carbon Footprint

Contact Us

About Gebs


Our team has experience within major industry sectors: Rail, Manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals, Education, FMCG, IT, Construction, Telecoms, Retail & Finance.

Sitemap:

  • Home
  • About Gebs
  • Energy Management, Why
  • Green Talent Management
  • ISO 50001
  • Industry Energy Management Solutions
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Environmental ISO14001
  • Landlord & Homeowner EPC
  • ESOS

Solutions

Office
Warehousing
Schools
Manufacturing
Healthcare
Retail
Leisure
Green IT

Head Office Address

Old Farm
Potsgrove
Bedfordshire
MK17 9HQ

© 2021 Gebs Energy Management is part of Gebs LifeSupport Ltd is Registered In the UK No: 9226365, VAT Registration Number 196 3446 74