FEATURES by
THE ENERGY MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme The EMA, as one of the ESOS Lead Assessor Registers, has reached out to Lead Assessors to reflect on ESOS Phase 1 and to share their thoughts on what improvements they would like to see in preparation for Phase 2. ESOS will be discussed in the Knowledge, Skills and Experience theatre at EMEX on Wednesday 21 November at 11:00–11:45 and on Thursday 22 November at 11:10–11:45. Katie Elmer, Senior Sustainability Consultant, Carbon Footprint Ltd
THE EMA MAGAZINE • ISSUE NOVEMBER—DECEMBER 2018
In your opinion, how has the ESOS Phase 1 been received by organisations?
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The general consensus seems to be that ESOS is a good idea in principle, but could have done better in terms of improving the business case for energy efficiency. Organisations who are taking recommendations on board are those who have already planned to undertake improvements and reached agreement with their ESOS Assessment. For others, it is simply a compliance issue and they have very limited control over their significant energy streams.
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Many organisations have also been difficult to convince that they need to comply. Some organisations have criticised the Environment Agency (EA) for having only a low number of communications to businesses. Internal communications within businesses has also been problematic with letters from the EA getting lost somewhere between the Company Secretary and Operations/Facilities (who aren’t always the closest friends or neighbours)! As a result of the EA’s letters not hitting the right person’s desk, some organisations have faced fines for late or non-compliance. However, there seems to be a change in attitude with many of our ESOS Phase 2 clients, who believe that the scheme is beginning to engage people more in energy management, and that they will stand to gain a lot more from the process going forward. What were the top 3 recommended measures in the reports that you have undertaken? The main recommended measures focus on capital and human resource expenditure with immediate/less than 24 month paybacks: • Improved lighting design and switching to LED. • Better energy management systems, control and maintenance to optimise: compressed air; HVAC, lighting, transport (telematics) etc. • Energy policy & associated behavioural change: encouraging and training staff to reduce their impact (transport and building energy). What improvements would you like to see in ESOS Phase 2?
Organisations who are taking
There has also been criticism recommendations on board are those of overlap with other Our Phase 2 advice to reporting programmes with who have already planned to undertake organisations was to embark such as CRC for example, on the onsite energy audits improvements and reached agreement although this is in the last as soon as possible, spreading year. Furthermore, without with their ESOS Assessment. For others, them out over four years, to the need to demonstrate limit the resource burden and it is simply a compliance issue. any implementation, for realise savings earlier. This many organisations reducing seems to have worked well in energy comes down purely Phase 2, as well as convincing to the business case and battling against other capital clients to adopt energy monitoring and auditing as the investment projects for support. norm (e.g incorporating into their ISO 14001 systems; undertaking annual Carbon Footprint Appraisals). There has also been some confusion over approach to compliance. What is the choice of pathways and which Energy reduction targets need setting in a pragmatic way will be best? Do you use energy audits (conducted every that is both meaningful and achievable to businesses. 4 years) or comply by ISO 50001 (Energy Management Many of the energy reduction opportunities will realise System)? some significant cost and carbon savings, which need Senior Management support.
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