Case History

Efficiency - optimisation, reducing waste, effectiveness, useful output

The constant desire for efficiency drives all aspects of our businesses, not only for ethical reasons but also for the financial benefits to be gained by reducing costs and saving money.

The continual requirement to use energy responsibly and raise awareness is an area we have been working closely with our Clients to develop. Additionally, legislation such as the UK Governments' Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) is a climate change and energy saving scheme is designed to control our carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to deliver the emissions reduction targets set in the Government’s Climate Change Act. The scheme will start in April 2010 and will affect around 20,000 organisations may be affected with failure to comply resulting in penalties including monetary fines.

Objectives

To provide a central information facility for building users to understand and control the building and its services.

To monitor energy consumption patterns and identify energy savings by changing behaviour and making improvements to the building and equipment.

To provide continuous feedback to the building users.

Building and Operation

Structure

210m2 portal steel frame building with insulated metal panels built in 2004, double glazed windows and doors. Insulated metal roof with single panel polycarbonate roof lights.

Internals

Mezzanine floor area, kitchen and WC Areas formed from demountable partitions, glazed panels and doors.

Operation

16 staff

8am - 6pm weekdays

Servers, PCs complete with flat screens, photocopiers, filing and storage facilities.

Building Services

Metered electricity and water.

Lighting by fluorescent luminaries.

Heating and cooling by heat pumps and comfort cooling units.

Hot water is provided by point of use electric water heaters.

Ventilation is provided by heat recovery ventilation unit and duct-work.

All systems are controlled manually by local switches and controllers.

Solution

Web hosted product, self administered and edited using a web browser.

Based on the TM31 Building Log Book format as it is a familiar and industry recognised standard.

The users or their approved specialists can create, edit and upload information to the system.

Metering and monitoring section, which would allow manual meter readings to be made and copies of utility bills stored in central location, with the ability to link in automatic meter readings if required.

A simple, cost effective off the shelf electricity metering solution was installed and connected to a networked PC which was installed with a small software application to enable data to be collected, sent to the web and stored to the metering and monitoring section of the on line Building Log Book.

The information was checked for accuracy by making manual meter readings and we found these to be about 90% accurate when compared to the utility meter readings. The readings are automatically collected and displayed every 7 seconds and display near instantaneous responses when equipment is switched on and off.

Results

The system was set up and metering data collected manually, initially on a daily basis and then extended to weekly, and monthly readings.

The data was analysed and it immediate savings were identified by switching off all copiers, water heater and non-essential servers every evening and at weekends, which equated to about £20 per week.

Future

Future reductions currently being discussed is the feasibility of switching off our servers at the weekend and associated cooling at the weekends.

We will now be implementing the installation of PIRs sensors to our general lighting and promoting the use of local desk lamp lighting.

What we can do for you

The system is now available for all to use for an annual cost. We are currently trailing other types of meters to collect data for the Building Log Book and and these will be made available in the future. For users who require further assistance with compiling log books or collecting metering data then please contact us for further information.

Technical specification

Electricity monitoring device: 100A 3 phase

Accuracy to utility meter: 90%

Range: 30M between transmitter and display unit.

Battery life: 7 years

System requirements: 230v socket outlet to plug display unit.

PC with USB port to connect display unit.

Connection to hardwired or wireless network.