Will you Thrive or Survive?

1.  What is your level of proficiency?

2.  Where do you need or want to be in the future?

This guide introduces a basic, quite crude model, to help all types of energy user:

It’s meant to be a simple guide based on practical experience and feedback from energy users over the years.
The real value often comes from talking about this with the other people involved. 

 The model has 5 levels:

• Level 0: I don't think about energy efficiency
• Level 1: Foundation Level
• Level 2: Everyday Champion
• Level 3: Smart Savers
• Level 4: Master Practitioner or Leader

We rely too much on just hoping we're efficient

• Many organizations waste at least 20-30% of the energy they buy. (#CarbonTrust)

• In some countries, buildings consume two to three times more energy than their equivalents in other countries. (#BetterBuildingsPartnership)
• We rely too much on others to tell us what is efficient despite them not knowing our operations and having to make assumptions.
• Our fear of making mistakes also means we inevitably overprovide in our facilities and operations.
• Recognize the avoidable energy waste coming from overprovision and take advantage of the opportunity!

Thrive or Survive

Surviving means we carry on as we are i.e. business as usual which often means fear, anxiety and a lack of trust.

Or we can focus on thriving with the courage to try things out – the ultimate aim is to be confident we’re only using what we need.

Thriving relies on both technical and behavioral solutions; behaviors are important as proficiency in energy performance always comes back to the people involved.

This basic 5 level model is based on practical experience from over 25 years of improvement projects. The secret is to connect the technical, behavioral and operational aspects of change.

Logistics Company Achieves ISO 50001 in Record Time

Challenge: Involve, empower and train local everyday champions, doing it for themselves

Result: ISO 50001 certification achieved in less than 6 months with a new continual improvement energy system in place 

“This is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates how a collaborative and focused approach can bring our teams together from different countries and at all levels in our business to gain this certification so quickly. I am impressed with the team’s commitment to energy management and their enthusiasm in meeting the aims of our policy.” Company Chief Operations Officer, 2018 

“It has been a pleasant surprise to audit a company that is doing it not only because it is needed, but also because they are into the subject!” External ISO 50001 Auditor

The 5 Proficiency Levels 

Level 0: I don't think about energy efficiency - it's all on most of the time

At level 0, the behavior tends to leave systems on for maximum levels of service or because there are perceived service or reliability issues. In reality, this practice isn’t adding value, but it is just significantly overproviding
We see this in some areas in at least 50% of the organizations we work with.

Level 1: Foundation Level - I'm active but risk averse

At level 1, individuals and teams are more aware of the drivers, but actions are low risk.
The problem is often that you still see energy & water savings going against other operational (priority) objectives.
Some of our colleagues call this level (a bit tongue in cheek) ‘toeing the line’:
– Some systems and equipment may be switched off, but generally…
– This only happens when risks are considered very low because of our fear of making mistakes.

“We have the water savings technology so surely our toilets must be efficient!?” our Customer Services Manager said, but in practice metered consumption showed the full flush button is still used most of the time.

Example Hospitality Lounge Chart – Visualizing Avoidable Waste

• Red shows typical energy consumption over a day, 24 hours
• In green, the chart plots the number of customers using the space over the same time period
• Comparing the two, through a commercial lens, means the avoidable waste jumps out at you
• Since then, the teams are now making progress and have saved the equivalent of $30,000 per year in reduced energy consumption (to 2019), with much more opportunity to target

Level 2: Everyday Champion - making it work as intended

At level 2, we find ourselves thinking about energy & water performance for 20 minutes or so every day.
Everyday champions can thrive in most cultures, often working by themselves in areas they know well.
This is about doing things right, following well-known operational practices and procedures.
Some measures may require some technical knowledge or input, such as understanding the benefits of upgrading boilers or retuning air-handling units.

Challenge:  Controls service partner to re-tune the air-handling units (AHUs) so they work properly again

Approach: Apply remedial measures and track savings on AHUs for a trial area so the system is controlled by ventilation requirements as intended – rather than being left on at full power, all the time

Savings per year (Electricity use): Low: 700 MWh; High: 650 MWh; Most probable: 600 MWh

See chart below

The 'Before' chart shows electricity consumption for one of the AHUs in the trial area over 7 days; you can see it only switches off overnight otherwise it runs at full speed (and full power) every day. The 'After' chart illustrates 70 to 80% daily reduction in energy consumption for this targeted area of use.

Level 3: Smart Savers – connections for ‘Win Win’ solutions

Level 3 is more sophisticated. We see many champions working effectively at this level. They prioritize projects with multiple benefits: a ‘Win’ for the organization and a ‘Win’ for  the people involved.

Typical Impact

• Bigger wins come about when you collaborate and work closely with colleagues, particularly when you involve others who best understand the levels of service required
• You learn from experience, though you can struggle converting action into on-going continual improvement for long-term savings

Example Key Actions

• Connect strategies and prioritize projects that improve service, occupant comfort. Make maintenance easier, as well as cutting costs and pruning environmental impact
• Apply tools that better connect people and simplify the process e.g. #Pareto80/20

Challenge: Building FM team to upgrade an airport departures lounge lighting system

Approach: Lighting upgrade to reduce energy consumption by 60-80% and also improve the ambiance in the area for passengers

Savings per year (Electricity use): Low: 120 MWh; High: 170 MWh; Most probable: 150 MWh

Level 4: Master Practitioner & Leader - taking pride in only using what you need

Level 4 is the pinnacle – the point when you have the proficiency to be absolutely confident you’re ‘only using what you need’. Some consider this is as the point of utopia to continuously move towards, that delivers overall best value, but one that you never actually reach.

Challenge:  Process performance improvement team were challenged to see how low they could go (in energy consumption) for a trial material handling process

Approach: ‘100-day plan’ of steps to highlight the level of avoidable waste and to apply an on-demand philosophy to the process to demonstrate how low they could go (utopia) by reprogramming the controls

Savings per year (Electricity use): Low: 500 MWh; High: 1000 MWh; Most probable: 750 MWh

See chart below

The left-hand side of the chart shows the (pre) electricity consumption profile over one day; the materials conveyor is switched on in the morning, it turns off for a few times during the day on its existing controls, but generally it is running, consuming energy for most of the time before being switched off at night. The right-hand side shows the results the team managed to achieve during the review; the chart demonstrates a very high 95% saving in energy consumption. This was a much-targeted area of use and, as such, we wouldn’t set this level of saving as a target in reality, but the factor 10 improvement does demonstrate that significant savings could be achieved by challenging current assumptions and so provides the Level 4 utopian target to aim for.

Join the New Age of Energy Leadership

At the beginning of this guide, we posed two questions:

1. What is your level of proficiency?
2. Where do you need or want to be in the future?

Yes, there’s good work going on, but we all know there’s so much more we can be doing – the time to do more is now.

This is a basic model to help champions and teams think about where they are and how they can help improve performance.

It provides a ladder that can be metaphorically climbed; you can’t just jump to the top – this is a process of getting fitter and staying fit.

Think about the opportunities you see, the savings that could be achieved and the actions that would help you deliver lasting change.

What’s important is that you just go for it. Don’t worry about being wrong or making mistakes – it doesn’t have to involve anything fancy or risky, just set up the simple structures to help manage the process and develop your level of energy proficiency and performance.

The everyday champion mindsets don’t change – focus on making it personal, making it focused, making it continual and making it desirable. And most importantly, make it yours.

In recent years, we’ve seen a new drive towards people-led approaches to sustainability in organizations. It's up to you to join in!

Example Sustainability Leadership Ladder for Energy & Water – collaborating for change

In 2018, an airport set about bringing together their business partner energy consumers around a drive for reducing energy & water consumption through better overall efficiency practices. The airport has been doing well in reducing energy & water consumption within its own operations but wanted to work more closely with its business partners, building on good work going on already across the airport.

A key part of the strategy was to co-create the shared vision together: as well as targeting ‘reducing consumption’ and achieving a ‘better utilization of resources’, the team prioritized ‘doing it together’ to influence and make it easy for colleagues and business partners to contribute.

The table below illustrates the summary application of the proficiency model used to help identify current levels of proficiency and  performance, identify the opportunities and input into the developing strategy.

Click to view the table!

The list generally follow the resources hierarchies, and is based on optimized life-cycle costing principles to ensure approaches are as cost effective as possible. These ideas look to first prioritize quick wins, hearts and minds, and low cost conservation measures to reduce consumption as much as possible, before investing in significant clean efficiency technologies and renewable energy sources. Look for this symbol ($) to get an idea of how expensive it could get.

The list is split across seven category groups: Lighting; Small Power; Process Equipment (using motors & drives); Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC); Transport, Water; and Low and Zero Carbon Technologies (LZC).

The first category area to think about is lighting. For most organizations, lighting can account for at least 15 to 20% of electricity costs. Lighting can make up as much as 50% of electricity consumption in some office areas! We all typically waste a lot of the energy consumption we use for lighting. We only need to light what people need to avoid having lights on when not required.

3. Reconsider lighting levels both inside and outside

• Different tasks and different people require different light intensity. Often light levels are set for the worst-case situations.
• Consider types of work being carried out and who is involved. Perhaps some spaces are being over-illuminated…?
• Try different levels of intensity to see if comfort, health & safety and productivity are unaffected or even improved.
• Don’t be afraid to take out or dim down lights – they can always be turned back on!
• Involve local management and facilities teams. 

5. Switch off lights when leaving the room, even if it’s just for a short break

• It’s a common misconception to believe that switching lights on and off uses a lot of electricity. In reality, for example, switching off a modern fluorescent lamp for 15 minutes, and switching it on again, will save 99% in energy use! 
• Introduce a switch-off policy / campaign.
• Ensure switches are clearly labelled and accessible and add in more switches if needed.
• Consider simple timeclocks when lighting is required at specific times.
• Talk to colleagues about what’s needed to make this easy for everyone.

8. Retrofit existing light fittings ($)

• Upgrade and reuse existing light fittings by replacing older style lamps with LED retrofits.
• Add additional reflectors, if possible, to help spread the light more across the room.
• You can often remove a proportion of the lamps which will also help to significantly reduce energy consumption.

10. Install presence detectors

• Target intermittently areas such as corridors, circulation spaces and meeting rooms.
• Microwave or passive infrared sensors can switch lights on and/or off, or dim them down, by sensing the presence of people so reducing inefficiency when lights aren’t needed.
• In areas with good daylighting, using absence detection can allow people to switch lights on and then sensors will switch them off again. 
• In areas that require lighting all the time, light levels can be dimmed down to a minimum setback when no one is around.
• Continually fine tune control settings to maximize benefits.

Electrical 'small power' includes all of the unfixed equipment and appliances that are usually ‘plugged’ into the electricity circuits of the building.

Collectively, small power consumption can account for as much as 15 to 30% of the total electricity used in an office building.

Much equipment is left on for much longer than needed.

Switching off PCs overnight and on weekends, for example, can save up to 50 to 75% of their energy use per year!

Many small ideas to saving energy across small power devices can really add up – and seeing these ideas implemented can be a very powerful influencer for everyone’s hearts and minds.

2. Last person out switch

• A ‘last person out’ switch can be used to ensure all operational power loads are switched off at the end of the day or shift.
• Beware this also becomes a first person in switch; it should only switch back on small power loads that are needed when the first person enters the space.
• Intermittently used equipment, on these circuits, should also be controlled in other ways.

4. Centralize IT equipment hubs

• Small power equipment generates heat; dumping it into the working environment can cause overheating for building users.
• Avoid overheating by collecting together equipment in zones, that are also air-conditioned if necessary.
• This will help control comfort levels, as well as increases efficiency (compared to lots of AC systems being used).
• It may be worth it to also consider having a virtual private server to maximize hardware utilization and efficiency.

6. Fit timers on vending machines and other local cooling units

• Use time controls to switch off vending machines if they are not required 24/7.
• Include allowances for units to reach their operating temperatures if required.

8. Ask about use of any local heating or cooling devices in use

• Talk to colleagues about why any plug-in heaters or air-conditioning are being used.
• Understand it there’s an issue with the main HVAC systems – see HVAC opportunities and ideas.
• Be careful about using blanket banning policies where there are comfort issues that can affect staff morale and their perception of energy saving environmental activity in place. 
• Always aim to improve comfort as well as efficiency.

9. Regularly maintain equipment

• Carry out periodic maintenance to all equipment to avoid degradation, to spot issues that may cause inefficiencies and to fix malfunctions.
• Ensure refrigeration units are cleaned regularly with annual inspections for efficiency.
•  Remove dust from printers’ air filters and other places dust easily collects, etc.

Motors and drives are used in many process applications including industrial processes, materials handling, ventilation fans, pumps, refrigeration units, compressed air systems, etc.

In many industries, electric motor drives can account for over 50% of all electricity use.

It is often possible to significantly reduce this consumption by using small adjustments and modest investment in improving efficiency.

Remember, electric motors cost a lot of money to run.   They can consume their purchase price in electricity in just their first 2 to 4 months, but have a working life of over 10 years.

Compressed air can be a particularly expensive system to run, very often requiring 10 kWh of electricity to produce just 1 kWh of useable compressed air.

2. Switch compressors off when possible

• Keeping air compressors running, even if at minimum levels, can typically consume 20 to 70% of their full load power.
• Rethink operational practices to minimize the operating time requirements for compressed air and switch off compressors when not in use. 

4. Carry out regular maintenance for motor systems

• For maximum system performance, carry out planned cleaning and other preventative maintenance procedures for motors and their application systems.
• Reduce any unnecessary throttling by fixed dampers and valves and other pressure drops in the system.
• Regularly change filters and ensure optimum operating temperatures are maintained.
• Ask advice from specialist maintenance partners. 

6. Reduce operating pressure in line with demand

• Operating pressures for many systems are usually determined at design stage based on assumptions; for compressors, for example, this is commonly fixed around 7 bar (100 psi).
• Continually challenge the pressure set-points, based on actual requirements to achieve energy savings. Consider all end users.
• Try out reducing operating pressures, a little bit at a time, and assess the impacts on overall service and performance.  Adjust set-points based on the results made.
• Reducing a compressor operating pressure by 1 bar, for example, can reduce power consumption by up to 15%.
•  The same opportunities often apply to pressure controlled ventilation systems. 

9. Implement a motor replacement policy

• Fitting High Efficiency (IE2) or Premium Efficiency (IE3) motors can reduce energy consumption by up to 5%, compared to standard new motors.
• Only rewind motors when absolutely necessary, as this practice often reduces efficiency. 
• Discuss options with a specialist supplier.

Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems are usually the largest energy consumers for many organizations.

Good management practices can ofetn find many opportunities to reduce HVAC consumption. 

Look to make improvements for better comfort as well as reduced energy to deliver the ‘Win Win’.

For example, if rooms are being overheated, reducing room temperature by 1°C could still maintain good comfort levels while cutting heating bills by as much as 10%!

HVAC costs can also easily increase by 30% if the systems are poorly operated or maintained.

Continually look for ways to optimize and improve system performance.

9. Recover (and install $$) HVAC system waste heat

• Ensure existing heat recovery controls are working effectively, e.g. for air recirculation systems.
• Look for opportunities to install additional heat recovery systems to recover waste heat ejected through exhaust air.
• When upgrading systems, specify air conditioning systems equipped with heat recovery.
• Discuss opportunities with building services suppliers.

10. Upgrade old inefficient HVAC plant ($$)

• Newer technology offers better performance efficiency through reduced system losses.
• Review options that use low carbon and renewable greener energy supply, compared to upgrading or refurbishing the existing system/technology for better performance.
• Check upgrade works for compliance with local legislation requirements.

Freight and transport are fundamental parts in the supply chain of many businesses, most of which is done on the road.

Besides having a remarkable impact on a company’s expenses, road transport is also the sector responsible for about 25% of OECD countries’ greenhouse gas emissions.

There are often many simple ways, requiring different levels of commitment or investment, to reduce costs and risks associated with transport.

Many green ideas will also help to be safer on the road, too!

1. Avoid the trip

• Not every trip is always necessary.
• When possible, try solving matters over the phone, or meeting through online conference software.
• Avoiding the trip is the best way to save from it.

3. Use cruise control

• While in the highway, the cruise control system can set the vehicle to go at a constant velocity to use less fuel.
• Cruise control prevents otherwise unavoidable accelerations/decelerations that will consume more fuel.

6. Maximize the transported load

• Boost overall transport productivity by maximizing the load you take.
• Plan logistics to combine as many trips as possible into one trip, and never waste one journey.
• Talk to colleagues to see if it’s possible to combine loads to save a trip.

8. Improve fleet utilization

• Improve utilization by recording data that tracks where each vehicle is going, distance traveled, drive time etc.
• Fleet management software can be very helpful in collecting information, in real time and target any inefficiency on the road to improve fleet performance.

10. Replace old vehicles with newer, more efficient ones ($$)

• When making a new purchase, try to buy ‘smart’ and pick the better performing vehicle which includes optimizing for better fuel efficiency.
• Review opportunity to switch to electric cars in a longer-term strategy to cut fuel cost and carbon emissions.
• Always pay attention to vehicle and fuel type, as well as efficiency (miles per gallon).

There are strong links between energy and water resource efficiency. Energy is consumed in water systems, and water is consumed in many energy systems. 

Many of the same principles of conservation apply to both.

Water is also a scarce thus precious resource.

Saving water can yield economic, environmental and social benefits.

2. Wash equipment responsibly

• Washing a vehicle or piece of equipment with a hose rather than a bucket can use around 10 times more water.
• Soaking dishes instead of rinsing them under running water can also significantly reduce your water consumption.
• Small adjustments in daily washing routines can have a large effect on the end-of-the-year bill.

4. Implement a water saving policy

• Encourage colleagues to reduce water consumption by following a water saving policy that involves everyone.
• Communicate (with supporting signs) to remind colleagues to use taps, showers dishwashers and other water consuming equipment, consciously.  ,
• Actively involve colleagues at work to achieve savings together.

6. Use water meters

• Water systems will eventually leak.
• Using metering (and sub-metering) to detect wasteful water leaks before they become too significant.

8. Install water efficient technology in toilets ($)

• Sensor taps can save lots of water and prevent people from leaving running taps when the water is not being used.
• Tap aerators and/or tap restrictors can also reduce water consumption by considerably decreasing the water rate.
•  Aim to restrict general taps to 4.5 liters per minute or less. 

10. Recycle greywater when possible ($$)

• Consider use of recycling wastewater systems, or rainwater harvesting systems, to cut potable water usage.
• Look at any opportunities for flushing toilets, irrigation, vehicle washing, cooling, rinsing or even for cooling units and feeding boilers.
•  Speak to specialists about opportunities and ideas.

Low And Zero Carbon Technologies (LZC) can provide a more sustainable solution to conventional energy resources.

Organizations need to consider investing in greener energy and water supply technologies once they are making good progress in eliminating avoidable waste and improving system efficiencies.

Many of these technologies still need investment to become mainstream; organizations can support this by start adopting more LZC technologies to encourage innovation to speed up the transition to a zero carbon reality.

Doing so, can support local hearts and minds for an organization’s sustainability approach and activities.

Usually, these investments are much more capital intensive; however, the expected returns are positive if the projects are careful evaluated and implemented where they can make the biggest difference.

Increasingly more governments are also providing monetary incentives for organizations that employ LZC technologies.

2. Ground source heat pumps, (GSHP) ($$$)

• This system consists of a ground water circuit loop, a heat pump, and a distribution system to supply space heating, cooling or domestic or process hot water duties.
• The technology uses constant temperature from underground to significant increase the efficiency of the heat pumps used.
• The system relies of the supply of renewably generated electricity to be zero carbon.

4. Mechanical ventilation with recovery, (MVHR) ($$$)

• Waste heat from a process integral to a building can also be considered as low carbon.
• For example, MVHR recovers the exhaust heat from a building to be used to preheat ventilation fresh air, retaining up to 90% of heat.
• MVHR is considered to be a very efficient approach, using very little energy, if combined with very high levels of building thermal insulation such as meeting the Passivhaus standard.

6. Super-efficient gas boilers ($$)

• High efficiency condensing boilers are also (sometimes) referred to a low carbon technology and zero carbon if fueled by biogas.
• Condensing boilers can typically convert over 90% of their fuel into useful heat, increasing boiler efficiency and minimizing energy losses.

8. Solar water heating ($$$)

• Solar thermal technology heat water collectors, typically located on the roof, using the sun
• The energy is then transferred to a hot water storage cylinder for use for domestic or process hot water duties, and sometimes for local space heating.

10. Community or district heating

• Look for opportunities of economics of scale, and/or diversity in load, to meet the heating requirements of multiple commercial, and local, buildings and/or processes.
• Using a local and inclusive approach to district energy supply, for example using CHP, can help improve the economics and accessibility to LZCT. 

SUMMARY

There are usually always many opportunities we can all reduce our energy and water consumption and improve our sustainability performance.

This checklist, of the simplest ideas, follows the energy and resources to help ensure our approaches are as cost effective as possible; reducing demand first is not only lowest overall cost to reduce our carbon emissions but that also right sizes subsequent investments in LZCT.

If you would like to have a downloadable checklist for this, please contact us.

For more detailed ideas and opportunities for the different categories, see our smart saver check lists covering lighting, process, HVAC systems and others.

I hope some of these ideas are of help to you.

Here are some tips for selecting materials with good environmental credentials:

• If possible, select products that use third-party verification labels/certification, recycled content, environmental product declarations etc. to ascertain sustainability credentials.
• Consider this for any wood panels, joinery, timber structures and flooring, furniture, particle boards, paper products, textile and laminated floor coverings, wall coverings, furniture and soft furnishings and ceiling tiles.
• Timber is usually an easier one to target.  For example, you can specify 100% timber to be either reclaimed, recycled or, when new, to be supplied with a chain of custody certificate from one of the following forest certification schemes only: FSC, PEFC, SFI, CSA.
• If possible avoid the use of any products containing PVC.  Where PVC is intended to be used, it should be free from Phthalate and Cadmium, and contain post-consumer recycled content and achieve 100% recyclable status (i.e. designed for deconstruction to enable recyclability), or demonstrate that it is a more favorable product than alternatives through, for example a Life Cycle Analysis; a scheme such as the BRE Green Guide to Specification or Green Book Live database can be used to demonstrate a good rating in life cycle impact terms.
• Avoiding the use of virgin plastic products and packaging may be achieved by sourcing sustainable natural materials as an alternative to using plastics or sourcing plastics with a high recycled content that are 100% recyclable (i.e. designed for deconstruction to enable recyclability).
• Look for paints, wall coverings, adhesives and materials with low or zero VOC emissions (identified by a certified low VOC emissions label)
• Remember to check formaldehyde content of furnishing, carpets, fabric seating and textile wall coverings to ensure they are E0 or E1.
• There is a global push to prioritize non-HFC refrigerants with low global warming potential.  Consider all available technical features and specifications employed to minimize the use of HFC refrigerants in fit-outs, including considering other options, such as CO2 systems, if available and practical. 
• For justification for the material selection not meeting certain environmental requirements,  make reference of the reasons for the product used (e.g. based on H&S, hygiene requirements or other ethical reasons) and demonstrate that a market review of alternative products has been carried out, as appropriate.