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: business@esb.ie

Web: www.esb.ie/business

For sales enquiries: Phone: 1850 30 50 70 Email: bussales@esb.ie

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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 bussales@esb.ie

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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