May 7, 2004—According to a recent survey, many of the UK’s largest organizations are guilty of a ‘what’s good enough for one is good enough for another’ approach to energy use in commercial buildings. Not good enough, say campaigners.
The survey, carried out on behalf of Automatic Environmental Controls, Ltd. (AEC), reveals that 40% of organizations do not manage energy in individual buildings, but rather use the same energy strategy for all buildings under their management.
With so many organizations failing to implement specific energy efficiency programs in their buildings, reductions in both energy spend and C02 emissions will be minimal, says the energy management specialist.
Julian Miller, director of AEC, argues that this is because buildings vary to such an extent that in order to optimize the energy efficiency each one must be treated on its own merits and not, as is usually the case, that the lowest common denominator is used in a “one size fits all” approach. Energy inefficiencies vary from building to building.
He explained: “Energy management methods effective in one building will not necessarily be right for another. Only by gaining a good understanding of where inefficiencies lie in one particular building, can these then be dealt with.”
“These organizations are not placing enough importance on saving energy and their approach does not take advantage of the considerable opportunities available, particularly in the current environment when energy costs are on the rise to the order of 20% -30%,” continued Miller. “In order to implement proper controls, one needs to concentrate on getting the most out of the building management system of each individual building. Once this has been carried out, the organization can enjoy substantial energy savings of at least 20%, which will help negate the current price increases and also save millions of tonnes of C02 emissions per annum.”
—Fiona Perrin
Reprinted with permission; copyright 2004 i-FM
