With many businesses well on their way to compliance in the first stage of ESOS (Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme), attention is turning to the next steps to take once the deadline of 5th December 2015 has passed. Energys is advising participants on how to use retrofit technologies to turn the opportunities identified by the scheme into the means for long-term energy savings.
Recent reports have shown that more and more businesses are becoming informed about their responsibilities under ESOS. The scheme requires more than any business with more than 250 employees (or a turnover of more than 50 million) to produce detailed reports on their energy use and efficiency every four years.
The potential cost savings identified by implementing the changes recommended by an ESOS audit have been estimated to be more than 13.5 times greater than the cost of an audit – however, many businesses are still in the dark about where they can make the biggest savings.
Seeing the benefits
“There are many easy ways that business owners can look to save energy across their company premises, helping them in this first stage of ESOS compliance,” says Kevin Cox, Managing Director of Energys Group. “Quick wins, such as retrofit LED and T5 lighting upgrades or boiler controls, are easy to install and provide fast returns on investment.”
“With statistics from the Carbon Trust showing that lighting can account for up to 40% of business energy costs, it makes sense to look for the ‘low-hanging fruit’ when identifying the first opportunities for energy savings. Better yet, these technologies don’t require large initial outlays, nor disruptions to day-to-day business as they can be fitted quickly and easily.”
Advances in retrofit technologies
Energys’ award-winning range of LED retrofit lighting products has been shown to provide energy savings of up to 80% and can be fitted without disruption to day-to-day business. Already installed in some of the biggest organisations in the UK, these products offer significant energy savings, short paybacks and a simple and hassle free installation, making them an ideal recommendation for easy energy-saving improvements.
Boiler optimisation technology offers additional energy savings of between 15% and 30%, with payback achieved within 1 – 2 years. Recently, Avon and Somerset Constabulary was able to make energy savings averaging 18.8% thanks to boiler optimisation technology from Energys.
A new start
“As ESOS has been designed as an opportunity rather than a penalty, it’s a good idea to see the scheme as a jumping-off point, rather than a finish line, for energy saving in your business,” advises Kevin Cox of Energys. “The easy wins offered by retrofit technologies can pave the way for a more integrated energy management strategy going forward. It’s the businesses who really appreciate the benefits of ESOS which will gain the most from it.”
