Contractors are key to help organisations tackle energy-efficiency challenges

The likely introduction of a carbon tax in Australia has sparked lively debate between proponents and opponents.

At Schneider Electric we understand that the decision for business and industry to invest in new technologies around energy efficiency is significant, especially combined with the uncertainty around carbon price and wider government policy.

But Australian businesses cannot afford to wait.

With demand for energy set to double over the next 40 years and energy costs continuing to rise, organisations need to take action on energy reduction now - and this doesn’t mean major investment. It’s about effective energy management and harnessing energy opportunities through appropriate use of technology.

Schneider Electric believes energy management will be a growing priority for the electrical contractor industry. Contractors can play a major role in influencing change and helping business wake up to the energy dilemma facing each and every Australian.

Due to the intrinsic efficiency of most power plants as well as losses in transmission and distribution electricity network, 1 kWh of usage in a building requires 3 kWh of production: for each energy unit saved in the building we save three times as many at production level.

Schneider Electric works with contractors to help organisations address the multiple and complex issues surrounding the ‘energy challenge’. We place a large emphasis on energy efficiency as a strategic business issue to help enterprise and industry make the most of their energy and make it safe, reliable, productive, efficient and green.

Right now, all organisations can take the first steps in energy management by monitoring and measuring consumption. Schneider Electric has helped organisations across all industry sectors through this process and allowed them to consistently achieve energy savings through passive and active energy strategies.

Schneider Electric’s four-step guide to energy management:

Measure energy use to identify potential savings and problem areas

1. Optimise all equipment and machinery to operate efficiently and, where necessary, upgrade legacy systems with low-consumption equipment and systems. Implement effective maintenance programs.
2. Improve long-term use through automation management, consulting, training and tracking resources while maintaining high performance.
3. Continuously analyse energy savings through maintenance, supervision and monitoring.

Energy-efficiency improvements require a lifecycle approach. Improvement starts with a decision about what to implement, and in the majority of cases an energy audit is the first step. The next identified actions will be passive measures to fix the basics such as replacing inefficient devices and repairing leaks. Finally, active measures for the optimisation and automation of systems are where substantial savings can be made.

The electrical industry has the skills and opportunity to drive efficiencies for organisations across all sectors. Energy costs are going in one direction - upwards. Encouraging firms to reduce their energy consumption through the installation of more efficient devices is good for business and the environment. Schneider Electric welcomes the opportunity to work with the industry to conduct customer energy audits, provide the latest energy-efficient solutions and actively participate as a trusted advisor and energy partner for the market.

David Gardner has held various positions with Schneider Electric during his 18-year career with the company. He now returns to Australia after three years in New Zealand as Country President.