Cut costs through sustainable energy management practices

Rising energy prices, climate change and the introduction of carbon tax from July this year have made it crucial for businesses to look at different energy-saving programs and strategies. Achieving energy-efficiency goals in a variety of project applications is a difficult design brief to achieve. This article explains how sustainable energy management practices could help businesses reduce costs and add competitive advantage.

Every day our world demands more - more power, more reliability, more comfort and control. In today’s energy-conscious environment, the world requires the most energy-efficient means possible. Achieving the energy-effciency goals in a variety of project applications is a difficult design brief to achieve. Every infrastructure and industry specification is unique and requires specialist expertise.

In addition, world energy consumption has risen 45% since 1980. It is projected to be 70% higher by 2030. Emerging markets (including China and India) account for more than 75% of demand, placing new pressures on global resources. Meanwhile, mature markets such as North America, Europe and Japan will face increased demand and limited resources. These mature markets will continue legislating to reduce consumption, shift to alternative energy sources and improve energy security.

Energy efficiency is the quickest, cheapest and cleanest way to reduce energy consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Energy-efficiency improvements require a life cycle approach. Improvement starts with a decision about what to implement. In most cases an energy audit is the first step. Generally, 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.

Australia’s commitment to an energy-efficient future is supported through a combination of voluntary rating programs, legislation, mandatory reporting requirements, government funding programs and building codes.

Government funding programs

Programs such as the NSW Government’s Energy Saver program are available now to businesses wanting to take the important first step towards understanding their energy footprint. The Energy Saver program provides subsidised energy audits of up to 80%. Schneider Electric’s energy auditors have been appointed to the Energy Saver program and can work with customers and partners to assist businesses to understand if they qualify, complete the audit and advise on what strategies to implement.

The $20m Energy Saver works with medium to large NSW sites (160 MWh - 10 GWh electricity consumption a year) to cut their energy use by at least 10%. Funding is available to all business sectors including manufacturing, commercial office buildings, hotels and government departments.

Mandatory reporting

A key issue for businesses in 2012 will be the new energy reporting regulations. The Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) scheme is the first regulatory step in making business more energy wise and penalties will apply for non-disclosure.

Under the CBD scheme, effective 1 November 2011, all sellers or lessors of office space greater than 2000 m² are required to obtain and disclose an up-to-date energy-efficiency rating. The scheme also requires applicable organisations to make energy recommendations for how they can reduce energy within their building.

Schneider Electric works with contractors to help organisations address the multiple and complex issues surrounding the ‘energy challenge’ - through placing a large emphasis on energy efficiency as a strategic business issue to help enterprise and industry make the most of their energy.