Energy Efficiency Guide

Lower energy consumption
Lower carbon emissions
Lower energy bills
Practical energy efﬁciency advice for businesses

Helping you to:
• Use less energy
• Spend less on bills
• Improve environmental credentials

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RF5902 npm7847 E3 Energy Efficiency Guide A4.indd 1 21/09/2012 16:30

The road to greater energy efficiency
starts here…
Saving energy delivers real benefits ......................................................................................................................3
How to get the most out of this guide .................................................................................................................3
Office equipment ....................................................................................................................................................4
Space and water heating .......................................................................................................................................5
Buildings ...................................................................................................................................................................6
Air conditioning .......................................................................................................................................................7
Lighting ......................................................................................................................................................................8
Electric motors ......................................................................................................................................................10
Compressed air ..................................................................................................................................................... 11
Commercial boilers ...............................................................................................................................................12
Refrigeration ..........................................................................................................................................................13
Process plant .........................................................................................................................................................14
Microgeneration – could you make your own energy? ....................................................................................15
Putting ideas into action.......................................................................................................................................16
Extra help from npower SmartStart....................................................................................................................16
Funding for energy efficiency measures ............................................................................................................. 17
Further help with energy efficiency ................................................................................................................... 17
Sample Action Plan and Energy Policy ...............................................................................................................18

Need more help or advice?
Our expert Energy Efficiency team is on hand to help. Just call the helpline on 0845 070 4019.†
Or visit our website at www.npower.com/SmartStart, where you’ll find lots more useful information and advice.

All saving figures quoted in this guide are taken from The Carbon Trust 2008 - 2010, www.carbontrust.co.uk
† We may monitor and/or record calls for security, quality or training purposes. Calls from BT landlines to numbers beginning with 0800 and 0845 may be free. The price of calls may vary with other operators and calls
from mobiles may be considerably higher. Please check with your operator for exact charges.


Saving energy delivers real benefits / How to get the most out of this guide / Page 3

Saving energy delivers real benefits
There’s a simple business case for being more energy efﬁcient – The Carbon Trust estimates that most business can cut energy
it could have a direct impact on your bottom line. In short, spend by around 10% by taking some simple efficiency
reducing energy waste reduces energy spend. But alongside measures. And if you’re prepared to invest a little, you could
saving money, you could also reduce the level of carbon increase this even more and start offsetting the cost against
emissions your business is responsible for. And as carbon savings from day one.
emissions are linked to climate change there’s also a strong
environmental case for using less energy.

How to get the most out of this guide
Whatever business you’re in – and whether you’re a small You’ll also find some useful contacts for further help and
company or a larger organisation – this guide details a number support, including details of organisations that can provide
of actions you can take to become more energy efficient. funding and loans for energy efficiency measures that require
some capital outlay.
Clearly, not all will apply to you. But have a read through
and perhaps mark all those that do. At the back of this guide, If at any stage, you have any questions or need some more help,
you’ll find a template for an action plan where you can list ten please contact us – our Energy Efﬁciency team are always happy
key priority measures with a timescale to implement. Most to talk to you. Just call the helpline on 0845 070 4019.†
efficiency measures can be delivered quickly and simply, but
others may require some planning or investment.


Office equipment / Page 4

Office equipment
Whatever your business, the chances are you need some office equipment to operate, whether it be computers, photocopies,
printers, fax machines etc. In some companies, office equipment can be responsible for up to around 30% of total energy
consumption. Using equipment more efficiently can therefore make a significant difference to energy spend.

Savings in practice:
Just by turning off the TV in their café when no-one’s watching it, Independent Motor Auctions in Leeds could cut their energy
bill by around £26 a year. (Based on prices in 2008)

Easy ways to save on office energy expenditure
Only switch on what you need Enable energy saving features on all equipment
A photocopier left on unnecessarily could increase your energy Power consumption could be reduced by up to 80%. Enabling
bill by up to around £194 a year. power save on a laser printer could save up to around £11 per
year or more.
Consider whole life cost approach when you buy equipment
An energy star compliant laser printer could reduce your energy Avoid using screen savers as they rarely save energy
bill by around over £19 per year. Sometimes screen savers use more energy. Turning off a screen
saver and activating the power save function on a computer
Turn off computer monitors when you leave
monitor could save around £25-£45 per year per monitor.
A 17” tube monitor left on unnecessarily could cost up to
around £37 per year. Keep photocopiers outside air conditioned spaces
This may save up to around £200 per year in ‘warming-up’ costs
Save up photocopying until you have a batch
for each copier.
Photocopiers use a lot of energy when they’re first switched
on and when they’re left on because they need to be warm Avoid printing emails
to work. For maximum efficiency, save up copies into a batch You can save paper, toner/ink and energy by not printing emails
and then turn the copier off again. This could save you up to and documents that aren’t strictly necessary. The energy alone
around £194 a year. could be worth around £6 or more per year, per printer.
Avoid copying documents unnecessarily
Cutting down on paper, toner (or ink) and energy could lead Find out more ways of saving energy with office equipment
to a saving of around £50 per year. Contact The Carbon Trust at www.thecarbontrust.co.uk/energy,
or call 0800 085 2005


Space and water heating / Page 5

Space and water heating
Heating your business premises and ensuring adequate hot water can use up a lot of energy. For maximum efficiency, aim to
match your space and water heating to the occupancy of the building and regulate it to maintain the desired temperature.

Top tips to reduce heat waste

Ensure thermostats are set to the desired temperature for Turn off boilers during the summer months
heat and hot water Using an immersion heater during the summer could save
For every 1˚C of extra heat, your heating bill increases by around around £20 per year, although circumstances vary.
8%. For warehouses, 16˚C is usually an acceptable temperature,
Ensure your hot water cylinder (caloriﬁer) is well insulated
and 20ºC for offices. For hot water, between 60˚C and 65˚C
If you spend around £160 per year on hot water, this could be
is suitable for catering and washing to avoid Legionella (any
halved with an insulated cylinder.
higher can also increase limescale build-up).
Ensure adequate insulation on all hot water pipes
Reset timers after clock change from BST to GMT
Insulate all hot water pipes, flanges and valves to prevent heat
If the heating is on at the wrong times, you could be paying
loss and cut down on your hot water bills.
for an extra hour of heat made up from portable heaters –
up to around £95 per heater per year.
Want to know more about space and water heating?
Ensure radiators are unobstructed The following organisations can help with queries about space
This will increase circulation of heat. If you have to resort heating and hot water and the various methods of control:
to using portable heaters to make up for insufficient heat,
these can cost up to around £95 per heater per year. • The Carbon Trust
www.thecarbontrust.co.uk
Fit insulation material behind radiators on outside walls Tel 0800 085 2005
This could save you around £10 in a year, although
circumstances do vary. • The Heating and Ventilating
Contractors’ Association
Fit thermostatic radiator valves www.hvca.org.uk
If your radiators are on full without any form of regulation, you Tel 020 7313 4900
could be overheating a room and increasing your heating bill. (provides information on local contractors)
Get a new boiler • The Combustion Engineering Association
If your boiler is over 20 years old and you spend around £1,100 www.cea.org.uk
a year on your heating bill, you could save around £330 simply Tel 029 2040 0670
by fitting a new condensing boiler.
Have boilers professionally serviced
Maintaining your boiler could save you up to around £120
per year in efficiency costs, if you currently spend £400 on
space heating bills.


Buildings / Page 6

Buildings
Effective insulation and draught proofing is essential to reduce heat loss from buildings – as well as limiting any noise and
airborne pollution. Most buildings have scope for improvement. Good insulation is best fitted during the construction or
refurbishment of a building when it is more cost effective and less disruptive. However, there are still changes that you can
make to existing buildings at any time.

Good housekeeping for more energy efﬁcient buildings

Seal external doors and windows with draught excluders Ensure room temperatures are thermostatically controlled
By fitting self-adhesive draught excluders to outside doors If you spend £600 per year on space heating, you could reduce
and windows, you could save around £20-£40 on a typical your energy bill by about £48 for each degree the temperature
heating bill of £400. is reduced.
Keep doors closed between heated and unheated areas Don’t heat unoccupied rooms
This could reduce your energy bills by around £40-£80 on Check to make sure that radiators or heaters are turned off
a typical cost of £800. in rooms that aren’t used.
Add a lobby to cut down on heat loss
If your reception costs £200 per year to keep warm, around Want to know more about buildings?
£50 could be wasted by allowing heat to escape through a For help with queries about buildings and the various methods
frequently used door. of control, contact:

Fit automatic sensors on loading bay doors • The Carbon Trust
If your loading bay costs £160 per year to keep warm, you www.thecarbontrust.co.uk
could save about £40, depending upon how many times Tel 0800 085 2005
the door is opened, by installing an automatic sensor.
Insulate cavity walls and roof spaces
Prices will vary depending on circumstances but your
investment could typically be recouped within five years.


Air Conditioning / Page 7

Air Conditioning
Air conditioning can be a blessing during summer months, but it doesn’t need to run 24/7. Nor should it run too cold. Both will
increase energy costs considerably.

By adjusting temperature settings on air conditioning from 21˚C to 23˚C, the Queen’s Arms pub in Brighton could save around
£232 a year. (Based on prices in 2008)

Keeping cool for less

Ensure thermostats are set to the desired temperature Minimise the use of other ofﬁce equipment that
For every 1˚C below 24˚C, you could be adding 8% to your generate heat
air conditioning bill so check regularly that your room One 17” desktop PC monitor left on unnecessarily could cost
temperature thermostats are set correctly. Cooling to 23˚C around £74 per year in direct energy costs plus a further £20
or 24˚C is normally quite acceptable. per year for additional air conditioning costs, although
circumstances vary.
Avoid simultaneous heating and cooling
If you spend £80 heating a space in winter and a further Minimise solar gain
£120 cooling the same space in the summer, your annual bill Control excessive heat from the sun by using blinds or shades.
is £200. But if the systems are both running simultaneously, All chilled water pipes should be well insulated
it could cost you around an extra £50. By insulating chilled water pipes you could be saving on your
Check humidity controls energy bills, as the chiller plant could operate more efficiently.
Unnecessary humidity control could double the energy required. Portable air conditioners should reject heat directly outside
Replace air handling unit dampers with variable speed drives Maximising the efficiency of portable air conditioners could save
This will significantly reduce running costs and provide a return as much as around £50 per year for each externally ducted unit.
on investment typically within three to five years.
Use the right ﬁlters and keep them clean Want to know more about air conditioning?
Blocked or incorrect filters could be adding to your energy The following organisations can help with queries about air
costs and lowering the overall efficiency of your air conditioning and the various methods of control:
conditioning system. • The Carbon Trust
Keep condensers clean www.thecarbontrust.co.uk
Blocked, damaged or dirty condensers can increase air Tel 0800 085 2005
conditioning bills by around as much as 25% and may also • The Heating and Ventilating Contractors’ Association
lead to inadequate cooling. www.hvca.org.uk
Remove or insulate all heat sources in air conditioned spaces Tel 020 7313 4900
Identify and eliminate all heat sources – uninsulated hot pipes, (also provides information on local contractors)
photocopiers, etc – as they can cause your air conditioning
system to work a lot harder.


Lighting / Page 8

Lighting
Every business needs lighting in one form or another and uses a significant amount of energy simply so that people can see to do
their jobs properly. Retail outlets also rely on display lighting so that their goods are correctly lit to make them visible and appealing.
While natural lighting is often preferable, it’s not always available or practical. Many businesses also have changing needs
throughout their work hours. So artificial lighting is a necessity.
The key to being more energy efficient with lighting is having a system that produces the maximum amount of light for the input
power and is flexible and responsive to changing circumstances. The control system is therefore crucial.

Simply by replacing 4 x 58 watt T8 fluorescent tubes in their main office with T5 conversions, Regency Press in Birmingham
could save more than £30 a year. (Based on prices in 2008)

Simple steps to reduce lighting bills

Check lighting levels Fit a time switch to control fixed hours of lighting
You may have more light than you need. Removing an Each 70 watt lamp lit all night, when part night operation
unnecessary 100 watt incandescent bulb could save about would do, costs around an extra £14 per year.
£20 a year.
Label light switches
Turn off fluorescent lights when not needed Only turning on lights that are needed will save money – a
A popular myth is that it’s not worth turning off fluorescent fitting with 4 x 18 watt lamps will cost about £17 a year to run.
lights for short periods. This isn’t true. Turning off a single
Fit daylight and/or occupancy sensors to lights
65 watt fluorescent fitting at break times could save around
For a group of 6 x 80 watt fluorescent fittings, savings in the
£4 per year.
order of £51 per year could be achieved.
Turn off unnecessary lights
Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs
Each twin 58 watt fluorescent fitting costs about £23 a year
Standard incandescent lamps are inefficient, generating 10%
to run.
light and 90% heat. Swapping a 20 watt low-energy lamp in
Rewire lighting controls for small groups of lights, or place of a 100 watt incandescent lamp could save you around
even individual lights £16 a year.
The more control you can have over the light you use, the
less likely you are to waste energy. So consider fitting dimmer
switches, automatic presence or sunlight detector sensors.


Lighting / Page 9

Use task lighting rather than light the whole area Consider turning off external lighting
A single 18 watt task light instead of an overhead fluorescent Rather than leaving lights on all night, fit motion sensors. For
light with 4 x 18 watt tubes could save about £12 per year – a typical 300 watt tungsten halogen lamp, you could save up to
enough to cover the cost of buying the task light. £20 a year. Where lights are required to be lit all night, choose
discharge lighting – a 70 watt high pressure sodium lamp rather
Replace 38mm fluorescent tubes with 26mm tubes
than a 300 watt tungsten halogen lamp saves around £42 over
For each 65 watt bulb substituted with a 58 watt lamp, you’ll
the year.
save around £3 per year – more than the cost of the new bulb.
This will usually work with lamps that have starters, excluding
8ft fittings. If in doubt, try one first. Want to know more about lighting?
The following organisations can all help with queries about
Consider whole life cost approach when buying lighting internal and external lighting and the various methods of control:
By replacing twin 80 watt fluorescent fittings with new twin
58 watt high frequency fluorescent fittings, you’ll make energy • The Carbon Trust
savings of around £13 per fitting. Plus, you’ll have the benefit www.thecarbontrust.co.uk
of lamps that last twice as long and operate flicker-free. Tel 0800 085 2005

Replace or remove flashing fluorescent tubes • UK Lighting Manufacturers’ Trade Association
A 100 watt fluorescent tube flashing every couple of seconds www.lif.co.uk
could waste £72 worth of energy in a year. Tel 0207 793 3020


Electric motors / Page 10

Electric motors
Electric motors are major users of electricity in industrial plant and commercial premises. Motive power accounts for almost half
the total electrical energy used in the UK and for nearly two thirds of industrial electricity use. Consider what the motor is actually
doing. Is it doing useful work? If not, turn it off.

Maximise motor efficiency

Prevent unwanted motors running Connect oversized motors in permanent
A 4kW motor turned off for an hour a day could save about star configuration
£100 a year. A 50kW motor turned off for an hour a day An oversized motor costing £200 per year to run could
could save over £1,200! reduce its cost to around £180 if connected in permanent
star formation.
Slowing down a motor could make significant energy
savings Use high efficiency motors
Fitting variable speed drives could lead to significant energy A high efficiency EFF1 rated motor used in place of a 25kW
savings with paybacks between three and five years. A motor basic motor running continuously all year, could save
taking 14kW at 1,500 rpm and costing £1.19 per hour to run about £400.
could drop to around 9p an hour to run if adapted to around
1kW at 750 rpm. Want to know more about motors? Then contact:
Use direct drives rather than belt drives • The Carbon Trust
A 12kW motor driving a pump directly, rather than via a belt, www.thecarbontrust.co.uk
could save about £260 throughout the year. Tel 0800 085 2005
On belt driven systems, ensure pulleys are properly aligned
A 10kW motor driving a pump with pulleys that are not
properly aligned could add around £220 to the annual
energy cost.
Changing pulley ratios on fixed speed motors could lead
to significant energy savings
Slowing a motor down by simply changing the pulley ratio is
very cost effective for fixed speed motors and could achieve
paybacks in under a year. A motor taking 6kW at 3,000 rpm and
costing 51p per hour to run, for example, could take less than
1kW and cost less than around 7p per hour to run at 1,500 rpm.


Compressed air / Page 11

Compressed air
Compressed air is a convenient and often essential utility, widely used in industry. However, it takes a lot of energy (usually
electricity) to generate and consequently is very expensive. For example, it costs up to ten times more to run air tools than their
electric equivalent, because only 10% of input energy to a compressor is doing useful work while the other 90% is rejected as heat.
Up to 30% savings are possible by following some simple good housekeeping measures, often achievable at no or low cost.

Steps to reduce the cost of compressed air

Consider heat recovery required could be costing you dearly in energy and filters. Drying
It could yield up to 40% of the compressor’s input power as also costs significant amounts as the air has to be cooled to
a ‘free’ heat source. separate the moisture. Ensuring that you are filtering and drying
to the required standard and no more could lead to significant
Ensure compressed air is used appropriately
financial savings.
As an energy source, compressed air costs ten times that of
electricity (90% is wasted as heat in the compressor) so it Ensure that multiple compressor installations are properly
should be used sparingly. Using compressed air to dry products sequenced
when a simple 3kW blower would do, for example, means that Exact savings will depend on your own system.
you could be wasting more than £2 for each hour of continuous
Ensure air inlets are clear and unobstructed
use – and maybe as much as £4,000 in a year.
If your 40kW compressor is drawing air from within a room with
Locate and ﬁx air leaks an ambient air temperature of 33˚C, you could be adding about
If you have a 30kW compressor running on load for eight hours 4% to the running cost, which could mean around an extra
per day and 40% is wasting away, then you could be losing the £800 per year, based on a 40-hour week.
equivalent of £1,600 per year.
Isolate redundant pipework to areas that no longer need
Switch off compressors when not needed compressed air
A 30kW compressor running offload over lunchtime all year Exact savings will depend on your own system.
round, could be costing you more than £200 in wasted
energy a year. Want to know more about compressed air?
Maintain compressors properly The following organisations can help with queries about
A 15kW compressor running inefficiently could be costing compressed air and the various methods of control:
you more than an extra £850 a year. • The Carbon Trust
Reduce compressed air generation pressure www.thecarbontrust.co.uk
Compressors that cost £1,500 a year at 7 bar pressure could Tel 0800 085 2005
only cost around £1,400 if reduced to 6 bar. • British Compressed Air Society
Avoid unnecessary ﬁltering or drying www.bcas.org.uk
Providing ultra clean air when basic filtered air is all that is Tel 020 7935 2464


Commercial boilers / Page 12

Commercial boilers
Many boilers are small and compact and are used for space and water heating applications, particularly in the smaller commercial
and retail business sectors. Some larger buildings and many industries will have much bigger boilers (or a combination of boilers)
and these need to be considered more specifically than the smaller, individual packaged boilers.
It’s worth noting that not all of the heat produced by a boiler is useful. Some is lost up the flue, some through the boiler case and
some through leaks in the system. With steam boilers, heat will also be lost during blowdown (a process that helps to prevent the
boiler clogging up with particles left over when water is converted to steam). Further losses can occur if the condensate (what’s left
when the steam turns back into water) is not collected and re-used. So there are lots of ways to limit energy waste and
maximise efficiency.

Updating their old hot water boiler with a new energy efficiency boiler could save Bristol-based pie makers Pieminister around
£155 a year, with a payback period of less than three years. (Based on prices in 2008)

Getting the best from boilers

Replace old boilers Act to detect problems with boilers
All modern boilers have a better efficiency than their older Regularly monitoring flue gas temperatures and the
counterparts, so replacing an old boiler with a new one composition of the flue gas itself can lead to early detection
could save as much as around 30% depending upon of a problem with your boiler. Either consult an expert or have
individual circumstances. automatic monitoring equipment fitted.
Downsizing a boiler could lead to savings Ensure that a minimum number of boilers are running
Boilers were often oversized, so there may be an option to In multiple boiler installations, a sequencing control device
downsize, which could lead to additional savings. However, should be used to ensure that the minimum number of
replacing a boiler can be an expensive option and may cause boilers are running fully loaded, rather than all boilers
considerable disruption, so it may be worth considering other running on part load.
measures first.
Maximise condensate
Insulate all hot water pipes, flanges and valves Maximise the amount of condensate being returned to
Insulate all hot water pipes, flanges and valves to prevent heat the boiler, as this could save heat energy and save on
loss and you could save up to around 10% of supplied energy. water treatment costs. Consult an expert for advice.
Ensure the boiler is only running when it needs to Position new boilers effectively
Check the timer and review what’s required as the If you’re considering getting a new boiler, site it as near to
seasons change. the heat demand as possible.
Ensure the boiler is only heating to the required
temperature Want to know more about boilers?
This will vary according to what you need it for, but for every The following organisations can help with more information
1˚C of extra heat, your bill could increase by around 8%. and advice about boilers:
Deal with variable needs for heat • The Carbon Trust
Where there’s a variable need for heat in particular areas, www.thecarbontrust.co.uk
ensure that the steam or hot water pipes can be isolated Tel 0800 085 2005
when not needed. • The Heating and Ventilating Contractors’ Association
Check for water or steam leaks and rectify as necessary www.hvca.org.uk
Leaks waste heat – and therefore energy. Tel 020 7313 4900
(provides information on local contractors)
Ensure boilers are regularly serviced
Boilers should be professionally serviced at least once a year • The Combustion Engineering Association
to ensure optimum efficiency. www.cea.org.uk
Tel 029 2040 0670
Insulate boiler casing
Insulate (or add extra insulation) to the boiler casing. Consult
an expert if you are unsure.


Refrigeration / Page 13

Refrigeration
Refrigeration energy costs British industry around £300 million a year and rising. In certain sectors – notably food and drink,
chemicals, food supermarkets and cold storage – it accounts for a significant proportion of overall site energy costs. A small
percentage reduction in refrigeration energy could therefore represent huge financial savings.
Many refrigeration units can be improved to save up to around 20% of their energy consumption. Much of this can be done at
little or no cost, with paybacks on any investment of well under two years being the norm.

Chilling at maximum efﬁciency

Is cooling really needed? Insulate refrigerant pipes
A freezer cooling 2˚C lower than necessary and costing £190 Pipe insulation is very good value for money and will keep
a year to run could be wasting around £30. running costs down. Often the outlay can be recovered in
less than two years for example.
Minimise the number of times that doors are left open
Each time the door is opened, cold air escapes and warm Ensure adequate insulation around the cooled space
moist air enters – both of which lead to greater energy use. Insulation will keep running costs down, with any outlay
The warm moist air has to be cooled down and in the process often recovered in less than three years.
ice forms, leading to more frequent defrosting as the ice
builds up. Want to know more about refrigeration?
Keep evaporators and condensers clean and unobstructed The following organisations can help with queries about
If your freezer costs around £1,500 a year to run, then it could refrigeration and the various methods of control:
cost you about an extra £150 if you allow the evaporator • The Carbon Trust
temperature to rise by 3˚C – and twice this amount if the www.thecarbontrust.co.uk
condenser temperature also rises by 3˚C. Tel 0800 085 2005
Fix all refrigerant leaks • The British Refrigeration Association
Refrigerant gas is expensive and lack of it will severely limit www.feta.co.uk
the performance of your system and add to the running costs. Tel 0118 940 3416
Keep door seals in good condition • The Institute of Refrigeration
Replacing a bad door seal with a good one will often pay www.ior.org.uk
for itself in less than 12 months for example. Tel 020 8647 7033


Process plant / Page 14

Process plant
Process plant covers a diverse range of equipment, including dryers, furnaces, baking ovens, mixers and blenders, crushers and
grinders, tanks and vats, treatment booths and many others used for specialist jobs in industry. However, this equipment is often
overlooked when people are thinking about energy efficiency because it’s seen as too specialist. Concern about product quality can
often hinder trying anything new. But there are some simple house-keeping measures that can reduce energy costs significantly.

Using process plant effectively

Shut down unnecessary plant Consider options for improved controls for
Preventing any unwanted plant from running will save the full existing processes
input power to the plant. For example, a 15kW kiln turned off A control system that maximises through put but minimises
at night when not needed could save over £2,000 in a year. costs is the ideal set-up and could lead to savings.
Plan for energy efficiency in new installations Consider opportunities for heat recovery
An investment in energy efficiency at an early stage could This could yield up to 40% of your compressor’s input power
yield good results in the longer term. as a ‘free’ heat source.
Ensure plant is used at its optimum level
It’s always better to run plant at its optimum, as this is when Want to know more about process plant?
efficiency is greatest. At quiet times, it may be better to The following organisation can help with more efficiency
shutdown the plant and allow for the workload to build information about process plant and the various methods
up again. of control:
Monitor energy performance of key processes • The Carbon Trust
Monitoring consumption patterns on a regular basis will help www.thecarbontrust.co.uk
keep track of costs, but may also give an early indication of Tel 0800 085 2005
equipment malfunction, as increasing consumption is often
associated with imminent plant failure. Monitoring equipment
and software could help you to keep track these costs without
having to manually check through energy statements.
Ensure plant is properly maintained
Poorly maintained plant could use up to 30% (sometimes
more) energy for the same production and is more likely to
break down.


Microgeneration – could you make your own energy? / Page 15

Microgeneration
– could you make your own energy?
Businesses are now being encouraged by the UK government Tariffs are set taking into consideration the technology costs
to invest in small-scale electricity generation – from mini wind and expected electricity generation, with an approximate rate
turbines and solar panels to tapping energy from on-site hydro of return of between 5 percent and 8 percent for well-sited
sources and installing anaerobic digestion units. It’s all part of installations.
Britain’s low-carbon strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions
To find out more about the benefits of FITs, please contact one
and help meet future renewable energy targets.
of our specialist Feed in Tariff advisors on 01905 340646.
As a result, the Feed in Tariff (FIT) scheme became effective on
1 April 2010. FIT is a ‘clean energy cash-back’ scheme designed
to incentivise businesses and households to invest in small-
scale renewable technologies in return for guaranteed
payments.


Next steps / Page 16

Next steps
Now you have reviewed the key areas for saving energy, the next stage is putting this information into practice – and getting the
help and support you need to make this happen.

Putting ideas into action
Once you’ve identified the key measures that can help your Once you have your energy efficiency ‘champion(s)’ decided,
business, you might find it helpful to list ten key priority defining an energy efficiency policy that best suits your business
measures you can start with to help reduce energy waste. is an ideal next step. For a small business with limited energy
There’s an action plan over the page which you might like to use use, the policy shown in Appendix 2 may be appropriate.
as a template. However for more complex businesses or those with more
demanding energy needs, a bespoke solution may be needed.
It can also be useful to appoint a person, or a team of people,
Again, if you need help or advice, do contact our Energy
to take lead responsibility for making your organisation more
Efficiency team on 0845 070 4019.†
energy efficient and help get your whole team on board. So if
you don’t already have this in place, you may like to consider
finding one or more staff to take on this responsibility.

Extra help from npower
We have developed a range of products and services under understand more about how your business uses energy – and
our SmartPower brand to support our business customers how you can become more efﬁcient. Plus there are lots of
in successfully reducing energy waste, carbon emissions and helpful tips, a personalised energy audit with tailor-made
energy bills. efficiency recommendations, and an online Carbon Footprint
Calculator. For more information, see npower.com/SmartStart
For smaller businesses, SmartStart offers a range of advice
or call the Energy Efficiency team on 0845 070 4019.†
and expert help. The advice is free to npower business supply
customers and includes an Energy Monitor to help you


Next steps / Page 17

Funding for energy efficiency measures
Many energy efficiency measures cost nothing to implement, while others require minimal expenditure with a short pay-back
period. However, some efficiency improvements may require more significant investment – and where that’s difficult to fund,
you may be able to get some help.

• Loans • The Energy Systems Trade Association (ESTA)
interest free loans for energy efficiency investments may an energy management trade association, focusing on
also be available, particularly if you are a Small to Medium the energy efficiency of buildings, building services and
Enterprise (SME) and plan to repay the loan from the process services for businesses. ESTA represents over 100
energy savings the investment will generate. The amount suppliers of products and services covering the energy
available from The Carbon Trust scheme is currently £3,000 efficient monitoring, control, operation and management of
to £100,000 at 0% interest and no fees. More details are buildings, building services and process services. For further
available on the Carbon Trust website at information, visit www.esta.org.uk or phone 07041 49 20 49.
www.thecarbontrust.co.uk.
• The Chartered Institution of Building Services
• The Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme Engineers (CIBSE)
this scheme offers tax incentives if you invest in energy produces a range of publications on energy efficiency issues
saving equipment, including claiming 100% first year related to buildings. CIBSE also offers professional training,
capital allowances for approved energy saving equipment. education and membership services. For further details,
The ECA website has a list of eligible energy technologies visit www.cibse.org or phone 020 8675 5211.
and equipment – these currently include lighting, heating
• The Energy Institute
ventilation and air conditioning equipment, boiler equipment,
provides individuals and organisations with professional
compressed air equipment, refrigeration and more. For full
training, education and membership services in energy and
details, visit the scheme’s website at www.eca.gov.uk or call
environmental management and awareness. The Institute
The Carbon Trust Energy Helpline on 0800 085 2005.
is also an NVQ delivery centre and accrediting body for a
variety of company and university courses. For further
Further help with energy efficiency: details, visit www.energyinst.org.uk or phone 020 7467 7100.
• The Carbon Trust • The National Energy Foundation
A government-funded organisation that provides energy an organisation that manages the Energy Efficiency
efficiency information, advice and funding for UK businesses Accreditation Scheme, which provides independent
looking to save energy and carbon emissions. The trust verification of the achievements of organisations
promotes best practice and encourages action, with advice implementing energy efficiency and management measures.
and support at every stage – from planning to design, For further information, visit www.nef.org.uk or phone
implementation and management. Key services include: 01908 665555.
• Free information and advice, whether basic or technical.
• Professional, independent and objective advice about
energy-efficient and environmentally-conscious
building design.
• Free on-site energy surveys, conducted by professional
energy consultants who will draw up an action plan
showing how your business could save money, energy
and reduce emissions (usually for larger customers
spending over £50,000 per year on energy and subject
to availability and eligibility criteria).
• Possible funding for energy efficiency improvements
(again, subject to availability and eligibility criteria).
For further information, visit
www.thecarbontrust.co.uk or phone
0800 085 2005.


Sample Action Plan / Page 18

Appendix 1: Sample Action Plan
Item What will be done Who will When
1 Ensure all computer monitors are turned off at night All Every night
2 Fit door closer to external door Fred By 20 March
3 Change T12 fluorescent tubes to T8 Bill By 25 March
4 Undertake compressed air leak test Harry By 2 April
5 Check thermostat settings on space heating Bill By 25 March
6
7
8
9
10

Appendix 2: Sample Energy Policy
XYZ Co Ltd Energy Policy
XYZ Co Ltd is determined to conserve all forms of energy to reduce operating costs and to minimise damage to the environment.
With volatile and increasing fuel prices, it has become imperative that we all seek to use less energy. As well as moving towards
more efficient use of energy, XYZ Co Ltd will strive to source its energy needs from renewable sources, which will further protect
the environment.
It is hoped that over the next two years, XYZ Co Ltd will have saved a minimum of 10% of its energy use by the adoption of best
practice, modern engineering solutions and by the encouragement and commitment of its employees to use less energy. These
savings can be channelled into further energy saving initiatives and front line services in support of our main business activities.
We’ll renew this energy policy at regular intervals and update it to take into account changing circumstances and to ensure it
provides opportunities for continuous improvement.
The responsibility for overseeing the energy policy and for subsequent reviews has been delegated to Mrs Somebody, who will be
supported by Mr Someone. Please give them your whole hearted support.

President’s, Chairman’s or Chief Executive’s signature:

Date:


Sample Energy Policy / Page 19

Energy Policy Statement

This document sets out the goals, objectives and targets for the sustained reduction in energy use throughout the XYZ Co Ltd
organisation. This energy policy forms the basis of a two-year energy saving plan, which will lead to environmental benefits and
lower operating costs. The energy policy will run between August 2011 and July 2013 and will be reviewed every six months to
ensure the goals, objectives and targets are on track and to incorporate any necessary changes.
It is the intention of XYZ Co Ltd to:
• Publish our corporate energy policy.
• Purchase environmentally friendly energy, where we are not disadvantaged by so doing.
• Adopt a whole life costing approach to purchases, where particular attention is paid to energy efficiency.
• Reduce energy consumption, and thus reduce carbon emissions.
• Improve overall energy efficiency.
• Engineer solutions for saving energy rather than rely solely on manual intervention.
• Encourage and motivate employees to save energy.
• Publicise these objectives.
• Ensure all items identified in our action plan have been implemented.
• Introduce energy conservation into the induction process for all new employees,

Targets
XYZ Co Ltd has agreed to a sustained reduction in energy consumption, year on year, by the adoption of the two-year energy saving
plan. The individual targets for reductions in gas and electricity are detailed below. The base year for statistical purposes will be 2008
and all targets will be set and measured against this.

Gas
For gas, the plan is to reduce consumption by around 5% per year over the next 2 years, leading to a total reduction of 10% in gas
usage by 2013. This will be measured by kWh/m2, and weather conditions will be taken into account.

Electricity
For electricity, the plan is to reduce consumption by around 5% per year over the next 2 years, leading to a total reduction of 10% in
electricity usage by 2013. This will be measured by kWh/m2.

Date: Date:


Don’t miss out
– your business could profit from
using energy more efﬁciently.
For further information call our expert Energy Efﬁciency helpline on
0845 070 4019†

† We may monitor and/or record calls for security, quality or training purposes. Calls from BT landlines to numbers beginning with 0800 may be free. The price of calls may vary with other operators and
calls from mobiles may be considerably higher. Please check with your operator for exact charges.

npower is a registered trademark and the trading name of Npower Limited (registered in England and Wales no. 3653277), Npower Direct Limited (registered in England and Wales no. 3782443), Npower
Northern Limited (registered in England and Wales no. 3432100) and associated companies. Registered office: Windmill Hill Business Park, Whitehill Way, Swindon, SN5 6PB.

npm7847/09.10


Energy Efficiency Guide

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