In the commercial sector, one of this year’s big energy discussion points is ESOS (the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme). We’ve asked ESOS Assessor, Stephen Lundy from Axion Energy Solutions to guest write for us and share his Top ESOS Tips.
ESOS requires that all companies with over 250 employees or an annual turnover exceeding €50 million and balance sheet exceeding €40 million undertake energy audits to identify energy saving opportunities. Audits must be carried out every four years, the first of which must be completed by 5th December 2015.
The audit process requires you to:
- Calculate total energy consumption, including energy use in buildings, industrial processes and transport
- Identify areas of significant energy use
- Identify energy saving opportunities
- Appoint (from within your company, or externally) an ESOS Lead Assessor to review the audits
- Record your process as evidence
- Notify the Environment Agency.
Whether you are just starting out, or already have the process underway, use Stephen’s Top ESOS Tips towards trouble free assessment and putting your hard work to good use:
1. Identify whether you have already undertaken audits that meet ESOS requirements:
■ If you have other Energy Management Standard Certifications (such
as the Carbon Trust Standard or the Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme) and your Lead Assessor is satisfied that these are comparable to the ESOS Energy Audit standards, then audit work carried out for these schemes may also count towards your ESOS compliance.
■ If you have an energy management system certified to ISO50001, which covers all of your ‘significant energy consumption’ you can move straight to Director sign off and inform the Environmental Agency of your compliance. If your ISO50001 only covers part of your organisation, you will need to carry out additional audits to include the remainder.
■ Your Lead Assessor will not need to review any elements covered by your ISO50001 certified energy management system, but they will need to review
anything not covered by this, DEC’s or GDA’s.
2. You can estimate savings in like for like areas: For example you could use the annual energy use of one building (for example a retail outlet) to estimate another retail outlet in a building of similar size, age or build type.
3. Keep an audit trail: You are required to provide an evidence pack outlining the steps you have taken, which complies with the ESOS regulations. If you have no physical data (e.g. an energy bill or photo of a meter) for a specific area, outline your calculation assumptions. Check out this 2Degrees blog for extra info on meeting your evidence pack obligation.
4. Use your ESOS learning towards best practice development: The ESOS audit requires a thorough methodology, which could be put to good use to benchmark best practice and add value across other departments.
5. Use ESOS to promote sustainability: Use the energy and cost saving potential you have found with ESOS to keep sustainability top of the list with your senior management and board.
A HUGE thank you to Stephen for his input and agreeing to star on our blog!
Check out our energy saving products to help implement your ESOS energy saving measures.
