Energy Efficiency
Strategies that enable organisations to use less energy are one of the easiest, lowest- investment, and often simplest approaches to reducing carbon emissions. However they are sometimes overlooked for larger transformations.
In our experience, energy efficiency is a first and important step in addressing the net zero challenge.
Energy efficiency measures enable organisations to utilise existing processes and equipment, optimising them through implementing new technology or energy recovery. Typically the cost of such improvements can be small, when compared to implementing something like solar PV or heat pump installations.
At Equans, we have the skills and expertise to implement and embed energy efficiency measures across your organisation. We can work with you to assess your operations and identify solutions that can optimise efficiency, reduce costs and cut carbon emissions.
Our starting point is to investigate energy saving opportunities across common technologies found across multiple sectors.
General energy efficiency measures
- Lighting:
Energy efficiency can be delivered through upgrading to LED lighting systems, improving lighting controls, maximising use of daylight and using occupancy sensors or timers. - Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC):
For HVAC systems, energy efficiency opportunities are mainly achieved through controls, maintenance, and heat recovery. - Smart metering and targeting systems (SMT):
These systems measure, monitor and record energy data. Although measurement doesn't directly save energy, understanding your energy consumption allows you to identify energy inefficiencies. A well implemented SMT strategy can contribute to significant energy savings.
Industrial energy efficiency measures
- Compressed air:
This is used in a wide variety of applications across the industrial sector. The main energy efficiency opportunities are speed control via Variable Speed Drives (VSD's), the reduction of intake air temperature, controls, heat recovery, leak detection and elimination and pressure reduction. - Motors and drives:
These are used in most moving application. The two main energy efficiency opportunities are installing Variable Speed Drives (VSD's) for speed reduction or adaptive speed reduction and converting belt driven motors to direct driven. - Heating:
In an industrial setting, heating is used for both space heating and process heating. Energy efficiency opportunities include regular maintenance, controls, set point reviews, and replacing older equipment with newer more efficient equipment. - Refrigeration:
This is used for process cooling, cold storage and space cooling. To increase refrigeration energy efficiency there are a few common opportunities; utilisation of free cooling, review of set point, VSD, heat recovery or replacing equipment with new more efficient technology.
