The Challenge

Detect avoidable energy waste that might otherwise remain hidden that occurs due to poor control, unexpected equipment faults or human error, and which can usually be put right quickly and cheaply (or, indeed, at no cost).

Quantify the savings achieved.

Identify opportunities for investigation prompted by observed unexpected patterns of consumption.

Provide feedback for staff awareness; improve budget setting, undertake bench marking and compare performance against best practice.

Set performance targets. Provide the evidence based on what is technically feasible, and should therefore feed into any policy and strategic commitments made by the organisation to reduce their carbon footprint. Set and monitor targets and performance parameters for individual areas.

Specific Challenges

Provide those who are responsible for the ‘businesses’ of the site, such as the client, construction management, sub-contractors, and suppliers with the actual energy saving opportunities available to them. Key areas:

• Focusing on low and no-cost measures with quick paybacks
• Assess the potential for energy savings for improvement
• Raise awareness and motivate action amongst the community
• Prioritise activities to maximise savings

As many areas of construction sites have no energy monitoring capability and energy consumption is based on supplier data which can be flawed and prone to error. This highlights the importance of:

• Providing energy usage reports for cost reduction and compliance that will not be a burden on administration
• Existing energy usage data was not being used to target energy usage or cost reduction
• Sub-contractor energy performance against companies targets

The Solution

• The PSW energy team managed the project from initial scope, through to establishing monitoring levels, ensuring at all times compliance and an auditable trail for continual improvement through awareness and no downtime or disruption to site activities.
• Our engineers installed power monitoring to the main electrical supply to obtain accurate energy data and establish initial baselines. The data was transferred to our internet energy portal for unlimited users to access
• Excess KVA usage identified
• High ‘out of hours’ usage increasing wastage
• Targeted energy awareness campaigns
• Power factor low increasing KVA demand and costs
• Increased supply voltage increasing overall costs

The Benefits

• Unlimited user access
• Energy dashboard
• Energy awareness
• Saving opportunities
• Bill validation
• Considerate Constructor
• Green credentials