| Reducing costs, reducing carbon and saving money - | | | | deployed and if not we will develop a practical tool kit |
| a carbon reduction programme for the NHS | | | | that can be deployed across all cost centres. |
| When you read a heading like that its pretty clear | | | | 2. Development of the strategy and Implementation |
| that most people understand what we are aiming to | | | | of key requirements |
| achieve and what the desired outcomes might look | | | | The strategy incorporates the finding of the various |
| like. Yet, in industry and public sector alike there is still | | | | audits, in particular the energy audit which helps us to |
| an apathy to make changes in organisations based on | | | | identify where energy waste exists and what needs |
| the "climate change" agenda as it tends to be "I will | | | | to be done to fix the problem. Stage two is about |
| take a look at that tomorrow" particularly with many | | | | implementing "no cost" improvements such as staff |
| other commercial pressures and objectives required | | | | awareness such as turning off lights and ICT |
| of complex organisations. | | | | equipment to a change is processes such as reducing |
| Grasping Climate Change | | | | cistern flushes at the weekend to a bear minimum |
| Climate Change is a rather unique challenge, the | | | | when the building is predominantly unused. |
| consequences of in action are horrendous and yet, | | | | A key part of making change happen is through |
| because this is so out of the norm we find it hard to | | | | change management. Waste is generally caused by |
| quantify and visualisation what this new World will | | | | the inactions of members of staff, such as turning |
| actually look like. The scientists are unanimous of the | | | | off lights. A simple colour coding system on light |
| dire consequences that we will witness and for many | | | | switches, red to "do not touch" and green "turn off |
| experts it's all a bit too late for us to really stop the | | | | when natural light is sufficient" but it can also be |
| change, but we can slow its progress. | | | | down to procedures and rethinking procedures and |
| However, with the current economic climate there | | | | policies can make a vast difference, examples may |
| are some significant drivers forcing commercial | | | | include when hiring cars hire a small engine vehicle is |
| businesses to make change happen. Implementing an | | | | not only more economical but also emits fewer |
| effective climate change strategy and carbon | | | | carbon emissions. |
| reduction programme make more sense than ever | | | | From an environmental perspective it means that we |
| because of the cost and efficiency benefits. There is | | | | should now start to follow a formal process. The |
| though still a tendency by organisations particularly in | | | | natural process would be ISO14001 for environmental |
| the retail and services industries to tackle costs by | | | | management, but there is also IOS14064 for Green |
| reducing head count, but from our experience there | | | | House Gas measurement. Surprisingly, however, |
| is a huge amount of waste, particularly energy | | | | many organisations we have dealt with didn't even |
| waste, that exists in pretty much every business in | | | | have an up to date environmental policy. |
| the UK and by tackling that waste that would negate | | | | 3. Invest to Save. |
| the need to slash a productive work force even | | | | In times of economic downturn, organisations do not |
| through times of low demand. | | | | spend money easily which iswhy it is important to |
| One industry that will always have constant demand | | | | take a long term very when improving overall building |
| regardless of market forces is the NHS. Not dissimilar | | | | efficiency. The quick wins and savings can be |
| to many commercial organisations the board have a | | | | achieved through change management and minimal |
| tendency of nailing the safe shut when at times like | | | | investment but the bigger savings are achieved by |
| these carbon reduction strategies are key to | | | | looking more strategically at building efficiency. This |
| reducing costs and implementing process efficiencies. | | | | does mean reviewing boilers and heating systems |
| Legislation is driving change | | | | and get an independent assessment of the efficiency |
| The single most effective driver of change in the | | | | of existing stock, but in the long run, and by this we |
| public sector is legislation. The introduction last year | | | | mean five years to fifteen years, making a sensible |
| of Display Energy Certificates and energy | | | | investment now is going to pay big dividends later. |
| performance certificates for government buildings | | | | In the meantime we typically make changes to |
| and government owned commercial buildings | | | | existing heating and boiler controls, ensure that |
| respectively as part of the EU's Energy Performance | | | | lagging has been implemented where appropriate and |
| in Buildings Directive, the Climate Change Bill, the audit | | | | that 24 hour timers have been replaced with 7 days |
| commission's sustainable procurement and supply | | | | timers, you would be amazed how many businesses |
| chain initiative and many others. | | | | use the same configuration in their buildings at |
| Building energy certificates have been an interesting | | | | weekends as they do during the week. |
| test of the ability to implement wide ranging change | | | | 4. Renewables. |
| in terms of operational building management but the | | | | This is without doubt the most exciting area that we |
| risks of 'doing nothing' are still very high rather than | | | | work in. With a fast changing plethora or new |
| beginning to tackle and implement recommendations | | | | technologies and decreasing prices of more readily |
| set out in the display energy certificates advisory | | | | available technologies such as heat source pumps, PV |
| report. | | | | Panels and Solar Thermal panels. |
| The most obvious place to start when reducing costs | | | | Depending on the profile and size of your |
| and reducing carbon are on the buildings, but a huge | | | | organisations and of course the location and build, |
| amount can also be achieved by looking elsewhere in | | | | various types of renewables may be suitable. The |
| the organisation in particular staff behavioural change, | | | | option that we like as a first step into this phase is |
| NHS fleet and logistics and within the supply chain. | | | | the adoption of Solar Thermal panels for the |
| However, before moving ahead with project teams | | | | provision of hot water. The heating of water is one |
| tackling each area Green 2020 consultants follow | | | | of the most expensive energy consuming activities in |
| simple pre-requisite steps to ensure that any | | | | a business particularly hospitals and organisations that |
| decisions made by clients are not simply the quick fix | | | | use catering facilities, showers or hot water as part |
| solutions. It is important to take into account the | | | | of a manufacturing process. The costs are fairly |
| whole lifecycle costs as a way of making real savings | | | | reasonable too and with some grants available the |
| rather than short term cheap systems which often | | | | pay back can be swift. |
| cost more in the long run. | | | | One very recognisable form of renewable is the wind |
| Five Simple Steps to making reductions | | | | turbine. The biggest objection to the adoption of |
| 1. Audit and Review. | | | | wind turbines is the "visual pollution". To get a good |
| Firstly, you have to understand where you are now. | | | | supply or power from the wind, you will either need |
| We conduct three audit and reviews, Energy, | | | | a very large turbine of lots of medium sizes ones and |
| Environment and Procurement. | | | | with the efficiency of the technology improving |
| Energy audits determine total annual energy | | | | every year no doubt they will get smaller too. |
| consumption, areas where energy savings can be | | | | 5. Iteration and review |
| made, and problem identification with abnormal waste | | | | Simple management exercise of reviewing the work |
| levels. It will also determine the level of investment | | | | completed, measuring the results, and idenifying |
| recommended to make significant improvements. Our | | | | further opportunities to make improvements and |
| "Spend to Save" programme aims to save as much | | | | learn from mistakes. |
| as 30% in energy consumption over three years. We | | | | Summary |
| are advocates of the need for a monitoring and | | | | So, reducing carbon through energy efficiency and |
| targeting system to constantly measure and manage | | | | energy waste reduction is the first port of call for |
| energy consumption across an entire site. | | | | any climate change, carbon reduction programme. But |
| Environmental Review. This details the aspects and | | | | these initiatives must not be implemented in isolation. |
| impacts of the activities of an organisation. If you | | | | They must be done as part of a longer term total |
| have ISO14001 or similar then we will review the ISO | | | | cost of ownership strategy that has been coupled up |
| process and determine whether there are areas for | | | | with an effective environmental management |
| improvement or potential issues around legal | | | | programme and an engaging and effective sustainable |
| compliance particularly within the area of waste | | | | procurement strategy. |
| management. | | | | It is possible to reduce your carbon emissions by |
| Procurement Audit. The procurement audit is the | | | | 30% within a three year period with some |
| most strategic of reviews as it enables us to | | | | investment but the real target is a 80% reduction by |
| determine if you are getting best value for the | | | | 2020 and it is this date that we should be building our |
| procurement of energy and municipal services based | | | | carbon reduction programme for and to be honest it |
| on current market rates. It will also enable us to | | | | can be achieved, if done with a long term vision and |
| determine if a sustainable purchasing strategy is being | | | | the right team to help you implement it. |