The Government’s Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) has been designed to cut carbon emissions by requiring large businesses to undertake comprehensive audits of their energy usage. As the countdown to the first compliance date of 5th December 2015 continues, many manufacturing businesses are still in the dark about where they can save the most energy. Colin Lawson, Head of Sales, Marketing & Product Development at Tamlite Lighting, shares four tips for making the most of your ESOS experience.
1. See ESOS as more than a tick-box exercise
It’s easy to see ESOS as yet another piece of energy legislation which can be rushed through. However, the opportunities for making energy savings through ESOS are many and varied if the scheme is given enough consideration. Getting fully on board with the ESOS process is the best way to gain the maximum in financial and energy savings.
2. Make savings across the board
There are plenty of ways that you can use ESOS as a springboard for more than just energy savings. For example, a simple change such as updating your warehouse lighting could also provide you with improved productivity, reduced eye-strain from poorly-lit areas and a better atmosphere for your staff. Easy energy savings are important (statistics from the Carbon Trust show that lighting accounts for around 40% of business energy use) but it’s important to consider a long-term approach.
3. Encourage board participation
As stipulated by DECC guidance, your ESOS report must be signed off by at least one of your board members. However, it’s not just about getting a stamp on the final report.
By helping your board members to understand the benefits of ESOS, you can encourage engagement with energy management from the top level. This will help you to push through energy improvements which will provide you with returns on a long-term basis.
4. Start with the quick wins and go from there
When considering the most effective energy-saving measures for your business, you often don’t need to look too far in the first instance. With energy savings of up to 80% available as the result of a warehouse lighting upgrade, it’s no wonder DECC has placed so much emphasis on improving lighting in their ESOS guidance document.
Once you’ve identified the opportunities for quick-wins, you can then use them as a jumping-off point for further measures which may require a larger initial outlay.
With the clock ticking, there is less and less time for businesses to get the maximum possible out of their ESOS reports. However, thanks to low-hanging fruit such as warehouse lighting upgrades, it’s easy for businesses to identify quick energy-saving measures in the first instance.
Comments are closed.