Paths to greener energy use
May 1st 2007 EDF Energy has a number of programmes to help
with energy efficiency such as its toolkit and
advanced efficiency programme. EDF explains how
these can help you to save
As environmental concerns around
climate change have risen over the
past few years, the argument for
companies to adopt a more sustainable
approach to managing their activities has
become ever more compelling. Political
and consumer pressure are two forces
compelling firms to seriously reconsider the
effect of their activities on the environment.
A climate of higher energy costs is another.
Evidence of action, or at least promise of
action, is becoming increasingly apparent.
We have seen leading businesses respond
with very public announcements of far
reaching, ambitious sustainability plans.
The UK's retail sector, for example, has
been particularly vocal in this area.
Energy, our field of expertise, is one of the
topics that consistently feature at the heart
of the sustainability issue. Perhaps
unsurprisingly, there is no silver bullet to the
issue. Instead what is required is a balanced
approach to reducing the carbon intensity of
the energy we use, and reducing the
amount of energy we use in the first place.
People are surprised when energy
companies talk about encouraging
customers to reduce their energy use, but
our long-term success depends upon a
sustainable future. At EDF Energy, we are
committed to doing everything we can to
empower our customers to make a
difference.
When tackling the energy issue,
sustainability plans should begin with
energy efficiency. After all, the greenest
unit of energy is the one we've saved.
Energy efficiency deliver immediate,
measurable carbon savings, and the
measures implemented reap financial
rewards too. Energy isn't free! For
businesses that have historically done little
to improve their energy efficiency, typically
savings of up to 10% are possible at little
or no cost savings that keep paying
back year after year.
At its most basic, energy efficiency is
about making behavioural changes at an
individual level. Everyone has a role to
play in cutting waste in their immediate
environment and these small changes can
add up to significant difference. But getting
people change their behaviour is tough
old habits die hard.
Successful energy efficiency initiatives
are well planned, not haphazard. They have
a clear communications programme that
engages employees. This includes a
context for the initiative, a clear explanation
of what the company is trying to achieve
and how staff can contribute, regular
reminders of how to contribute (remember,
those old habits die hard!), and some
feedback of how the initiative is progressing
towards meeting its targets. Most of all,
someone with a lot of personal energy is
responsible for implementing the initiative
and keeping the momentum going.
Put the tools in the hands of the right
person and it's amazing what can be
achieved. Enter our Energy Efficiency
Toolkit a godsend that incorporates all of
those elements crucial for success. You
can order a copy free from our website
(edfenergy.com/business). Now you just
need to find that right person.
What about those companies that are
already energy efficient users? Particularly
those with energy intensive processes
which demanded attention purely for cost
efficiency reasons. More often than not,
there is still room for improvement cost
effective ones too. Enter our Advanced
Efficiency Programme a service bringing
the expertise of our energy R&D facilities
to businesses using large amounts of
energy based on a successful model
already operating in France and Germany.
In fact, EDF Group operates the largest
energy R&D facilities in Europe. Here over
2000 specialists, including 300 PhD
qualified engineers, 200 doctoral students
and 150 university-level researchers test
and re-test applications of equipment and
trial the latest technologies for cooling,
heating, air-treatment, dryers, micro-CHP
and more. It's this knowledge we have
available to transfer, working with our
clients' own engineers to uncover the most
relevant energy saving opportunities.
A commercial approach is employed.
Our Advanced Efficiency Programme are
delivered as a business case and action
plan, bespoke to the company. It is built
following in-depth energy audits of the
company's energy intensive sites and
processes by our specialist engineers. The
recommendations within the plan are
based on our own tests of equipment and
techniques in our own R&D laboratories,
rather than manufacturer claims. The detail
goes much further than superficial surveys
and reports as does the support provided
to ensure the projected savings are
realised. These contracts are typically at
least two to three years in length.
So when considering the energy
component of your sustainability plan,
energy efficiency should be at the very
centre. Carbon savings through energy
efficiency are all around us. They just
require the right level of expertise and
action to achieve them. Start with our
Energy Efficiency Toolkit it is free after all.
If you have energy intensive processes,
ask about an Advanced Efficiency
Programme for your business. Good luck. More articles from EDF Energy: | 
