Small changes can yield big savings

Green for Micro programme helps reduce energy costs

Businesses who reduce their energy consumption as a result of taking part in the free Green for Micro programme, can see their energy bills drop, sometimes significantly.

Rodney Crawford, an Energy Management Specialist with Pembroke Alliance, visits businesses and carries out a thorough assessment and analysis of their energy usage including examining instrumentation.

Small changes can yield big savings and help businesses achieve sustainability goals.

Rodney, who has mentored businesses on the Green for Micro programme for the Local Enterprise Office Meath, says: “I go in with an open mind to see how I can help them save on their energy consumption, reduce wastage and become more efficient.”

"The individual savings depend on the business itself and what is identified in the assessment, but previous savings have ranged from €1,000 to €40,000 a year."

The larger savings “will be seen in a business with a bigger turnover.”

“Most businesses are keenly aware of the rising energy costs, and many have already taken the first few steps to reduce their usage. For example, by switching to LED lights they cut usage by 65 per cent, repairs to compressed air leaks can save up to €20,000 a year.”

The Green for Micro principles applies no matter what area a business operates in and through the detailed assessment, areas where savings can be made, and have a swift impact, can be identified.

“We look at patterns of usage and one area we have previously identified is after hours expenditure, that is after the end of the working day. An example is where equipment or plant machinery is left switched on at night. By changing procedures for shutting down, you have a ‘no cost’ win and can make significant savings.

In one assessment he discovered that leaving machinery turned on was costing an extra €10,000 a year.

However, he says monitoring of energy usage before and after changes are introduced is important and says business owners have to be proactive and lead by example.

“We had one client where by looking at the bills and the patterns of usage, we identified that a water heating was permanently switched on. The owner had no idea and once he was aware of it, he was able to address that.”

There are other changes that come with an initial investment cost but bring longer-term savings with them.

“If you have a plant with old lighting, old refrigerators or old compressors, extraction systems without variable speed drives, we will identify the savings you can make by upgrading them. We will build a plan for you.”

Installation of solar panels or solar PVs as they are called, is proving attractive for a lot of companies at the moment to try and reduce their exposure to ongoing increases in energy supply.

“The increase in the cost per unit of electricity, which in many cases has doubled, means that the time needed to make back the money invested in installing solar PVs is halved. There may also be grants available and that adds to the interest in installing them.”

Rodney says that by profiling your energy usage, looking at ways of improving power quality, reducing reactive and excess capacity charges from the utility provider, optimising existing plant, improve efficiencies and identify wastage, they can identify appropriate savings.

In many cases we have found savings of €1,500 a year which could be made by installing a heat exchanger. It takes the heat produced in refrigeration or compressed air processes and uses it to heat water. “It heats water for free and could save a business €1,500-8,000 a year.”

“Green for Micro works and it is great when you meet a business owner who is completely engaged and interested in having a fresh approach in looking at efficiencies and reducing costs,” he concluded.

Michelle Goodwin, Business Advisor with the Local Enterprise Office in county Meath said, the rising cost of energy means that there has never been a better time to avail of the free expert advice on the Green for Micro programme.

"Now more than ever it is vital that small businesses start thinking about developing a green strategy," she says. “It is critical to a healthy bottom line because it reduces costs, improves efficiencies and, very importantly, it reduces environmental footprint."

"Green for Micro has been created by the local enterprise offices and designed to help small businesses to take the right steps to becoming more sustainable. You will be assigned a green consultant who will be matched to your business. The consultant will work with you, create a bespoke Green for Micro report and prepare a plan to help you become more sustainable.

"The Local Enterprise Office in Meath is offering small businesses free access to a green consultant who will identify the small changes that can have a big impact on your company and on the world around you," adds Michelle.

“To apply or find out more, tet in touch with Meath Local Enterprise Office on (046) 909 7000 or localenterprise@meathcoco.ie."