GTS launches ESOS Energy Audit and Assessment Service

The ESOS implements article 8 of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) 2012/27/EU into UK legislation.

“Every business will differ in terms of their ESOS-readiness depending on the amount of work they’ve already undertaken on energy auditing,” said Dr Nick Kirk, GTS’s Technical Director. “So we’re providing a free initial consultation for organisations and a flexible assessment service to help them to achieve compliance, without duplicating existing effort and expense.

“We have extensive specialist knowledge in glass sector energy profiling, energy efficiency improvements, technology, monitoring, funding and reporting – so will tailor every assessment to accommodate existing audit work and ensure they meet or exceed the latest regulations, depending on the individual company’s requirements, existing efforts and ambitions.”

Any company with more than 250 staff, or less than 250 staff but a turnover of over €50m and balance sheet exceeding €43m, must comply with ESOS. It also applies to smaller companies who are part of a corporate group which includes a business which meets those non-SME criteria.

It is estimated that this legislation will cover approximately 7,300 enterprises, representing 170,000-200,000 buildings and consuming around one third of the total UK energy demand. The government impact assessment estimates that 3.3 TWh of energy savings could be made per year, representing a net benefit of £1.6 - 4.8bn over the period 2015-2030. [1]

Deadline

The deadline for compliance with Phase I of ESOS is 5 December 2015, by which time qualifying organisations must have carried out their ESOS assessment and have notified the Environment Agency (EA).

Time is therefore running out and businesses that fall within the scope of these requirements need to be aware and take action in order to ensure compliance with the scheme.

What’s involved?

Initial Measurement of Total Energy Consumption; ESOS requires an initial measurement of total energy consumption and the identification of areas of ‘significant energy use’. This ‘reference period’ must overlap with the ‘qualification date’ of 31 December 2014 and include total energy consumption over a consecutive 12 month period. Therefore, any 12 month period between 1 January 2014 and 5 December 2015 can be used for the reference period.  Using kWh or spend, this must cover all energy supplied for use in buildings, industrial processes and transport.

Identification of Areas of ‘Significant Energy Use’; once the total energy consumption is determined, assets, processes and activities that amount to 90% of this total must be identified for audit – the ‘areas of significant energy consumption’. This aims to ensure that energy audits are proportionate, cost-effective and can identify both significant and cost-effective potential energy savings.

ESOS Energy Audits; subsequent ESOS Energy Audits must be conducted against twelve months consecutive energy data - and for phase I this must fall between the period of 6 Dec 2010 to 5 Dec 2015. For the ESOS Energy Audit, energy consumption must be measured in energy units (e.g. kWh) - the use of cost data is only appropriate for the initial measurement of total consumption. The audit must include energy profiling and provide recommendations for cost-effective energy efficiency measures that could be undertaken, with estimated costs and benefits, quantified with life cycle cost analyses.

GTS provides analysis, consultancy, testing and research and development support to all parts of the glass supply chain – from raw materials to the end consumer. GTS prides itself on its confidentiality and independence and is accredited to ISO:9001, 14001 and 17025 standards.

For further information please visit www.glass-ts.com/esos-assessment, email enquiries@glass-ts.com, follow us on Twitter (@GlassTesting), LinkedIn or Google+ or telephone +44 (0) 114 290 1801.

Key Dates

[1] Source: DECC Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme Impact Assessment, Ref: DECC0142