Monitoring your way to higher profits
There has never been a better time to measure and monitor your energy use. Rising energy costs are having a serious impact on some businesses, and the imminent Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) regulations, which take effect in 2019, will require some 12,000 UK businesses to make their energy use, carbon emissions, and energy efficiency actions, publicly available alongside some reference comparison metrics.
Harmonics – don’t let them ambush your energy efficiency
Harmonics only create problems in big industrial installations, right? Wrong, says Julian Grant of Chauvin Arnoux, who explains how nowadays harmonics can, and are, causing problems and reducing electrical efficiency in most buildings and facilities.
Can you afford to ignore harmonics?
In our September issue Julian Grant of Chauvin Arnoux introduced the topic of harmonics, explaining what they are, where they come from and why they matter. Here he provides more detail about harmonics and the problems they create, as well as their relationship with the Wiring Regs.
Rocketing energy prices driving efficiency improvements
For a while now we have been promoting the advantages and opportunities, both financial and environmental, of reducing energy consumption in an installation through the measurement, identification, and resolution of electrical issues. These include a variety of solutions for improving equipment efficiency, as well as other factors such as the identification of “out of hours” electricity use, and the effects of harmonics, load balance, and power factor.
The Importance of Metering and Monitoring Energy Consumption
There are proven business benefits to putting in place metering and monitoring of energy consumption. According to the Carbon Trust, typically, 20% of a business’ annual energy costs are wasted through the use of energy inefficient equipment. A British Gas survey of several thousand smart meters showed that 46% of SME total electricity use is out of hours between 6pm and 8am, and other sources claim many industrial installations are seeing a 50% reduction in efficiency from heat loss due to poor or missing pipe lagging. It is also the case that up to 60% of an offices heat is lost through the fabric of the building.
IPMVP efficiency verification
Reducing or optimising energy consumption is part of the sustainable development approach which many industrial countries, particularly in Europe, signed up to in the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which commits its Parties by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets. This agreement has led to gradual but constant strengthening of regulations with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions.
Improving Building Energy Efficiency through Environmental Testing
There are a variety of environmental parameters that should be checked when considering the overall health and operation of a typical office building or industrial facility where people spend a large part of their day. However, keeping these parameters in a safe range not only provides for the health of the workers, but also the efficiency and cost of running the operation. Julian Grant, General Manager for Chauvin Arnoux UK, looks at how the amount of energy consumed in a building is greatly influenced by the indoor environmental conditions.
Taking a down to earth approach
Never have earth electrodes been more relied upon than they are now in the latest amendment 2 of BS 7671. In addition to their main use in TT systems, they are now recommended in TN systems as an additional earth connection (Reg. 411.4.2). Many special locations such as swimming pools, generating sets, electric vehicle charging points and even cow sheds may rely for their safety on a good connection with the general mass of earth via a suitable earth electrode. So, as a modern electrical contractor you are increasingly likely to be designing, installing and testing earth electrode systems.
Ensuring proper ventilation to combat Covid-19
After almost 18 months of lockdowns and stringent restrictions, British offices, schools, factories and entertainment venues have been allowed to open again. Although the majority of restrictions have been lifted, the government is now shifting the responsibility for ensuring a COVID-19 safe environment in premises to business owners and managers. Specifically, they are advised to carry out risk assessments to identify areas with poor ventilation so that they can improve air quality and reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Wiring Regs, Energy Efficiency and You!
In the previous two articles in this series, Julian Grant of Chauvin Arnoux looked at the importance of considering harmonics in the supply system. This time he turns his attention to another subject that’s of vital importance to electricians: energy efficiency and the IET Wiring Regulations.
