Energy efficiency across ten MOD sites in the south west of England is set to improve by up to ten per cent, creating potential annual cost savings of £750,000 and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 2,400 tonnes per year.
The savings are expected to be made courtesy of a new energy information network in the Plymouth area managed by Debut Services Ltd. Approximately 500 pulse meters have been installed in buildings and facilities at sites occupied by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, including the ten highest energy-using facilities at each site, such as officers and sergeants messes, wardrooms, accommodation blocks, workshops and hangars.
At each site the pulse meters feed half-hourly readings into a site information base, enabling site energy managers to monitor usage and ensure that facilities remain within agreed time and temperature parameters. Site energy managers are also responsible for identifying opportunities to reduce energy consumption – such as switching off particular installations – by studying the day-to-day use of facilities by personnel.
A central Energy Bureau based in Plymouth will set the sites individual targets, and run a central database collecting readings from all pulse meters to provide a picture of energy consumption across all ten sites. The bureau will identify differences in usage levels between sites, particularly between similar buildings, in order to extend best practice and target poor performing buildings for in-depth investigations.
The new system is based on a project with the Carbon Trust at RAF Kinloss, and aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the sites by more than ten per cent per year. It will contribute to the MoD's target to reduce estate carbon dioxide emissions by 15 per cent by 2010/11. According to John Barnett of Debut Services, the lessons learned will inform future MOD energy projects:
"This project sees the MOD spreading good practice from one site across a number of its other sites," John explained. "Through sharing real-time energy data, the MOD will enjoy far greater savings, both financially and in terms of its carbon dioxide emissions.
"However, the onus will still be on individual staff at these sites being conscientious about energy savings – if windows are left open whilst the heating is on, or if lights are left on unnecessarily, much of the effort will be wasted."
Michael Rea, chief operating officer of the Carbon Trust, added: "We have been working with RAF Kinloss since August 2005, where we have managed to realise annual energy savings of £345,000. It is really encouraging to see this work being used as a model to reduce energy use and carbon emissions across other MOD sites."
Debut Services Limited was formed in response to the MoD’s Prime Contracting Initiative to implement the Egan and Latham principles and drive efficiency and best value across the Defence estate.
The Government has set a target on all departments to reduce public sector estate carbon dioxide emissions by 12.5 per cent by 2010/11. The MOD, which owns approximately 80 per cent by area of the total central Government estate, has set its own target to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 15 per cent by 2012, and has worked closely with the Carbon Trust to identify a range of carbon dioxide emissions reduction measures across the Defence estate. The MOD Estate Utility Board was established in April 2006 to drive and coordinate the department’s energy efficiency improvements, and to improve security of energy supply.
The following sites are covered by this energy efficiency initiative: RNAS Yeovilton, RNAS Culdrose, RM Chivenor, RM Stonehouse, RM Norton Manor Camp, RM Royal Citadel, RM Bickleigh, RM Turnchapel, the Commando Training Centre at RM Lympstone, and the Amphibious Training Centre at RM Instow.
The savings are expected to be made courtesy of a new energy information network in the Plymouth area managed by Debut Services Ltd. Approximately 500 pulse meters have been installed in buildings and facilities at sites occupied by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, including the ten highest energy-using facilities at each site, such as officers and sergeants messes, wardrooms, accommodation blocks, workshops and hangars.
At each site the pulse meters feed half-hourly readings into a site information base, enabling site energy managers to monitor usage and ensure that facilities remain within agreed time and temperature parameters. Site energy managers are also responsible for identifying opportunities to reduce energy consumption – such as switching off particular installations – by studying the day-to-day use of facilities by personnel.
A central Energy Bureau based in Plymouth will set the sites individual targets, and run a central database collecting readings from all pulse meters to provide a picture of energy consumption across all ten sites. The bureau will identify differences in usage levels between sites, particularly between similar buildings, in order to extend best practice and target poor performing buildings for in-depth investigations.
The new system is based on a project with the Carbon Trust at RAF Kinloss, and aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the sites by more than ten per cent per year. It will contribute to the MoD's target to reduce estate carbon dioxide emissions by 15 per cent by 2010/11. According to John Barnett of Debut Services, the lessons learned will inform future MOD energy projects:
"This project sees the MOD spreading good practice from one site across a number of its other sites," John explained. "Through sharing real-time energy data, the MOD will enjoy far greater savings, both financially and in terms of its carbon dioxide emissions.
"However, the onus will still be on individual staff at these sites being conscientious about energy savings – if windows are left open whilst the heating is on, or if lights are left on unnecessarily, much of the effort will be wasted."
Michael Rea, chief operating officer of the Carbon Trust, added: "We have been working with RAF Kinloss since August 2005, where we have managed to realise annual energy savings of £345,000. It is really encouraging to see this work being used as a model to reduce energy use and carbon emissions across other MOD sites."
Debut Services Limited was formed in response to the MoD’s Prime Contracting Initiative to implement the Egan and Latham principles and drive efficiency and best value across the Defence estate.
The Government has set a target on all departments to reduce public sector estate carbon dioxide emissions by 12.5 per cent by 2010/11. The MOD, which owns approximately 80 per cent by area of the total central Government estate, has set its own target to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 15 per cent by 2012, and has worked closely with the Carbon Trust to identify a range of carbon dioxide emissions reduction measures across the Defence estate. The MOD Estate Utility Board was established in April 2006 to drive and coordinate the department’s energy efficiency improvements, and to improve security of energy supply.
The following sites are covered by this energy efficiency initiative: RNAS Yeovilton, RNAS Culdrose, RM Chivenor, RM Stonehouse, RM Norton Manor Camp, RM Royal Citadel, RM Bickleigh, RM Turnchapel, the Commando Training Centre at RM Lympstone, and the Amphibious Training Centre at RM Instow.
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