FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
At the heart of the Jassoc operation is the desire to improve on what we do - which leads on to questions of why - and how.
The following selection of FAQ's comes from comments made on site and in training sessions. The answers are how we see things.
What is the energy performance of a building ?
All buildings use energy - some more than others while doing the same job - the better the performance the lower the annual energy bill and the less CO2 emitted to atmosphere. Since buildings account for a significant proportion of UK energy consumption, improving performance has become a priority.
How can you measure energy performance ?
A rough - but adequate - indicator is to add up the fuel bills, divide them by the floor area and arrive at the kWhr/m2 pa for a building. This gives a method for comparing properties with similar uses - and a base against which successive years can be judged.
What is benchmarking ?
By collecting and comparing the energy performance for a number of buildings an average has been arrived at - a benchmark against which other buildings can be judged. Published figures make assumptions on location, weather and typical use - but can be taylored to a particular building.
What does benchmarking for energy do ?
Using this "taylored" benchmark the Facilities Manager can assess where his building sits in the general stock and whether there might be room for improvement.
The technique is well established and allows a "feel" for that potential - specifically - "how much" and "how easy".
How would you approach my building ?
With caution until we understood your requirements.
We have the instrumentation and expertise to delve in for considerable detail. However - that is a lot of work and can be intrusive.
Initially we would try to provide sufficient information for the next set of decisions. After that - one step at a time until you achieve "best practice".
What is an action plan ?
Most managers develop an "action plan" when recommending a course of action to their company - FM and energy managers are no exception.
In this context it is a list of energy saving ideas that could be applied to a building (or process) together with a preliminary assessment of how expensive and how effective each might be.
The more promising would be put forward for closer examination.
What energy saving ideas go on the plan?
Any and every idea ever thought up from whatever source.
Energy management begins to be effective when everyone feels they can contribute - so shooting down an idea is not good PR and - like brain storming - there may be a germ to set useful threads going.
The best ideas will surface after preliminary assessment - say 5 taken up for that closer look. Cost and budgets will dictate which. The remainder sit on the list for their time to come.
Why should I worry about energy when it is such a small proportion of our total budget ?
On the face of it a fair challenge - except ;-
Any saving on energy goes straight to profit. The extra turnover required to deliver an equivalent increase would be significant.
Historically, energy costs have been low - but that's changing - remember what oil prices were doing before the recession. Higher costs can be expected as production recovers - and only an optimist would expect a stable market.
Plus;-
Energy consumption also implies CO2 emissions. There is very good reason to reduce these and both government and social pressures are building to ensure it happens.
Poor performers will be penalised by cost, legislation and public comment - expect the "perspective" argument to change before long.
Why provide sub-meters
Utility companies meter their supply to your premises for billing purposes and that bill contains a lot of information - but is unlikely to be sufficiently detailed for effective management.
By adding additional meters on key consumers closer management becomes possible - and where energy saving efforts have been made a sub-meter can confirm the effectiveness.
The standard mantra is - if you don't measure it you can't manage it - sub-metering gives that measurement.
What is a metering strategy
Sub-metering that returns the wrong information - or is incomplete - is no help for management. A strategy combines the practical limitations on what can be installed and read, with the actual requirement for effective reporting. A good strategy will return sufficient information without creating an admin problem - and show how to present it to best effect.
Aren't there simpler ways of saving energy
No - we really are going to have to work at it.