strategy is evolving rapidly, and we are committed to ensuring this
continues throughout the years ahead. We aspire to lead the way within
this area for business campuses throughout the UK and Europe.
We have set a new target to be net zero operational carbon by 2026.
With 12 buildings operating 24/7, energy management is a huge
part of our ESG strategy. We are constantly trying to reduce energy
consumption in our buildings while maintaining a high standard of
building services including lighting, heating, ventilation, cooling, and
hot water for employees to remain productive. We look at ways to
be more energy e icient to guarantee both energy and cost saving
whenever we can. Some initiatives can be worth the initial investment
as they prove to be more cost-e icient in the long term.
At Chiswick Park, we take a bespoke approach to each building as
they are each of di erent age and use, hosting a diverse range of guest
companies. We are however committed to optimise energy within all
buildings and the estate.
During the last five years, we have conducted several energy
audits, invested over £2 million for energy saving projects such as
LED lighting, updated BMS strategies, major plant replacements and
so ware technology to assist in building optimisation, and conducted
many engagement & awareness campaigns for the guests and guest
companies working on the campus.
The switch to LED lights, which consume 70-90 per cent less energy
than a standard incandescent bulb, helped us deliver significant savings
over time.
Our buildings are fitted out with either solar blinds or external louvers
that protect windows from the heat of the sun while also allowing more
daylight and therefore reducing the need for electric lights. 3 of our
buildings also have solar PV system for helping to heat the water.
Most of the areas within our buildings are equipped with occupancy
sensors for indoor lighting, so the light is activated as soon as a person
enters a room and once movement is not detected, it automatically
turns it o .
More generally, we continuously review all building plant operations
dependent on occupation and o ice hours to reduce energy usage
whenever we can and we run a very tight PPM programme.
A key initiative for us in 2022, is to use a web-based energy related
platform to log, track, assess, and monitor in real time everything we do
relating to energy management. This is now live in all buildings and we
are in the process of rolling this out to all guest companies to aid energy
management within their demise.
Reporting and data analysis is critical, the accuracy, the frequency
and the actions associated with it. We strive to evolve all that we do
in this area and will look at third party certifications to support and
recognise this.
In addition, a further main focus is to look at ways to self-generate
our own electricity in order to be less dependent on the National Grid.
In the long term, we aim to be able to produce our own renewable
energy which will be much more beneficial for the environment. We are
therefore actively exploring sources of solar and wind energy.
GLOBAL LEADER FOR ENERGY MANAGEMENT’S VIEW
FABIO MONACHESI, ABB SMART POWER
An unprecedented rise in energy prices has made facility managers,
especially in Europe, more aware of the intricacies of their energy bills
than ever before. At a global level, a barrel of oil was $118 in March 2022
– 38 per cent higher than in January 2022. Gas prices in Europe were
equally volatile, with natural gas prices climbing 45 per cent between
January and March 2022.
Combined with a growing corporate focus on carbon neutrality, as
22 JUNE 2022
companies work to meet
the targets laid out in the
EU Agenda 2030 to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions
by 55 per cent compared
to 1990 levels, appetite
for investing in energy
management systems is at
an all-time high.
To meet twin goals of
reducing operational
expenditure and curbing
their environmental
impact, facility managers
must first identify where
energy consumption can
be reduced. While the traditional approach of comparing monthly
bills is still common as a starting point, they are quickly realising
that a more granular approach to detecting ine iciencies is needed.
More are seeking access to data that enables them to benchmark
their performance against other players in the field, putting them in a
stronger position to make intelligent decisions, based on quality data
and insight.
Energy management systems allow facility managers to monitor
energy use, giving them access to real-time information about how
their energy-consuming equipment is performing. Output reports then
provide a full cost breakdown, helping them visualise the energy use
of their key assets, enhancing the decision-making process for energy
e iciency actions and allowing them to create clear sustainability plans
to reduce emissions.
When backed up with consolidated data, these reports can give
facility managers the confidence to make significant upgrades to
operations, for example by replacing low performance power trains
with new ones, changes that can then be shared with colleagues across
the company and expanded to other sites. Smart connected products
such as power quality converters, uninterrupted power suppliers (UPS),
transfer switching and advanced relays feeding into an optimisation
engine can also help facility managers realise improved outcomes.
Investing in energy management systems is set to become a much
more common way for facility managers to achieve concrete savings.
Not only is payback relatively rapid, but e ective energy management
can lead to more resilient and sustainable facilities.
Expert service providers such as energy service companies (ESCOs)
will also play an active role in helping facility managers identify the
most appropriate energy management actions for their facilities. These
could range from installing meters to investing in energy management
platforms, revamping under-performing assets to minimise their
carbon footprint or controlling setpoints to improve energy e iciency.
Even before the current energy crisis, the energy management
market was growing significantly, with an annual growth rate of 4.1 per
cent in the commercial and industrial segments. Looking ahead, the
ESCO market is set to grow by 6.5 per cent from 2021 to 2030. Given the
current backdrop, there will be no surprises if even more striking figures
are released.
Now is the time for facilities managers to take the right decisions to
protect their energy bills of the future.
Do you have a question that you’d like
answered by the FMJ Clinic?
Email: sara.bean@kpmmedia.co.uk
FM CLINIC
Fabio Monachesi
ADVICE & OPINION
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