Category: Energy

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Energy Efficiency Directive

In 2012 the EU enacted the Energy Efficiency Directive. This required all member states (MS) to (among other things) legislate for the introduction of mandatory High Quality Energy Audits for all non-SMEs. It also required an MS to introduce a register of Energy Auditors

The relevant EU directive is the Energy Efficiency Directive 2012 and in particular Article 8. In Ireland SI426:2014 was passed into law in April. EN16247 Parts 1-5 is the standard that will essentially define how the audit is undertaken and who can undertake the audit.

Non-SME companies are now required to carry out an independent High Quality Energy Audit before December 5th, 2015 (and every 4 years thereafter). The EU have defined non-SME to mean a business with >250 employees and/or >€50m turnover. All other organisations can choose to undertake the audit if they so desire (and it would be a positive and proactive approach to take for an SME). If the business has ISO50001 certification then it can use it’s Energy Management System as the driver for dealing with the requirements of the directive.

The audit must be independent and carried out by a registered Energy Auditor. In order to regulate this, each member state must maintain a register of Energy Auditors. The body selected to maintain the register in Ireland is the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). SEAI will determine the qualifications and competence that will be accepted for Registered Energy Auditors in Ireland.

EN16247 Parts 1-4 details what is required for a High Quality Energy Audit in different business sectors. EN16247 Part 5 (still at DRAFT stage but due for publication in early 2015) details the competence requirements for a Registered Energy Auditor.

 

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Energy Guidance

Arkman to Provide Energy Guidance

We are pleased to announce that Arkman has been appointed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) as one of the successful tenderers to provide Expert Strategic Energy Management Support and Expertise in Energy Technologies to the Public Sector.

SEAI will be providing a number of supports to investigate energy saving opportunities and to identify what is required to realise these.

As one of SEAI’s Energy Advisors, Arkman will supply the appropriate guidance, assessment and mentoring support to enable organisations to realise valuable energy savings. 

We have carried out over 100 energy assessments and audits across a wide range of sectors during the last 10 years.  

  • When approaching any design or optimisation project, we take a comprehensive and holistic view of all resource consumption. 
  • Analysis of existing systems and the preparation of briefs and specifications for planned systems are central to this activity.  We will deliver Customised Energy Assessments to our clients based on our practical experience, sound knowledge and training. 
  •  We are conscious of the importance of organisational awareness and staff commitment and inclusiveness in the drive to secure better energy performance.  These factors are essential to Energy Awareness and to Continuous Improvement activity. 
  • We have built up a range of instrumentation to enable us to evaluate energy installations accurately and appropriately.  This includes leak detection equipment, pressure and flow measurement and light metering.  Our extensive industrial experience has given us a broad body of knowledge of the design and operation of pumping and treatment systems. 
  • We are acutely aware of the need to highlight the necessity for Energy Efficient Design, where, at the outset of a project, analysis and consideration of such aspects as the fuel selection, sizing, certified boiler efficiency, boiler controls and water quality are undertaken. 
  • We will prepare recommendations for organisations based on the analysis of data and information gathered from that specific business entity. Our Energy Performance and Assessment Process will be applied to all assessments. 

In Arkman’s view there is no single solution that can be applied in a general way to an organisation. 

Our methodology entails considering energy issues on an individual basis and evaluating each accordingly.

 “… Businesses that are focused on clean low-carbon products and services, clean technologies and behaviours will be central to the next phase of economic development…”

Brendan Halligan, Chairperson, SEAI (The SEAI’s Strategic Plan 2010 – 2015)

 

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Building Energy Rating

Building Energy Rating certificates are required for domestic and commercial buildings. The rating is an assessment of the energy performance of a building by a BER Assessor for the purposes of assigning a Building Energy Rating.

A Domestic BER certificate is required for domestic premises.

A Non-Domestic Building Energy Rating or Commercial Building Energy Rating (BER) is required for a commercial building.

A BER Assessor is someone who is registered with Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) to carry out BER assessments in compliance with the requirements of the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006.

A Provisional BER is an assessment of the specifications and plans of a proposed new building prior to the completion of construction. This certificate is valid for 24 months from the day it was issued, and should be calculated for all proposed new works.

A building’s BER certificate and related advisory report is valid for 10 years from the issue date.

From 1 July 2008, all new non domestic buildings require a BER certificate. However a BER certificate is not required if planning permission was applied for or a planning notice was published on or before 30 June 2008 and where substantial work (i.e. the structure of the external walls) is completed by 30 June 2010, except when such building is offered for a second or subsequent sale or letting.

From 1 January 2009, all existing non-domestic buildings being sold or let require a BER certificate.

One BER certificate is required for a building which contains residential accommodation above a non-domestic space (e.g. a pub or a shop), provided that the only access to the residential space is through the non-domestic space.

A registered Domestic BER assessor carries out the assessment for domestic premises. The assessment for a Commercial Building is carried out by a registered Commercial BER assessor.

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Tax Incentive for Energy Efficient Equipment Purchases

Accelerated Capital Allowance Schemes

Accelerated Capital Allowance Schemes have been in place for over a year now for investment in energy efficient equipment. Following the recent budget, the ACA scheme has been expanded to include three additional capital equipment categories. These are as follows:

  • Refrigeration and cooling systems
  • Electro-mechanical systems
  • Catering and hospitality equipment.

The scheme provides an excellent opportunity for businesses that are interested in energy efficiency projects to improve the payback to the organisation of such projects.

Our experience has shown that refrigeration and cooling systems frequently provide good opportunities for reduced energy costs based on better control and more efficient equipment. The ACA expansion will improve the business case for such projects.