CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS WEBSITE

For more details of the service, contact the staff at the Energy Unit -

ENERGY UNIT

The Energy Unit is an integral part of the board’s Architects Department. We offer advice on how to achieve the best possible environment in your building for the least cost. The advice covers all aspects of fuel purchases and usage, energy saving equipment and insulation as well as repairs and renewals. It also includes advice on temperatures and comfort levels, legal requirements and the use of high energy equipment such as kilns.

Preferential Tariffs & Bulk Discounts

The services of the unit are not just advisory; much of the work is very practical indeed. The board can negotiate preferential tariff rates and bulk discounts that are passed on to schools.

All oil and electricity accounts are checked and audited by the Energy Unit computer system. Anomalies or excess usage is detected quickly and appropriate action is taken.

We constantly monitor energy suppliers’ prices as well as developments in schools, such as changes in building use or area and the introduction of new equipment. Our aim is to ensure that no school ever pays more than it needs to for its energy requirements.

Building Energy Management

An energy management system can be one of the most effective investments. Centred on a micro-computer designed to control energy use to maximum advantage, it provides automatic switching that takes account of school hours, week-ends, holidays and evening lets as well as the varying demands of different zones of the building. The system also ensures that boiler start-up times are optimised to weather conditions. In colder weather for example it will switch on the boiler earlier.

Pay back depends to a large extent on the level of previous control, type and area of building served and the capital costs of the system chosen.

Tariff Analysis

By monitoring electricity usage in buildings we are able to detect when a change of tariff could be beneficial. The ‘Hawk’ computer software used by the unit produces comparable prices for all available tariffs when supplied with building demand profile. Savings can be achieved in this area with little or no investment. With privatisation of NIE and the possibilities for future competition in the electricity supply field further savings may be possible.

Making Everyone Energy Conscious

The right systems, of course, are only one side of the energy conservation equation. The other is constant awareness by building users of the need to maintain good energy practices at all times.

This is where the unit can also help since we offer training for caretakers as well as providing a range of publicity material suitable for staff and pupil motivation schemes.

Contacts

We have outlined the main areas where we can help heads of establishments achieve the best value for money in the critical area of energy budgets. The board’s Energy Conservation Officer – Robert McCreery (direct line telephone number 01861/512454) is available to discuss any relevant matter in detail.

The Current Level of Service

Checking energy usage and costs using a computer database to pick out invoicing errors and warning of excessive consumption - monthly.

Negotiating with supply authorities to obtain energy at the most economic cost – annually.

Conduct site energy surveys and combine investment proposals for presentation to ‘Energy Investment Central Fund’ and other funding agencies. A significant amount of finance is raised annually from these sources.

Design and management of energy improvements as requested by schools/colleges using either delegated budgets or designated capital funding. These projects are carried out on a regular basis.

Energy reporting annually on behalf of schools/colleges to both DENI and the Inter-Departmental Committee on Energy Efficiency.

General advice and training for staff including caretakers on energy management saving and good housekeeping to ensure plant and controls are used efficiently as and when required.

General advice and guidance in the following areas: -