t-mac Technologies

Government legislation should make commitment count

2012-04-19T09:33:00.000+01:00

Last month George Osborne unveiled his third annual budget, which was met with some controversy. However for many businesses concerned with energy management, the chancellor seemed to ‘speak on behalf of the people’ by recognising the negative impact the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRCEES) has had on UK industry.

Through the usual heckles and jeers of the opposing members of cabinet, George labelled the scheme as “cumbersome, bureaucratic” and something that “imposes unnecessary cost on business”.
And I must admit that I couldn’t agree with Mr. Osborne more.

As the name suggests, the Carbon Reduction Commitment was initially set up by the government to ‘COMMIT’ to working with businesses to achieve the set climate change targets for 2020 and 2050. The legislation was enforced by the previous government and affects roughly around 20,000 businesses across the UK. It originally intended to penalise bad energy management and incentivise the good, but was that ever really what it was going to achieve? And what’s more recent changes to the scheme made the processes even more complex which became an even bigger burden on businesses.

The introduction of the CRC League tables encouraged companies to install Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) devices and invest in this type of technology to meet standards defined by the governing bodies, but as many of us know this alone does not solve the problem of energy inefficiency, rising carbon emissions and increasing energy costs… It takes much more.

I don’t blame the business community for seeing the scheme as yet another financial obligation, when you strip out the political jargon this is exactly what it is. Think an additional employer tax like National Insurance contribution and we are closer to what CRC is – a tick box exercise known to only the few in the company that need to know, therefore having little to no impact at all! I also think that the CRCEES has become more of an additional and unfair levy to businesses that operate in the higher threshold of energy use – which is not helpful at all, especially in the current financial climate.

In order for energy management to be successful, it needs to be sustainable. And the only way of achieving sustainability is to make sure there is a clear ‘want’, ‘need’ and ‘drive’ to doing it in the organisation.

I would hope this latest example of yet another unnecessary and non-achieving scheme has clearly shown the powers-that-be they MUST consult more closely with the business community and the experts to create something that actually helps our economy as well as the environment.

Dear Ed…

2012-02-14T15:17:00.000Z

Watching the news last week about the resignation of Energy Secretary Chris Huhne, I wondered how new-boy Ed Davey’s quest to continue ‘taking up the challenges’ of Huhne’s ‘Green Economy’ would affect businesses in the UK. And whether building-efficiency has moved higher up the Government’s agenda.

As you’d expect from a new Minister, much of what the Energy Secretary has had to say has been fairly general, citing ‘climate change’ and ‘energy security’ as two of his main targets. But with the Government’s aim to reduce carbon emissions by 34 per cent by 2020, a mere blink of a decade away, it’s how he intends for UK plc to meet this challenging target that intrigues me most.

Firstly he needs to encourage businesses to ‘listen’ to their buildings, as each one of them has a unique ‘story’ to tell.

A utility company recently collected data from 6,000 smart meter readings across the UK, which showed that in fact nearly half of business electricity use (46 per cent) happens outside the traditional business hours of 8am – 6pm, highlighting that £1 in every £2 could be saved.
And cost savings will become even more important to businesses this year with predictions from leading financial institutions only last month indicating that the UK could be headed for a double-dip recession.

Research demonstrates that on average 30 per cent of electricity consumption can be saved by using a building energy management system (BEMS), such as that provided by t-mac. As we have always highlighted a significant chunk of this saving is from ensuring equipment is not running after hours, when building occupiers often assume that building equipment and facilities know to ‘wind down’ and ‘switch off’ as people do.
So while Mr Davey gets his feet under the DECC table and works out exactly what his priorities are we’d love to invite him along to t-mac HQ in Derbyshire for a crash course in the vital importance of building-efficiency in the bid to combat climate change.

With the media’s energy gaze firmly on wind power and solar energy he could be forgiven for thinking renewables are on the only show in town. To coin a phrase, our message to our new Minister, Ed Davey is that by underestimating building efficiency he will only add fuel to Britain’s already-roaring fire!

Lisa

12 tips for 2012

2012-02-02T08:50:00.002Z

With 2012 now in full swing, I thought I’d highlight a few useful tips worth thinking about as we embark on what has been forecast to be quite a difficult start to the year. I’ve put together some simple tips with a little assistance from the Carbon Trust to help you work with your staff and your building to achieve significant reductions to your annual energy spend:

Tip 1:   Make sure you remind your staff to ‘Switch Off’ at the end of the day
Work with your staff and colleagues to introduce an energy efficient culture in your business. Educate staff to ‘Switch Off’ all non essential equipment whenever practical; including monitors, light switches and air conditioning units.

Tip 2:   Make sure heating and cooling do not conflict
Ensure windows and doors are closed when heating or cooling systems are in use and only operate one system at a time. Don’t heat and cool simultaneously.

Tip 3:   Turn it down a notch
Lowering set points by just 1oC can potentially reduce your annual heating bill by up to 8%, so reduce the temperature on the thermostat down to the minimum comfortable level.

Tip 4:   Maintain your heating system
Regular maintenance of boilers, heating and cooling systems can save up to 20% on your fuels costs. It is recommended that you maintain your boiler at least every 12 months.

Tip 5: Keep on top of your housework!
Cleaning windows and skylights regularly allows you to take maximum advantage of the amount of daylight that enters the building, significantly reducing the need for electric lighting. Cleaning of luminaires, especially reflectors and panel diffusers, improves their performance.

Tip 6:   Make sure warm air is moving
In commercial or industrial buildings with high ceilings, the temperature generated by warm air heaters will tend to be warmer towards the ceiling rather than where your staff are below. De-stratification fans can reduce energy use by 20% by blowing warm air down to ground level where it’s needed.

Tip 7:   Make sure staff are using kitchen equipment efficiently
Kitchens consume a lot of energy, and much ends up wasted. Educate staff to switch on kitchen equipment only when it’s actually required, particularly in industries like hospitality where kitchens are in regular use. Labelling equipment with preheat times can help employees think efficiently. Ensure staff switch off grills, fryers and hobs immediately after use, along with lights, air conditioning units and extraction fans when they are not being used.

Tip 8:   Keep your cold areas cool!
For companies in industries involved with refrigeration and cooling, ensure you develop a culture amongst staff to minimise the loss of cold air from areas that need to be kept cold like beer cellars, walk-in freezer/fridges and store rooms. Keep doors closed and minimise the amount of times they are opened. Strip curtains can be used to help keep cold air in.

Tip 9:   Use energy efficient machinery
Whenever you hire equipment, try to make sure it is energy efficient. Avoid inefficient oversized machines, try to minimise the time it is left on for and use appropriate power settings.

Tip 10:   Install occupancy sensors
Occupancy sensors can dim or switch off lighting when there is no one there and they can reduce electricity use by 30%, or even more. They are a great way to make sure your lighting is being used only when people are in the building.

Tip 11: Think about the free resources you already have
Many rooms also enjoy the benefit of natural light from windows and/or roof lights. Daylight sensors, or photocells, adjust the artificial lighting according to the amount of daylight, reducing energy use by as much as 40%.
And finally…

Tip 12:   Make energy management fun!
Anything that feels like a chore will never catch on. Make sure you use colourful signage and light-hearted imagery to remind your staff to cooperate with more gusto! Digital dashboards and interactive software packages can also help increase productivity in this area. It might also be worth generating friendly competition by splitting your staff into teams to work towards achieving set targets, with small regular prizes for the winning teams.

Best of luck and let me know how you get on!

Lisa

Shed those excess £s in 2012

2012-01-12T09:23:00.000Z

Let me start by wishing you all a very happy new year.

Every year people make ambitious resolutions such as stopping smoking, exercising more often and losing weight after that hearty Christmas dinner. However well intentioned they may be though most resolutions are forgotten come mid-January.

If you haven’t decided what your resolution for 2012 will be yet then we have a suggestion. Why not make it your resolution for 2012 to shed some pounds, from your energy bill that is!

In the current economic climate, and despite rising electricity costs, many companies continue to throw money down the drain due to the inefficient use of energy.

Not the best strategy in the midst of the current economic turmoil!

Equipment sitting idle and running up costs, heating and air conditioning fighting against each other, and lighting being left on overnight or even at weekends, are just some of the common energy wasters that we have encountered.

While examples like this may seem rather insignificant, the full impact of this inefficient use of energy will only be truly felt when that energy bill arrives.

Businesses can make real savings by identifying energy reduction opportunities and taking action to ensure they are only using the energy that they actually require.

Why not make 2012 the year you take control of your energy consumption and trim that excess weight off your energy bill!

Lisa

All I want for Christmas is...

2011-12-20T12:37:00.000Z

Reduced energy bills!

As you will have noticed winter is upon us yet again so with the night’s drawing in and the temperature dropping, we instantly head for the thermostat to make sure we’re toasty warm at home, in the car and at the office.

But it’s important to remember that turning up the heat in your building can also burn a large hole in your pocket as increased use of energy impacts on your bottom line.

Christmas does not need to be costly. Here at t-mac we are always looking for ways to help businesses identify and reduce unnecessary energy consumption; so why not follow our festive tips, to try to ensure that your energy bill doesn’t give you frost-bite when it arrives!

1 – Optimum start: Use pre-set timers to warm up the building before staff arrive which will make it less likely that staff will turn the heating up to excessive levels when they begin work.

2 – Temperature: Communicate with your staff; remind them not to tamper too much with the heating set-points as they will acclimatise to it; alternatively lock-out the wall controller or thermostat. An ability to increase temperature set-points often results in Caribbean temperatures which, if left at this setting, often have some staff reaching for the air conditioning while the heating remains on!

3 – Windows and doors: Is it really cold in your building or could you quite literally be throwing your money out of the window? It may seem obvious but a lot of the time people leave windows open letting all the warm air out.

4 – Lighting: Make as much use of the daylight hours as possible by keeping your curtains and blinds open; his will reduce the temptation to reach for the light-switch before it is necessary. Also remember to make sure the Christmas lights are turned off at night.

5 – Staff awareness: Encourage your staff to wear extra layers of clothing in the winter months. It is a cost-effective way to keep staff comfortable while keeping your energy costs down.

We’d like to take this opportunity to wish you a very happy Christmas and an energy-efficient New Year!

Lisa and the team

A new dimension in energy management ‘solutions’

2011-11-02T17:00:00.000Z

We had a great time at the Energy Event in Birmingham in September before moving on to the Energy Solutions Expo in London this month where we gave visitors the chance to ‘touch’ base with the future of energy management and take an interactive tour of the full t-mac range.

Using touch screen technology, we showed visitors at these two important events how t-mac can help companies manage and control energy consumption, achieving energy savings of up to 40 per cent and a return on investment in 12-18 months.

It was at these shows that we unveiled our new alerting, floor plan and mapping technologies and enjoyed demonstrating the software to the many visitors to our stand during the two-day events.

Using the floor plan portal, businesses can upload graphics of buildings, individual floors, rooms and equipment while receiving real-time energy consumption data from the t-mac unit installed at each site.

The software provides maintenance personnel with a unique overview of energy consumption across the site while highlighting areas which may require attention during necessary service checks. The software can also be used to upload equipment schematics, enabling engineers to assess equipment performance and use easily and interactively.

The addition of a new, innovative ‘mapping’ feature to our Building Management Systems software will offer a visual representation of a user’s sites enabling companies to monitor their facilities efficiently. By highlighting equipment errors staff can respond to faults quickly and rectify them.

At the Energy Event we were also delighted to provide a special presentation to delegates in the ESTA seminar hall where we discussed ‘Applying Key Energy Saving Technologies’ and how building energy management systems (BEMS) can help businesses to reduce the cost of building operations.

And now it is time to give our feet a little rest until the next one.

Lisa

You’ll never guess what we did this summer...

2011-09-30T12:52:00.003+01:00

Although the great British summer was a little bit of a damp squid, the lack of continuous sunshine didn’t impact the fundraising spirits of the t-mac team! In a bid to enjoy the outdoors as well as raise money for good causes, the team decided to take on Kinder – which at 2,087 feet is the highest mountain in the Peak District a whopping 636m above sea level!

Fortunately (or unfortunately) for the 17-strong team, we had chosen a rare day when the sun was out! Nevertheless, we donned our hiking boots and met at the car park close to Edale station ready for the challenge just after 2.30pm. After a quick stop at the local shop for a few last minute supplies, we began our route in an anti-clockwise direction along Pennine Way.

Our first challenge was to navigate the tough incline through Sheepfold up to Grindslow Knoll – we were glad to get this steep bit out of the way at the start of the walk especially with the sun beating down on us!

The walk through Edale Head to Kinder Low, along the tops of the mountains, was quite a gentle one except for a few boggy bits and the need for some rock climbing! Thankfully, we had ‘Scout Leader’ Ian (our own Captain Scott) to help us all conquer the big rock at the top.

From Kinder Low we began the descent back to Edale through Jacob’s Ladder, Sheepfold and Upper Booth. At this point we thought all the scrambling was finished and we could leisurely stroll to the finish line. Unfortunately, the route back into Edale was not flat – one final hill stood in our way as well as fields full of sheep and lambs!

We gave a big sigh of relief when the finish line came in to in sight and once we crossed it headed to The Old Nags Head Pub in Edale for a well-deserved drink or two! It took us around three and a half hours to complete the 10k trek and we raised £1,500 for charity - a great way to spend a summer’s day!

Lisa

t-mac acquires FAW Electronics

2011-08-11T13:06:00.001+01:00

This is a very exciting time for t-mac Technologies with the announcement of our acquisition of design engineering and manufacturing firm FAW Electronics Ltd.

As part of our continued development strategy, which includes a 40 per cent growth target over the next 12 months, t-mac, will now provide a one-stop-shop for clients’ energy management needs.

Adding to our proven capabilities in energy management software design the t-mac portfolio has been enhanced with innovative design engineering and manufacturing capabilities.

We have worked with FAW Electronics since our launch to produce and deliver technical hardware products for our ever expanding client base, so this acquisition was the next logical step.

FAW Electronics had expressed a wish to forge stronger links with t-mac which made this a natural move for both of us. We have very exciting plans for our newly formed fully functional business.

By acquiring FAW Electronics we have reduced the final link in our production chain. Now our cutting-edge products, which we provide for businesses across the UK and worldwide, will be made from beginning to end by t-mac.

Our continued growth in the market has been driven by an increased understanding of the necessity of energy management by the business world with the need to monitor, manage and control energy usage never greater.

Now with this new acquisition, the t-mac team boasts 32 professionals working together to provide energy management solutions for any business across the UK.

Lisa

t-mac’s guide to summertime savings

2011-07-14T10:41:00.001+01:00

After a grueling winter it’s now that time of year when we can enjoy lighter mornings, longer evenings and even some warmer weather (fingers crossed)!

And as the season changes so too will your energy bills - BUT – you need make sure they’re going down instead of up which can happen during this time of year.

How? Well many of us simply forget a few easy housekeeping rules. We always remember to do a wardrobe ‘switch’, packing our woollies at the back of the wardrobe, but how many of us think about ‘switching’ our appliances to summer mode?

Year after year people fall in to the same warmer-weather pitfalls, using the air conditioning unit instead of opening the window, leaving the heating on at the same level as previous months or even whacking it up when you think it’s getting a bit colder (when it’s really just time to put on a cardi).

Never fear - there are a number of simple solutions which anyone can implement to make sure your third quarter energy bills do not escalate through the building’s roof and drive you a little bit daisy!

Firstly, we all do it – we switch lights on when they are not needed – it’s a habit, but one we need to break. Think during the summer months, do I really need it? When the sun is shining strong lights can be useless at best and counter-productive at worst with an increased risk of glare. If working overtime why not leave the curtains or blinds open for longer to take advantage of the lighter evenings instead of reaching for the switch.

Next – have you checked your heating levels? British summers may not traditionally be Mediterranean-esq but keeping the heating at the same levels as it was in December will certainly result in a scorching energy bill, which is both wasteful and unnecessary. Turn it down. Unfortunately many employees are also guilty of turning the heating up on a cold summer’s day (yes they do sadly exist in the UK) only to forget they have done this and proceed to using other cooling methods when it gets too hot. Getting the balance right is important and everyone can be comfortable without it costing money.

Finally, I have to talk about our old pal, air-conditioning – everyone’s friend on a sweltering hot day. But why not try a free and refreshing alternative by opening a window first and see if that helps or making sure you close the curtains or shut the blinds in direct sunlight to prevent your workplace from heating up too much in the first place. As they say every little bit helps.

These three key things can help you save energy and of course money. It is important everyone gets involved and does not revert back to the bad habits, and this is not just the staff, visitors can waste energy too unless your energy saving strategy is pointed out to them.

Of course, technology like t-mac BMS can prevent equipment from fighting against each other, connecting to lighting, heating, refrigeration, air conditioning and other energy intensive equipment in the workplace. It will automatically highlight opportunities for energy reduction by identifying unnecessary use and control equipment to reduce use and cost to the company. You can find out more on our website http://www.t-mac.co.uk/

Let’s hope for a sizzling summer and make sure you follow these simple energy saving tips –unless of course you have money to burn!

Lisa

t-mac’s travel tales

2011-06-02T15:48:00.000+01:00

Last month t-mac went stateside as we visited the GLOBALCON Expo in Philadelphia, USA.

What an experience!

Being a large energy trade show, we got a real insight in to how US organisations operate in the energy management sector. It seems there has been a huge push in America from both the public and private sectors to bring efficiently managed energy to the forefront of the business agenda.

We have started to see more and more US businesses incorporate metering technology into day-to-day practice in order to monitor performance levels, but more importantly, they are using this data to showcase their activity to their key stakeholders, namely their customers.

The US, like Britain, has seen a rise in consumer expectation for brands to operate with a ‘green conscience’ and from my conversations with individuals at the event, this was a key driver for US businesses.

The Globalcon Exhibition gave us the opportunity to share our thoughts and experiences with like-minded people across the pond and gave us great insight as to how to approach the wealth of opportunity that will await us in the not-too-distant future when we enter the US market.

But all in good time.

We also very much enjoyed ourselves at NEMEX at the Birmingham NEC last week. We exhibited at stand Q16 (part of Sustainability Live) from Tuesday 24 May until Thursday 26 May, where we launched two new products – the t-mac Weather Feed and the new-look Energy Analysis software.

The new Weather Feed is a fantastic new feature we’ve designed that allows you to enter your site’s postcode onto t-mac software in order for t-mac to adapt your site’s system applications to local weather conditions in that area. Gathering data from weather stations across the globe, it provides accurate predictions on temperature, humidity, chance of rain and cloud cover – all of which are important factors to consider when analysing energy consumption and comparing historical data. Very intelligent indeed – we couldn’t wait to show off our new addition!

We also showcased a rework of a modern classic. Our hugely successful Energy Analysis software has had a face-lift for 2011. It is faster than ever before and has many more useful features including a calendar date selector tool on the dashboard’s homepage, allowing users to select multiple periods of time for energy analysis and comparison.

It was a great three day event and gave us an opportunity to offer advice, answer any questions and chat about our new love of the states!

Lisa

t-mac is off to Coventry!

2011-03-02T18:23:00.004Z

This month we’re off to the ESTA ‘Energy – Find Your Way’ conference at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, where we’ll be joining some of the big boys of the UK’s energy management sector to offer businesses advice on how to get a grip on their energy consumption.

The event is free to attend and is taking place on 3 March. I’ll be hosting an Energy clinic at the Aylesford suite at 10:45am where I’ll be talking about the experiences of two very well-known and interesting retailers we’ve been working with recently.

At the clinic I’ll be talking about how the right combination of technology and ‘frame of mind’ can make saving easy in any workplace. The main message we’re trying to get across is that it’s all about control, especially if a business uses energy-intensive equipment.

As I’ve often talked about before, one crucial area of energy management that is more-often-than-not missed out is STAFF. They have a significant impact on the amount of energy used in buildings and it is vital that they take into consideration in a business’ energy management strategy.

Allowing staff to use local controls for air conditioning and lighting for example can result in misuse, which therefore leads to more waste.

We have seen this first hand with our clients and we’re looking forward to sharing the good, the bad and the ugly with people that join us at our session.

If you have a chance to come along to the event, make sure you pop by and say hello!

I hope to see you then,

Lisa.

t-mac’s tips to ‘shepherding your flock’ this Christmas

2010-12-16T16:57:00.004Z

Christmas time, mistletoe and ... shovels! As pretty as it looks outside, this year’s weather has again had a huge impact on UK business. Making sure your staff (that make it to the office!) are comfortable in their surroundings is vital to keep spirits high this festive season.

At t-mac we wanted to give you a few tips on how to do this.

Firstly, speak to your staff. Let them know that although it’s cold outside, we don’t have to roast inside. It is estimated that energy wastage is around 50 per cent higher during December and January due to the inefficient control of internal climates.

Unfortunately turning the temperature up inside is an automatic response for most to combat Mr Frost. Many employees come in to their place of work very cold and a blast of intense heat can bring them back to normality quickly. However people often forget to turn the heating back to a sustainable and comfortable temperature level and then everyone becomes acclimatised to this increased level throughout the day. Heating your office up to higher temperatures will only make the biting cold outside seem more aggressive when home time comes.

So our advice? Make sure you have a plan in place. Pre-set timers on your heating and make sure it is turned on half an hour before anyone enters the building. This will warm up the building, reducing the need to ‘boost’ heating. Once this is done, ensure the building is kept at a standard but comfortable level – our recommendation is around 21-22 degrees centigrade.

Check your building is adequately insulated and that temperature controls are not in conflict with one another. You’d be surprised at how many people do not realise their windows aren't fully closed, particularly in older buildings. Try and encourage your staff to wear an extra layer (which will in turn take an extra layer off your energy bill) and make sure radiators are not obstructed. There’s no point Sue being snug at her desk by the radiator while Rita shivers by the drafty window on the other side of the room!

If you can, make sure Christmas lights are turned off at some point when not needed or set them on a timer. It’s lovely to let onlookers watch the tree sparkle at this time of year, but you’ll value the look of your January bill even more!

Try also to utilise as much daylight as possible. Open curtains or blinds to let light in where possible, then close them as darkness falls and office lights are turned on – the cover will act as an extra layer between you and the cold.

The key thing, in my opinion, is to make sure your business is prepared and the temperature of your building is kept constant, reducing the temptation to hit the ‘booster’ button. Making your staff aware of the easy ways to keep warm while saving energy will mean you will reduce your overheads in the long run. Plus there might even be a little bit extra cash for the Christmas party!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Lisa

Events, Events, and more Events! t-mac goes on tour!

2010-10-05T15:24:00.004+01:00

t-mac went down a storm last month at the Energy Event 2010 in Birmingham. Thanks to all of you who came to visit us at the stand!

CRC News managed to talk me in to doing an interview with them – I hate watching myself on camera, but I’ve decided to share it with my blog readers. You can view the video here… be nice!

Everyone that visited us got the chance to literally step into t-mac’s world through our ‘try t-mac’ experience, seeing first-hand t-mac’s bespoke, easy-to-use dashboards via an interactive touch-screen system.

It was great to see people testing our products and finding out just how easily the system could work for their organisation. It also gave them the opportunity to see the various custom-designed energy dashboards we have at t-mac - including the newest member of the t-mac family – the energy showcasing dashboard (ESD). It was the first time we unveiled this great new addition to our range, and it went down a storm!

The ESD not only displays mains and sub metering data and energy generated from renewable sources presented back in a reader-friendly way, it also displays the weather. By using an anemometer, an instrument which is usually found in weather stations, the dashboard charts wind speed and pressure which is displayed alongside the other collected data. Combined, this provides the user with a fully updated forecast of activity inside and outside the building which can affect energy consumption within a building.

I’m off now to the Energy Solutions Expo 2010 at the London Olympia which is on for the next two days (6 - 7 October), so if you’re there make sure you stop by and say hello and ‘try t-mac’!

Hopefully see you there!

Lisa

Wi waste time on installation?

2010-09-20T15:20:00.003+01:00

Wireless systems are a welcome convenience in today’s world. Where would we be without our WiFi? Cafes and bars across the country now use ‘wi fi’ availability to attract the sole passer by armed only with a laptop. Let’s face it, anything that makes life easier, quicker and less stressful sparks interest in us all.

So as wireless technology increases in popularity at the same rate as Simon Cowell it was inevitable that it would catch on in our sector too. And of course we were keen to lead the way with products that make life easier for our customers.

Wireless environmental sensors are an intelligent addition to energy metering or building energy management strategies especially as they are easy to install and fully operational within minutes.

However there seems to be a stigma surrounding the use of wireless systems, – a fear of high maintenance costs and diminished quality because most use batteries. And it is true – most wireless sensors on the market do require batteries which will need to be changed every 2-5 years. Lengthening the life of these batteries too can result in fewer communications from the wireless sensors – as data uploads from the sensor to the building management system (BMS) occur every 30 minutes/hour instead of more frequently.

But fear not – there is a solution. Businesses can choose a wireless system that is battery-less and is supported by a renewable energy source – we know because that is what we have developed.

Our Wireless Sensor Technology (WiST) is virtually maintenance free, and as the system uses solar panels – it will also save your ‘sole’ where your carbon footprint is concerned!

So no batteries need to be bought and disposed of, and as the system is constantly generating and storing solar energy, it maintains frequent quality communications between sensors and any BMS.

This constant flow of information allows sensors that monitor vibration, temperature, lux levels and power quality to communicate as they should, reporting changes in environmental conditions instantly as they happen.

Another great advantage to a wireless system is that it becomes completely portable, such benefits make systems like this the most advanced and secure wireless systems available on the market.

Our WiST is based around a proven standards-based technology from EnOcean (www.enocean.com) and uses a license-free 868MHz frequency band, which makes it suitable for use throughout most of the world!

In my opinion this is the future and wireless systems are the beginning of the future of energy management in buildings. Businesses can break free from the traditional endless lengths of cabling and wiring, revolutionising the way they work and save wasting unnecessary time

Not quite a guaranteed 15 minutes of fame but definitely a step in the right direction.

Getting the most out of BMS

2010-07-30T09:55:00.011+01:00

There is a fair chance if you turn on the news today, tomorrow or the next day you will hear stories of cuts, impending cuts, and the overall effect of cuts. But as they say all clouds do have a silver lining somewhere, we just have to look.

You are well used to me now talking about how cutting energy consumption equals saving money. So if we all know that this is true why are we not all doing it and being quids in?

The answer is simple, like most things in life, there are stumbling blocks and these can be big enough or challenging enough to put energy saving on the back burner. - BUT DON’T! There are tools out there that can easily help identify the what, where, how, when and why!

For example a Building Management System (BMS) is an ideal tool which highlights all the opportunities for energy reduction in one place – just what we like simple and very effective. A BMS will identify unnecessary use of utilities or energy and control it – especially energy intensive equipment, helping you to reduce usage and of course equally as important - reduce overall costs.

Controlling equipment such as heating, lighting, refrigeration and compressors can help improve energy reduction targets from 15 to 30 percent simply by using the equipment smartly. A BMS will ensure equipment is switched off when it is not being used at night, it can ensure your set point temperatures are maintained at a comfortable level and will make sure conflicting equipment, such as air conditioning and heating, aren’t being used at the same time.

But there is one other thing you need to think about, even with the powers of a BMS, that is of course, people.

Both the presence and absence of people can have a significant effect on how a BMS is used, and subsequently how efficient your building can be. I have seen on numerous occasions how staff can override a company’s set point control turning the temperature up or down and even prop open windows and doors. And when they leave a building, it is not uncommon for equipment to be left on simply through forgetfulness – which leads to energy being used unnecessarily.

An easy way of minimising, or even eliminating, this excess use is to use software to enhance the BMS function – engage the staff – empower the staff – if they can see how this all works and how their actions impact on the building’s energy performance they are more likely to think about their actions. Educate them in order to help them help you control the amount of energy being used.

Software like dashboards will showcase the energy being used – in an easily understandable way - to everyone. Displaying the team targets and comparing them against current performance in relation to these can enthuse staff in to being more energy efficient. Of course this all translates into monetary savings too which is good for everyone in the company.

So we should all go with the grain and make our own cuts where we can – and there is no easier place to start than the wasted energy in our buildings. With the right equipment and a collective approach there are plenty of savings to be made by us all!

Budget Cuts Could Provide Green Opportunities

2010-07-08T10:50:00.005+01:00

The recent emergency budget presented challenges for businesses across the UK, with the chancellor making some significant changes that will impact on many aspects of business life. Having thought how these changes will affect my own business, I started thinking how the increases and cuts outlined by the new coalition government could help businesses make a significant change for the better by thinking smarter about their energy management.

While many of us consider our business forecasts for the remainder of the financial year, particularly with the increase of VAT to 20% on 4 January 2011, we all will no doubt look at more ways to cut operational costs as a first port of call. But, I believe these new measures present a very ‘green’ opportunity for businesses to look deeper into their operational activity – specifically their building management – and not overlook how they could cut costs with an immediate as well as long-term positive impact on their overheads.

At times of financial uncertainty it is normal to look for the obvious immediate cuts which deliver quick, visible saving. It is human nature. For most when reducing expenditure they cut what we know can save us money now – getting rid of plants, cutting down the water supply or even maybe laying off staff. But, if you are reviewing your expenditure it is important to look at the wider costs incurred by the organisation which are unnecessary and are pure wastage, and can be avoided but often overlooked.

Of course I am referring to our use of buildings their operation and the costs involved in actually running them. This is usually detailed in monthly bills that are, unfortunately, rarely reviewed or compared. This is where most of us will find savings.

Simply taking control, and centralising the control strategy of a building by limiting set-points on air conditioning, ensuring the heating is not in competition with air conditioning, staging lighting controls, and having an alert system on consumption peaks can all significantly produce financial savings for any business. By using a building management system to do this anyone can develop a more cost effective approach to managing operations which will be both beneficial in the short and long run.

Cost savings as a result of controlling energy use are exactly what I encounter every day working with companies from all different sectors that have chosen to manage their energy consumption using t-mac’s building management system. By installing technology like this, businesses are reaping the rewards financially – many seeing much appreciated immediate results. And the environment is winning too.

Although any initial financial outlay may need careful budgetary consideration, especially in the current economic climate, the savings will always far out way the cost incurred. Some of our customers have experienced an average saving of up to 30% on their energy bills, with a return on investment within 6 months – a shorter ROI than average building management systems (BMS). Our customers have also found we are 60% cheaper to install and maintain than standard BMS systems, with many additional features available.

It is worth thinking about how new changes implemented by our new coalition government in an effort to decrease the country’s deficit can indeed provide opportunity for a business to ‘spring clean’ its operational systems and procedures making significant savings which will last well in to the future.

Education + education + education = a greener Britain

2010-06-21T17:47:00.004+01:00

Earlier this month I told you about our work with Southwold School and EDF Energy, teaching school kids about the importance of saving energy, while saving the school vital money.

It’s a shame that many adults don’t seem to share the same enthusiasm in learning how to reduce their carbon footprint!

Today ignoring energy efficiency is impossible – it is everywhere, from government pledges to local council incentives to recycle.

As we move ever closer to 2020 more emphasis is being placed on meeting the agreed targets to create greener and more sustainable businesses across the UK and we all have our part to play.

Meeting the set requirements and avoiding penalties can bring added pressures to businesses – especially facilities managers, many of which have overall responsibility for delivering reductions. The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme has been in place for two months now and for businesses that consume more than 6000 mega-watt hours (MWh) they have been focussing on monitoring energy intensive equipment and assets.

But it seems many have neglected to address one of the biggest causes of wasted energy, us.

As a manager of staff, I am keen to encourage my own employees to adopt simple measures to keep our company’s energy levels down. People account for a large amount of a building’s total carbon emissions and by ‘teaching’ your staff to make simple behavioural changes can result in a significant reduction of a company’s total energy usage. It is like any behavioural change, once we become used to doing it, it becomes a habit, so it is a win-win situation for everyone.

So it is back to school for many of us – we need to break the old habits of the past and introduce new ones which will help us all contribute to a greener way of life.

As a helping hand I have listed some useful hints and tips from the Carbon Trust below.

Hope you find them useful and let me know if you notice a difference!

Lisa

TIPS FROM THE CARBON TRUST:

Switch off lights in empty rooms
You could cut your lighting costs by as much as 15 per cent, just by making sure you turn off lights in rooms and corridors that aren’t being used.

Don’t turn up the heating unless necessaryTry to keep your thermostat at 19c. Your heating costs go up eight per cent for every 1c increase.

Maintain equipment properly
If you don’t regularly check your heating equipment, you could be adding as much as 10 per cent to your heating bill without knowing it.

Vending machines or kettles?
It is cheaper to provide a kettle for staff working outside normal business hours than to continue running a drinks vending machine.

Turning off computers
A single computer and monitor left on 24 hours a day will cost over £50 a year. Switching them off out of hours and enabling standby features could reduce this to £15 a year and prolong the lifespan of equipment.

Lighten up
Replacing high wattage filament lamps or tungsten halogen lamps with compact fluorescent lamps or metal halide lamps will give energy savings of 65 to 75 percent.

Fix compressed air leaks
Compressed air leaking through a single 3mm hole could cost you almost £700 a year.

And don’t forget my top 5 tips:
• Reduce your energy costs by identifying your building’s consumption and make changes or implement control systems.

• Build an energy efficiency team - display your energy performance, improvements or inefficiencies and educate your team on how they can help to build a better energy efficiency programme.

• Instigate change in your people and processes - be transparent about what you are trying to achieve and what you are actually doing. Show them where they can help and how they can help. Dashboards and software packages that are easy to use and interactive are a good place to start.

• Showcase your green credentials - display your conformance to energy legislation through dashboards and software packages.

• Save money... make money - reduce your energy consumption and you will save money. It is fact, being green will also make you money, as businesses are looking for a ‘green’ supply chain.

Good Luck!

Southwold School: The t-mac Generation

2010-05-06T18:46:00.005+01:00

A teacher friend called me recently after she read an article on our involvement with Southwold Primary School and EDF Energy in East London.

“Your fancy gadget paid for two extra full-time teachers?!” she said, “How did you do that?” she asked.

So I told her:
In September 2009, we installed a t-mac system at the school which monitored energy indicators such as room temperature, the flow and return of boiler temperatures and lux levels. This ensured the school was able to control systems that used a lot of energy such as their lighting, mains electricity, mains gas and the boiler through an interactive dashboard that made sure the meter readings did not exceed pre-set levels.

One of the other benefits of implementing the control system was the introduction of frost protection to the school’s boiler system, where the t-mac device reacts by bringing a dormant boiler back to life before it reaches critical temperatures. Frost protecting the boiler made sure that the boiler did not freeze during cold nights by simply monitoring the room temperature and turning the boiler system back on when necessary, even if it had already been switched off by a timer.

For the pupils and teachers at Southwold School, this turned out to be an early Christmas present!

With the winter that we had at the end of last year, the frost protection system made sure the school avoided falling victim to a broken heating system. Unfortunately other businesses across the UK with insufficient prevention systems in place weren’t so lucky.

The savings gained through our t-mac system brought significant financial benefits to the school (namely a 35 per cent saving on their energy bills in just 10 months) and achieved another aim of showcasing the importance of energy management through a custom-made AMR dashboard to the kids. They were able to visualise the energy they were actually using whilst they were using it.

Teachers at Southwold Primary School were able to demonstrate and talk through the benefits of energy management and the positive impact it had on their school.

It seemed my friend was certainly inspired by the benefits to both her school and her pupils. She also asked me if I had a gadget to help her control her pupils as easily!

It’s important to start early and raise awareness of energy saving amongst young people and the future generation. The energy we use and the way we live our lives now is a far cry away from when myself and my teacher friend were at school, just 20 to 30 years ago.

It is now vital that children from a young age realise the importance of conserving energy and understanding exactly how we get the most out of the energy we use.

If you would like to know more about the work t-mac Technologies and EDF did at Southwold School, please visit our media centre by clicking here.

A rant about air conditioning set points

2010-04-13T14:20:00.036+01:00

I visit many clients throughout the UK who ask me how our product can help them save energy. One of the common issues I encounter which could help them in their quest is the lack of understanding on how to set air conditioning set points.

If I visit a site in winter the air conditioning set point will be set to

30°C,and a site in summer will find the air conditioning set point

set to 16°C.

For the engineers amongst us, we know that these systems will never reach these set points and even if they could the resulting temperature would be far too uncomfortable to work in!

Personally, I only like 30°C if I’m sitting on a beach with a beer!

Worse still these huge fluctuations in set point control waste a large amount of energy and they also reduce the overall lifetime of the compressor in the outdoor unit.

In my view there are a couple of simple ways to solve this problem:

1. Educate the users how to operate the air conditioning system properly.
This is fine if the user understands the engineering principles behind the system and can grasp the concept, however many people may not understand, or more often than not they are simply not interested. Also it might not be possible to educate every single user, for example an a/c controller in a meeting room could be used by any number of people including visitors to the organisation. Educating every visitor as they enter the building is clearly not feasible.

2. Put a sign on the a/c controller telling people how to use it.
This option is a very simple and cheap way to educate people. The problem is people don’t like to read instructions and even then they may not like the temperature you’ve told them it should be, and ignore it.

3. Lock out the a/c controls altogether.
A little known fact is that most manufacturers of a/c units have special codes that can be typed into the wall controller that lock the user changing the set point altogether. The user can still turn the a/c on or off but can’t change the set point.

This is a handy little feature that stops a huge wastage of energy but what it doesn’t stop is users complaining! Users like to be in control, and as soon as it’s been locked to 21°C they’re too cold and really want it at 22°C.

4. Allow for set point limiting.
This is my favourite technique but is usually the hardest to implement as it requires an intelligent controller (like a t-mac BMS) to interface with the air conditioning unit.

This technique gives the user a certain amount of control and usually stops them from complaining. The principle is simple, it only allows set point control between two points such as 20°C and 22°C. If the user is too hot or too cold they still can change the set point but can’t put it on a silly temperature like 16°C!!

Whilst telling people or leaving notes on how to use the a/c seems like simple and straightforward options to reduce energy wastage, ultimately people are only human... and humans often forget and ignore! But as degrees centigrade amount to pounds sterling, ensuring you have the most effective system in place to control your a/c device pays dividends in the long run!

Educate, Encourage and Empower: Building Efficiency at Work

2010-03-26T11:57:00.012Z

Last month I visited the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) headquarters in London to speak at their ‘System Integration for Intelligent Buildings’ seminar.

There was a mix of people from various industry sectors, all meeting for the same reason – to find a suitable solution to the growing pressures for safe, productive workplaces and leisure venues that don’t damage the environment. The seminar highlighted that the focus seems to have returned to building design and systems that must be Integrated, Intelligent and Sustainable in order to be effective.

Whilst integrating systems to make a building more intelligent is an obvious technical solution, what many often overlook is that these systems can only be sustainable and effective if they are maintained and used effectively by the building occupiers... people.

Human behaviour can have a significant impact on building performance. Today, people place a great emphasis on comfort and satisfactory working conditions. Our research shows that in the 1980’s people were happy to work at temperatures around 15°C, today this has risen to 21°C. And rightly so, cutting back on energy usage no longer means having to compromise on our expectations, the comfort factor is now a pre-requisite for working conditions. The answer is simple, just make sure people are aware of the energy they use, and how they can help to improve and cut carbon emissions

Ensuring staff are aware of the amount of energy they use can have a positive influence on a company’s overall savings. Investing time on educating staff can lead to a noticeable reduction on fuel bills as employees learn how their behaviour impacts the organisation overall and how they can make small changes in their behaviour to make big changes (for the better) in their energy consumption.

Little actions can make a big difference both for the negative and the positive where enegy consumption is concerned. Ignorance is expensive, education is key. Understanding that overriding set building controls (like heating), turning the air conditioning on at the same time as the heating is running, or heating to 28C instead of 22C, forgetting to change time clocks for daylight saving times or bank holidays, or simply propping a door open or forgetting to close a window can all contribute to the 18 per cent of carbon emissions that is frittered away from commercial buildings every year – not to mention the thousands of pounds.

In November last year we encouraged one of our clients, The City Inn hotel in Westminster, to be proactive in their approach to integrating staff behaviour to work with building systems. The hotel invited their staff to a ‘show and tell’ session where they demonstrated how much energy had been consumed in their conference room over a set period of time, followed by an explanation of why these levels were so high and what – ideally - they should be. They also highlighted the monetary and environmental benefits being more aware they would bring to the organisation.

Staff became motivated almost instantly with regular praise for their efforts as a team and the company encouraged staff to celebrate these significant changes. Their efforts seemed more valued and worthwhile and not only resulted in more willingness to adapt to a new system but also to a 30 per cent reduction in the energy they consumed in their conference room. A phenomenal improvement!

The hotel’s achievement only exemplifies that integrating controls AND people can help businesses meet green targets and the overall 20 per cent reduction in carbon emissions needed (asset by the government). They work together.. if they are integrated.

My top tips for business is to:

UNDERSTAND – what people want and when

EDUCATE – staff on the best way to use systems

EMPOWER – staff or let them see the benefits of their actions.

Last chance to reduce your carbon footprint in 2010

2010-01-20T08:56:00.011Z

The clock is ticking for you to submit your entry to our ‘win a t-mac’ competition which draws to a close this Friday, 22nd January!

t-mac Technologies Ltd have joined forces with Water Energy and Environment to host the competition to win a free t-mac energy monitoring and control system worth up to £10,000.

There is still time for you and your business to be in with a chance of winning, so I hope everyone reading this has already submitted their entries... if not make sure you click here and enter now.

If you have made the commitment to do something about reducing your carbon footprint this year then this could be the kick start you need to save energy and money. The lucky winner of our competition will receive a t-mac device, complete with custom front-end dashboard which displays energy reduction activities.

We’ve had some great responses already and it might seem like a shamless plug, but it really is a fantastic prize and we want to make sure it goes to a good home.

We are asking entrants to tell us in no more than 200 words why their business deserves a t-mac and so far we’ve been amazed at how enthusiastic businesses have been.

If you win, the t-mac team will fully install the device with energy metering and monitoring peripherals and energy management software and dashboards. The winning business will also receive an online training seminar for staff which takes them through how to use their t-mac to get the most from the system.

In addition to all of this, the proud new owner of a t-mac will also have access to a dedicated webpage which enables constant monitoring and control of facilities and will receive a monthly call from the t-mac team for a year to discuss the use of the system – ensuring it is utilised to the max by the winner.

A useful belated Christmas present for one lucky business and a fine start to 2010!

Entering is easy, just log on to www.energyonline.co.uk or our website www.t-mac.co.uk and tell us in no more than 200 words why your business deserves a t-mac. Whether it is the commitment to reduce business costs in 2010 or the new-year resolution to be greener, or both, this could be the perfect prize to help you along your way (terms and conditions apply). t-mac wants to hear from you!

So what are you waiting for? Remember – if you are not in you can’t win! Good luck!

Making new year’s energy resolutions work

2009-12-03T12:05:00.022Z

It’s that time of year again when everyone is talking about new year’s resolutions – just the other day I was thinking about what mine might be... use that gym membership to its fullest, spend more time with friends and family, eat a bit healthier etc... nothing unusual there! But it did get me thinking about what business can be pledging to do better at in 2010.

Energy saving focused resolutions are something that as a business we will be advising our clients to think about and we’ll also be following these ourselves. So I’ve come up with my top five new year’s resolutions (and how technology can make them work):

1. Reduce energy costs• Identify energy consumption for the building (mains metering) and for activity areas (sub-metering) then manage the biggest energy consuming activities by getting colleagues to make changes or implementing control systems (BMS).

2. Build an energy efficiency team• Be transparent in your energy management programme and encourage buy-in from the team. Display your energy performance, improvements or inefficiencies and educate your team on how they can help to build a better energy efficiency programme. Dashboards and software packages can provide the transparency and interactivity you need for your team.

3. Instigate change in your people and processes
• Encouraging a change in the mind-set of your team can be challenging, but be transparent about what you are trying to achieve and what you are actually doing. Show them where they can help and how they can help. Dashboards and software packages that are easy to use and interactive are a good place to start.

• Don’t just rely on the energy manager or energy management team, you can educate all colleagues about the importance of turning lights and air conditioning systems off at night by quantifying the cost of this waste. i.e. “we need to sell xx more coffee today to pay for the lights being left on last night.”

4. Showcase our green credentials• Display your conformance to energy legislation through dashboards and software packages .

5. Save money... make money• Reduce energy consumption = save money
• Be green = make money, as businesses are starting to look for a ‘green’ supply chain.

Tapping into technology that will streamline the function of your energy spend is an easy way to achieve these targets and if you would like to arrange a trial of t-mac Technologies system, feel free to get in touch.

Can buildings adapt to the seasons efficiently or does winter pose a major energy threat?

2009-11-27T14:05:00.007Z

Darker nights, colder days and the onset of Christmas-fever is a constant reminder that winter has definitely set in. Which makes me wonder, do the winter months mean that energy efficiency goes out the window? With heating turned to full blast and with the lights on for longer can carbon reduction be just as effective in the winter months?

I’ve been noticing this more recently, particularly when I’ve been out Christmas shopping at the weekend, as shops are beginning to change their heating and air conditioning systems to keep the temperature at a constant. But many get it wrong and are pumping-out heat at the wrong places without even knowing it. Heating at the entrance might seem a good idea to greet shoppers but when it is positioned wrongly heat escapes outside – literally throwing money and energy down the drain.

A lot of our clients ask me how they can save energy and winter-proof their buildings to make sure their business is not only comfortable for staff but also continues to be energy efficient.

My answer is pretty simple – if you monitor your energy consumption and emissions then you will know where energy is being leaked and how you can stop it from happening, resulting in a warmer and more cost-effective building.

Retailers in particular need to take the outside temperature into consideration when they are heating their shops in winter. The technical term is a “sliding set point”, where the external temperature is monitored to make sure properties are creating a comfortable temperature inside. Most shoppers in winter continue to wear outside clothing when they are shopping, so retailers also need to take this in to consideration when they are heating the inside of the property.Building management systems are perfectly suited to the task of winter-proofing commercial buildings, as they can be set to adapt to changes in the weather, when the clocks go back, and also when temperatures dip.

Adapting a commercial business to run effectively during the winter months is a common concern with many of my clients in the early stages of consultation. I’m always happy to share my experience and provide advice to anyone on saving energy, so please feel free to get in touch.

As an early Christmas present this year I am offering visitors to my website a chance to

win a t-mac system, technical support and a custom designed dashboard, as part of our online competition which ends in January 2010, so if you’re looking for cost effective ways to save money in the new year, here’s definitely a place to start!

Carbon Reduction Commitment: something to fear?

2009-10-23T10:01:00.014+01:00

The t-mac team and I exhibited at The Energy Event last month (9 and 10 September 2009) in Birmingham, which gave us a chance to meet more like-minded energy enthusiasts! Naturally, at trade shows everyone tends to have one thing in common and this year was no different – ‘how can we save energy and save money at the same time?’ is always a hot topic of conversation. Every time we exhibit at trade shows we are commonly faced with the same questions from potential buyers, consultants and businesses. But one thing I picked up on more than ever this year was the sense of misunderstanding about the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) among the industry. It takes effect in just a few months so the time is now to act. I am still amazed at the fact that many businesses still don’t know how it will affect them, many told me they are in the dark, not sure where to turn to for advice (which is where we come in!), obviously the t-mac team is more than happy to help clear the mist...some highlights from my conversations... Main piece of advice I have been giving people? If you hold off monitoring and recording your energy use today then you will pay for it in the future. Ideally, if you are a proactive businesses you should start monitoring and recording your energy use now by implementing a number of easy measures such as installing smart metering devices with CRC measurement and management software. And finally... preparing for the Carbon Reduction Commitment today will help business avoid flittering away overheads tomorrow. This month we exhibited (7 and 8 October 2009) at another trade show, The Energy Solutions Expo in London and we hosted a seminar on “Automatic targeting and monitoring devices”. If you weren’t able to make it drop please drop me a note with any energy related questions you might have. Happy to help if I can.