CORMS

The Process

Effective energy management begins with the assimilation of data to gain a full understanding of all aspects of site energy usage:

• The requirements of the site occupants, in terms of building conditions and performance;
• The current operation of energy-using plant and equipment;
• The sources and extent of available energy data - historical, real-time and ongoing

We will if required carry out an initially detailed audit of the site to gain a clear understanding of the operation of plant and equipment installed. It is assumed that the building will be "Part L compliant" and that sufficient sub metering (of sufficient technical capability) will be installed to assist in building up a clear picture of the various areas of usage that contribute to total site consumption - both electricity and gas.

In an office-type building, HVAC equipment can often contribute up to 60% of energy consumption and so it is vital that plant is operated efficiently, both from an energy perspective and also because of the effect it can have on maintenance issues. As a matter of course, plant control strategies are reviewed to ensure that efficiency of operation is optimised. Significant, sustainable savings are very often achievable through an objective review of plant control strategies.

By relating recorded consumption data to known equipment loads, areas of suspiciously high or inconsistent usage can be highlighted promptly for closer analysis. Recommendations for improvements can then be submitted to the operations team for consideration, with an accurate indication of the saving potential.

Using a variety of techniques and through discussion with on-site personnel, CORMS will develop target profiles for areas of usage, allowing for variations in weather/temperature and other operational considerations.

Using the CORMS system, these target profiles provide the basis for ongoing monitoring. Delinquencies can be highlighted and escalated to the operations team quickly - no longer is it necessary to wait until the month-end (or longer) to spot a problem, the response can be instant.

The Benefits

Experience in this field confirms that the energy survey and review of control strategies alone will inevitably highlight areas where savings are immediately achievable. The survey includes all other aspects - lighting and catering for example - and these, too, can be expected to yield opportunities to reduce consumption and cost.

Equally important, though, is ensuring that the savings are sustained and this is where the benefits of CORMS are evident. The system offers easy access to energy performance, so that the efficiency can be assessed at any time.

Management reports - weekly, monthly or as required - can provide useful performance data (consumption and cost) to show how effectively the building is running.

Unless otherwise requested, the survey will also include a review of water usage and recommendations submitted accordingly. Water costs are also rising significantly at present, and this can no longer be considered an "irrelevant" utility.

Finally, we can use the data obtained to validate supplier billing on your behalf, eliminating the risk of over-billing, which can have significant consequences on buildings of a size suitable for CORMS.