Make ESOS Easy By Darryl Mattocks, Managing Director, Enistic

The ESOS rules apply to all ‘large organisations’ in the UK and will include many in the processing industry. So, does this apply to you? And, are you ready? I have put together a quick guide to all you need to know about ESOS compliance – see the boxed panel.

If you haven’t made a start, don’t delay. There are fewer than 500 lead assessors available for the 10,000 plus organisations which need to comply with ESOS. Leave it too late, and you might not be able to find a lead assessor to work with you. And the holiday season is upon us.

My advice is to get advice from a company that specialises in ESOS compliance and which offers a Lead Assessor as part of the package. At Enistic we operate a ‘one stop shop’ to guaranteed ESOS compliance for a fixed price which kicks-off with a free scoping meeting. If you would like to take advantage of this offer, please contact the team on 0844 875 1600 or email info@enistic.com or see www.enistic.com

Enistic’s Easy Guide to ESOS

What is ESOS?

The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme Regulations 2014 (ESOS Regulations) were introduced in 2014 to promote energy efficiency.

Enistic’s monitoring and targeting campaigns typically identify energy savings averaging 28% but in some cases of as much as 45% or more.

The scheme is being administered by the Environment Agency.

Does ESOS apply to me?

Large enterprises need to conduct mandatory energy audits every 4 years. This covers:

• All organisations with over 250 members of staff.
• Or turnover of over 50 million Euros (£38,937,777) and an annual balance sheet total in excess of 43 million euro (£33,486,489).
  

What do I have to do?

If your business falls within the scope of the Regulations, you need to:

• Monitor and report your energy use across 90% of your site by 5 December.
• Appoint a ‘Lead Energy Assessor’.
• The Lead Assessor will conduct an ESOS Assessment to:

o   Measure your total energy consumption for buildings, industrial processes and transport over at least a 12 month period. This assessment period must include 31st December 2014.

o   Identify areas of significant energy consumption, accounting for at least 90% of your total energy consumption.

o   Identify practical, cost-effective energy efficiency recommendations for areas of significant energy consumption (based on a life-cycle cost and effectiveness analysis)

o   Have the ESOS Assessment reviewed and approved by a Board-level Director, or Head Bursar where no Directors exist and approved by a Lead Energy Assessor

o    Report compliance to the Environment Agency by 5 December 2015.

The ESOS evidence pack

You need to compile and keep an evidence pack for your report to the Environment Agency. This should include details of:

• The structure of your organisation
• The Board level Director(s), or equivalent who have taken the lead on signing off compliance with ESOS
• Your Lead Assessor and registration of approval
• The calculation of total energy consumption
• Areas of significant energy consumption listed
• Compliance method(s) used to cover each area of significant energy consumption.
• Cost-effective energy savings opportunities identified along with an Return on Investment and Life Cycle Cost Analysis
• Certifications for alternative compliance routes
• Details of any areas where you are not fully compliant with the rules

How long does it take?

On average compliance takes between 2 – 4 months from the first scoping meeting to submission.

How much does it cost?

Prices for compliance can range from £3,000 – £20,000+. Each organisation is different, which is why we take a tailored approach. At Enistic, we offer a free scoping meeting to outline an approach, time frame and cost.

What happens if I miss the deadline?

You could be fined up to £50,000 plus extra charges of £500 per day (for up to 80 days).

Leading Root Vegetable Producer Chooses Enistic for Easy ESOS

Enistic is working with Alan Bartlett and Sons towards guaranteed ESOS compliance, taking on the Lead Assessor role, monitoring energy use and targeting energy savings opportunities for the evidence pack.

Alan Bartlett and Sons is a family owned business specialising in the large scale supply of carrots and parsnips to UK supermarkets. The farming side of the business grows in the region of 3,000 acres of carrots and parsnips in East Anglia as well as on the Moray Coast in Scotland.

The business has two sites, one in Chatteris Cambridgeshire and one in Forres Scotland, between them capable of washing up to 5,000 tonnes of carrots and parsnips per week making them one of the largest root vegetable producers in the world. They manage the whole growing cycle from land planting through to harvesting which ensures quality and availability all year round.

Under the new ESOS scheme, companies need to audit at least 90% of their total energy consumption and identify savings opportunities. Director Toby Bartlett said: “We chose Enistic for ESOS, first and foremost because they had the necessary expertise and resource to ensure our compliance by the December 2015 deadline.

For compliance, we also needed an ESOS lead assessor. As Enistic provides a lead assessor this was a major factor in choosing to work with them.

“In addition, as Enistic is inputting most of the data, this enables us as a business to focus on what we do best knowing that at the end of the year we will be fully compliant with ESOS.

“The business takes its responsibility to the environment very seriously and has made significant investment in sustainability projects over the last couple of years. As well as upgrading all factory lighting to the latest LED’s they have also invested over £1m on one of the UK’s largest privately owned roof mounted solar PV systems on the roof space at the Chatteris HQ. The 1.2MW system consists of 4,111 PV panels and this produces around 20% of the total annual electricity consumption.

If, at the end of the ESOS journey, and with Enistic’s help, we can see ways of reducing our carbon footprint further and making more savings this will be very much welcomed by our business.”

About Enistic

Recently shortlisted for a prestigious Ashden Award for excellence in the field of sustainable energy, Enistic is an energy managementspecialist based in Oxfordshire.

Clients include universities, hospitals, and blue-chip companies, featuring many household names such as Pret a Manger, Airtricity, Honda, Fujitsu & Cambridge University.

Enistic is offering a free scoping meeting for ESOS compliance, without obligation. The scheme offers a guaranteed route to compliance. For further information telephone 0844 875 1600, email info@enistic.com or see www.enistic.com