Sarah Alsbury, Project Manager - Environmental Management System
Using less energy in the first place is basic common sense but often gets forgotten in the hot debate about how we’re going to produce more energy. Insulation, draught exclusion, lagging, switching things off – just doesn’t sound sexy, does it? Estimates vary from 30% to 80% as to how much could sensibly be saved - but it’s good whatever number you pick.
Travel accounts for a large chunk of energy demand, and then heating air and water. Three quarters of the energy we use in our homes is for heating our rooms and water, which accounts for 13% of the UK’s CO2e emissions, while our workplaces are responsible for 20%. The Carbon Trust estimates that businesses can save up to 20% of their energy use through behavioural change, up to 10% from better monitoring and another 15% through better controls, draught-proofing and switching to LED lighting.
RSPB focusThe RSPB has always addressed energy efficiency through its ongoing maintenance programme. However, there’s always more you can do and we are now looking to work with the Carbon Trust to find out just what else we can do. We are then proposing a dedicated fund for this work, which will work like a mini Green Deal, the government scheme to drive energy conservation in homes. Savings at a site level will be accrued back to the pot, which will then have more money to ‘lend’ for other schemes.
Loft insulation
Shiny new buildingsNew buildings are covered by the Building Regulations, which now demand a very high standard of energy efficiency. The RSPB’s new buildings include a raft of additional features, such as our Saltholme Visitor Centre, Teeside, which has won a hat-trick of awards. The building achieved a BREEAM (British Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) accreditation of Excellent. Recycled and recyclable materials have been specified throughout the building; an internal rammed earth wall helps to control both internal humidity and temperature; natural cooling is achieved by using the central atrium of the building as a draught creator; and heating is provided by a biomass boiler.
RSPB Saltholme visitor centre
Conclusion
Energy conservation is the tried and tested, easiest and most cost-effective way of saving energy and can help address fuel poverty. And the lesson we’re learning is that there’s always something else you can do. The Government has recognised this by launching the Green Deal, so it’s worth asking the energy assessor round to see what you can do - see http://www.greendealinitiative.co.uk/ for more information.